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TOYOTA Venza Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 3
First production year: 2009
Engines: Hybrid gasoline, Gasoline
Body style: Wagon (station wagon, estate, combi, touring)
TOYOTA Venza photo gallery

The Venza's second generation was unveiled online in April 2020 due to the world COVID-19 pandemic and went on sales in June.

While the first generation was more of a minivan, related to the Camry, the second generation took a different approach and was tied closely to the Highlander SUV. But it wasn't a completely new vehicle. It was a Japanese Toyota Harrier that landed on the U.S. Soil.

Regardless of who it was related to or where it came from, the Venza featured an advanced design for its era. The slim headlights placed on top of the front fascia and a vast grille integrated into the bumper were the main differences compared to the general trend in automotive design. The SUV-coupe stance, with a sloped-back and raised rear shoulders over the quarter panels, giving the car a dynamic look.

More features followed inside the car, where a classic, analog instrument cluster was paired to a big, 12.5" touch-screen display mounted on top of the center stack. The standard version featured an 8" display. The rest of the dashboard featured a minimalist design, with only a line that visually divided it into an upper and lower area. On the center console, the carmaker installed only the gear-selector and two cup-holders. The rear room was bigger than the one offered on the Toyota C-HR, which was good news.

Under the hood, Toyota installed a single drivetrain. The 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and both connected to a CVT gearbox. It was the same powerplant from the Rav4 Hybrid or the Lexus NX. All versions featured an all-wheel-drive system.

full description and technical specifications
hybrid gasoline engines:

TOYOTA Venza 2.5L eCVT AWD (219 HP)

TOYOTA Venza photo gallery

Released in 2012 as a 2013 model, the facelifted Venza upgraded the already good crossover built by Toyota for specific markets.

Gone were the days when a family had just one or two options for a car category to chose from. In 2012 there were already plenty of them, starting with a compact station-wagon and going up to big SUVs and everything in between. Toyota built this crossover on the same platform with its sales champion Camry. Toyota designed and developed the car in its R&D centers from California and Michigan and built it in Kentucky.

While it was challenging to say if the Venza was a lower SUV or a higher station wagon, the carmaker just confirmed that it was a mix between them. It showed a front fascia that resembled the Camry and a greenhouse that reached the Lexus RX SUV look. It sported short overhangs, a forward, raked A-pillar, and a low roofline. Its raked-forward tailgate was a mix between a fastback and a regular tailgate shape.

Inside, Toyota installed a two-tone dashboard and a center stack extended over the center console. The gear-lever mounted on the driver's side enhanced the feeling that the driver was in its separate cluster, away from other occupants. Its instrument panel featured a big speedometer in the middle flanked on the left by a tachometer and on the right by the fuel and temperature gauges. In the back, the carmaker installed a 60/40 split-folding bench that increased the cargo area from 36.2 cu-ft (1.025 liters) to 70.2 cu-ft (1,988 liters).

For the powertrain, Toyota offered two engine choices, both available with front- or all-wheel-drive. Both engines were paired to a six-speed sequential-shift electronically controlled automatic transmission (ECT-i).

full description and technical specifications
TOYOTA Venza photo gallery

A completely new vehicle from Toyota, the 2009 Venza was a combination between an SUV and a station wagon.

The exterior design was not very stylish, one of the reasons why some skipped the model, regardless of its strong points.

Fitted with good quality materials, the cabin was roomy and ergonomics were great, with cupholders and lots of storage spaces.

While the materials were of a good quality, the assembly was not that great, with little discrepancies here and there.

Coming with standard 19-inch wheels, which was unlikely for a crossover, the Venza compromised comfort for looks.

Offering seating for 5, the Venza had one of the roomiest rear cabins. Not very common, a child seat was included in the package.

Continuing with the strong points, the immense cargo space allowed many luggages to be stored, and putting items in the trunk was easier for the power liftgate.

Also for easy access, the rear door were large, so mounting or removing the child seat was not a problem.

While you would expect a crossover to be driven more like a wagon, despite its reduced dimensions in comparison to an SUV, the Venza drove more like one, meaning the steering was not very precise. The Venza was competent, but not highly enjoyable.

The 3.6-liter V6 engine offered plenty of power and it was mated with a 6-speed automatic.

Another benefit coming with the Venza was the well insulated cabin, thus longer journeys were quiet and relaxing.

full description and technical specifications