| Manufacturer | Toyota |
|---|---|
| Production | 2008–present |
| Model years | 2009–present |
| Assembly | Georgetown, Kentucky, United States (TMMK) |
| Class | Mid-size crossover |
| Body style | 5-door SUV |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive |
| Engine | 2.7 L 1AR-FE I4 3.5 L 2GR-FE V6 |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 109.3 in (2,776 mm) |
| Length | 189.0 in (4,801 mm) |
| Width | 75.0 in (1,905 mm) |
| Height | 63.4 in (1,610 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,045 lb (1,835 kg) |
| Related | Toyota Camry Toyota Avalon Lexus ES Lexus RX Toyota Highlander Toyota Sienna Toyota Mark X ZiO |
The Toyota Venza is a mid-size crossover SUV (CUV) produced by Japanese automaker Toyota and unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.[3] Based on the Toyota FT-SX concept car unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, the Venza was primarily engineered at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and designed at the Calty Design studios in Newport Beach, California.[1] It is currently slotted in size and price between the RAV4 compact crossover SUV, and the Highlander mid-size crossover SUV that has third-row seating. However, the Venza is an inch longer than the Highlander and for the 2009-2010 model years, the base Venza's MSRP was $1000 USD higher than the base Highlander.
The Venza is built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) in Georgetown, Kentucky,[2] production having commenced on November 10, 2008.[3]
Contents |
The Venza is based on the Camry chassis (Toyota K platform) and is similar to Mark X Zio in concept. Venza is powered by either Toyota's 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 or all-new 2.7-litre 1AR-FE I4 engine, both mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.[4] Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive is available as an option. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates fuel economy of 21 mpg-US (11 L/100 km; 25 mpg-imp) city /29 mpg-US (8.1 L/100 km; 35 mpg-imp) highway with the four-cylinder engine.[5] The Venza uses an electric power steering system.
US models had starting price of $25,975 for a front-wheel-drive (FWD) 4-cylinder model, and ranged up to $29,250 for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) V6 edition without options.
According to Edmunds.com, the Venza's interior design and quality is superior to other contemporary Toyota vehicles.[6]
Unlike other Toyota offerings that have different levels of equipment (such as LE and XLE for the Camry, and Sport and Limited for the RAV4/Highlander), the Venza has only one model trim but with a choice of packages and options. Compared to other Toyota vehicles in a similar price range (such as the RAV4, Camry, and Highlander), whose base models have few amenities outside of air conditioning and power accessories, the entry-level Venza has a long list of standard features.[7] These include fog lamps, 19" alloy wheels (I4), 34 pound[8] 20" alloy wheels (V6), HomeLink, XM satellite radio, 6-disc CD changer, dual-zone climate control, electrochromic auto-dimming rear-view mirror, 8-way power drivers seat, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, Hill-Start assist control and the Toyota Star Safety System.[9]
Major options include automatic high beams with HID lighting, heated side view mirrors, power liftgate, leather seat surfaces, 4-way power passenger seat, panoramic glass moonroof, Smart Key System, 13-speaker JBL sound system with Bluetooth, voice-activated touch-screen DVD navigation system, backup camera, and a rear DVD entertainment system with a 9-inch display and two wireless headphones. The Touring Package (containing HID headlights and push button start) and Navigation & JBL Package are only available on the V6 AWD. The Premium Package containing the moonroof and backup camera is available on all but the Venza (I4 FWD), while the leather package is available on all Venzas.
For 2010, the Venza receives a standard USB audio input and Bluetooth hands-free phone capability. Due to this addition, the in-dash 6-disc CD changer is no longer standard equipment. All U.S. models get a $300 raise in MSRP.
| Model | Years | Type/code | Power, torque@rpm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venza, Venza AWD | 2009- | 2,672 cc (2.672 L; 163.1 cu in) I4 (1AR) | 185 PS (136 kW; 182 hp)@5800, 247 N·m (182 lb·ft)@4200 |
| Venza V6, Venza V6 AWD | 2008- | 3,456 cc (3.456 L; 210.9 cu in) V6 (2GR-FE) | 272 PS (200 kW; 268 hp)@6200, 334 N·m (246 lb·ft)@4700 |
All models include Super Electronically Controlled Transmission (Super ECT) 6-speed automatic transmission with Overdrive, Gate Type Shifter, Lock Up Torque Converter, Transmission Cooler.
Toyota’s standard Star Safety System includes:
Other standard safety features:
Seven standard airbags:[10]
| Frontal Driver: | |
| Frontal Passenger: | |
| Side Driver: | |
| Side Rear Passenger: | |
| Rollover: |
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Venza its Top Safety Pick accolade in 2009.[12][13] The Venza is also rated "Good" in the roof strength test, as a result the Venza also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick in 2010 and 2011 when roof strength became a criterion for receiving the award. [14][15]
The Venza began production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) on November 11, 2008, with over 70% of the Venza's components coming from U.S. suppliers.[16] Toyota projects sales of between 75,000-100,000 Venzas per year.[17] Even though most Toyota vehicles built in the United States and Canada are sold in Mexico, it is one of the North American built Toyotas (alongside the Avalon) not to be sold in Mexico.
In addition to Venza,[18] TMMK produces the Camry, Camry Hybrid, and Avalon, and previously produced the Solara. Toyota launched the four-cylinder Venza in February, 2009.
During the 2008 vehicle launch, Toyota marketed Venza under the campaign 'You're More than One Thing. So is Venza.' According to Autoblog, the name 'Venza' was derived from the words Venture and Monza (racing circuit).[19]
In Canada, the Venza was featured as a prize in the 2009 Tim Hortons "Rrroll up the rim to win" promotion.
Determining whether the Venza is a crossover SUV or wagon isn't clear, so sources often describe it simply as new type of "crossover".[6] Toyota states the Venza blends the "styling and comfort of a passenger car with the flexibility of a sport utility vehicle."[20] According to Toyota, Venza is neither a station wagon or SUV, rather it is targeted at customers who want more room and flexibility than the Camry sedan but desire a smaller size than the Highlander, a mid-size crossover SUV. Toyota lists the Venza's competitors as the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima on their website's comparison page both popular mid-size sedans.[21]
Venza contains 34.4 cu ft (0.97 m3). of interior volume, more than its two main competitors – Nissan Murano, Ford Edge.[6]
The Venza is currently Toyota's only crossover without a third-row seat, as the RAV4 and the Highlander crossover SUVs do have the third-row seating. Unlike the RAV4 and Highlander, which are sold in Japan, the Venza is currently only sold in North America. The Venza's counterpart that is sold in Japan, the Toyota Mark X ZiO, also has an available third row seat while being slightly shorter and narrower than the Venza.
Toyota informed automotive magazine Motor Trend that it would pass on entering the Venza in the publication's SUV of the Year competition.[22] Instead, Toyota requested that the Venza compete in the Car of the Year competition. Motor Trend decided that the Venza should not compete in any competition at all since its ride height is too high to be qualified as a car.
The Honda Accord Crosstour and the Subaru Outback (Limited and Premier trims), are the Venza's main competitors in the loosely-defined crossover wagon (non-SUV) category. The Accord Crosstour is derived from the Accord Sedan, while the Outback comes from the Legacy, both analogous to how the Venza shares its roots in the Camry.
| Calendar year | Total sales (U.S.) | Total sales (Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,474[23] | ? |
| 2009 | 54,410[24] | 12,375[25] |
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Model year | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Subcompact | Tercel | Tercel | Tercel | Tercel | Tercel | Echo | Yaris | Yaris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starlet | Corolla FX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corolla | Corolla | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Corolla | Corolla | Corolla | Corolla | Corolla | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matrix | Matrix | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corona | Camry | Camry | Prius | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Prius | Prius | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Camry | Camry | Camry | Camry | Camry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cressida | Cressida | Cressida | Cressida | Camry Solara | Camry Solara | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venza | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prius v | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Avalon | Avalon | Avalon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport compact | Corolla GT-S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Celica | Celica | Celica | Celica | Celica | Celica | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paseo | Paseo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Celica Supra | Celica Supra | Supra | Supra | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MR2 | MR2 | MR2 Spyder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||