By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
1. HID headlights will be available
2. A gray leather interior is available (I'm not a big fan of the ivory/tan interior when mated with certain exterior colors).
I'm also guessing the MSRP pricing excludes freight, so plan to add an extra $720 or so to arrive at the true base price. Then add $3000 to $8000 in options to get an overall model price range from $29.5K to $38K.
MD
So November 3rd has come and gone, where are the links to the official Toyota release on the Venza?? :-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Take a look at the dimensions, the Venza is 6" lower than the Highlander and lower than any other popular crossover, while about 5" higher than a Camry. I like this niche the Venza falls in whatever they want to call it. It makes it easier for my bad knees to get in and out of compared to a traditional wagon.
Looking forward to test driving one.
182 hp and 182 lb ft of torque moving 3760 lbs (2wd) and 3945 lbs (AWD) of curb weight may be a challenge. The weight turned out to be a little more than I predicted. It only has 3 more hp than the RAV4 4 cylinder but weighs 300-375 lbs more.
This thing must have super-lazy gearing and a taaalllll top gear to get this kind of mileage, what with the low power-to-weight ratio. The highway mileage is better than the (much lighter) RAV4 AWD with the less powerful 4-cylinder!
Looking at the specs, I don't see why they bothered to produce this model, when the Highlander is all but identical in many respects. Perhaps now they will drop the Highlander 5-seater and offer only 7-seaters for 2009?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Maybe it's my age but I don't like the new Highlander. My personal opinion is that the Venza will soon be more popular than the HL (unless you need the 7 seats). Time will tell.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081103/FREE/811039979/1039
That's usually what separates the really successful companies from the mediocre: they recognize a new segment when no one else can. I remember seeing the first iPod and wondering why Apple would get into a market already crowded with CD-based and flash-based MP3 players.
On the other hand, I too am getting tired of all the hype about the category the Venza fits in. Frankly, I don't care what anyone else calls it (and apparently the Federal government classifies it as a multi-purpose vehicle, like most SUVs).
This goes for a majority of the "first drive" reviews of the Venza: we don't need half of an article devoted to the author waxing on and on about the hype and why they disagree. Enough already! Get to the real details: how does it drive, are the interior materials better than the Highlander, does the JBL stereo sound like it's worth $1,000, etc.
motor trend article
I was tentatively interested in a 4 cylinder AWD version - provided it can be smooth enough -
I'll wait and see till next fall how this plays out - when I'm probably in the market
The article does have a point that it is as much a 5-door hatch as it is a wagon, due to the steep slope of the rear hatch. Large 5-door hatches can't seem to gain a lot of traction in the North American market, so it will be interesting to see how the Venza does in sales.
And I am with nedzel, the Venza should be at least 400 pounds lighter, preferably 600-800, since it is just a 5-passenger wagon in the long run....
...and it's nice to see a 5-door Camry hatch return to the Toyota lineup, although a proper wagon with the extended roofline at the rear has more utility. But then of course it would compete more directly with the the Highlander (can't have that!) instead of being the automotive fashion design statement they seem to be trying to make it.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Not much unusual here and I agree that it will be spring before more choices are available.
1. Power tilt/telescoping steering column
2. 8-way power passenger seat
3. Memory for seats, mirrors and steering column
4. Heated AND cooled front seats
5. Hard drive navigation
6. Power fold second row seats
These features are all found on either the Murano or Avalon, so should be included on the Venza. Does anyone have any info on their presence or absence in the options list?
Whatever, to me the specs are ideal and I could not disagree with you more. I am very happy with the good ground clearance and the V6 won't have any trouble with the weight, considering the car is 400 pounds lighter than the Highlander and that car hums along just fine. I will most likely buy one - the first driving impressions are very good.You don't like it, fine, buy your minivan in 3 years.
One thing I really like about the Venza is the rear leg room. Only the edge seems to come close in this regard for a 4wd vehicle that isn't a truck but has a hatch back. The only things I don't like about the edge are the Interior styling and the poor gas mileage. The Venza appears to take care of both of these rather nicely.
And why couldn't they have put the development money towards making as compelling a crossover SMALLER than the RAV4, instead of yet another crossover that overlaps the size of the HL and RAV, which already almost overlap each other?
I think people will rue the day they bought a V-6 Venza the first time they have to replace those 20-inch tires.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I think the configurator has only just been launched on the Toyota web site and it looks like they still have a few bugs in it. So I'd give it a few days to a week and try it again. It also could be that the initial cars are coming off the assembly line as either loaded V6s or low-optioned I-4s to show a low cost of entry - i.e. dealers will be able to advertise Venza's for under $30K. It may take several months to fill the pipeline with a wider variety of models with all options. I believe most automakers are now adding more content to their more fuel efficient models, where in the past they saved the bigger option packages (leather, nav, etc) for the pricier vehicles. High fuel prices are driving the change (then again, fuel prices have come down a long ways recently, so who knows).
MD
MD
When $50000-priced-vehicle-shoppers go out to look at purchases they generally don't visit Hyundai, Kia, used car lots, nor do they look at Corollas or Cobalts. A buyer expecting to pay $50000-ish for a vehicle expects certain levels of amenities. The ex-Sequoia buyer is expecting to pay $38000 - $50000 for a vehicle. If the Sequoia disappears as seems likely where will this well-to-do buyer go? The Highlander IMO will fill this void. The Venza will then fill the needs of what the prior Highlander did. It will serve the $30000+/- buyer's needs. It will have great room, great performance, a good to great level of amenities at the right price point.
The RAV will never be able to serve this clientele. It's too basic.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
in general, factory navi is wildly overpriced, and worth basically zero on resale.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I fully agree. I've got an '06 MDX with Nav and bought a Garmin 660 Nav for about $300 a year ago to use in my Saturn Vue. While the Nav in the MDX has voice input and the Garmin doesn't, the Garmin pronounces the names of streets and highways (called text-to-speech); the MDX doesn't. If I could have only one GPS unit, I would opt for the Garmin, which also has a built-in MP3 player and other features missing in the MDX Nav.
Saw the Venza reviewed on Motorweek (PBS) earlier this evening and liked what I saw. Depending on how it drives, a loaded V-6 AWD but without the Nav just might replace my MDX come January when the local dealers have an assortment of Venzas in stock.
Depends on your area. If I look at 94131, the configurations offered on the 4-cylinder include a package with Navigation ($5,620).
I'm waiting for my dealer to confirm which configurations are going to be ordered in my area (I'm not in 94131; I used it just to see what's available in other areas). It's likely that I'll need to get the moonroof with Premium Package 2 & the JBL upgrade, but I'm OK with that.
From initial reading, a FWD 4 Cyl is nicely loaded, and a decent price. Only thing I would require adding is aht emoonroof. But knowing Toyota, it either won't be available with the 4, or will only come with 3K of other options I don't need/want.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Maybe with the market being so down and the the Venza being assembled in Louisville could there actually be a turn around to actually supplying to the customers order? I won't hold my breath.
Luckily, I have another year on my lease and I'm hoping things will be sorted out by then. I'm also hoping there will be more competitors available by then that will offer a similar vehicle.
I wouldn't worry about the 20 inch tires. I checked tirerack.com and they currently have about 6 or 7 tire models ranging in price from $98 to $245 each (the highest price is for new Blizzak winter tires) that will fit the V6 Venza. The available tires come from Goodyear, Bridgestone and Pirelli and I'll bet you will see more tire choices available if the Venza sells well.
With the current condition of the US auto market (and economy in general), Toyota will be hard pressed to sell fully loaded V6 Venzas at $38K. There are so many good vehicles in that price range and they are inching into "premium" brand territory as they get close to $40K. My guess is that the I-4 will sell very well when available during Q1of 2009 if they can keep the price near $30K or lower. And as gasoline prices rise next spring & summer, you will begin to see discounts on loaded V6s. One final comment, Toyota's claim that the Venza creates a new segment continues to ignore the Subaru Outback. The 2 vehicles are very similar in size, shape and purpose; Toyota even owns a large stake in Subaru. Perhaps the Venza will be the basis for future Outbacks.
MD
That's interesting. Thanks for the information. I wonder why L.A. wouldn't have the same options. I had thought about a standalone GPS but the car's for my wife who gets technophobic over anything more complicated than "push a button and speak"
I've never bought a Toyota before. Do they really not offer build-to-spec cars? I can't imagine spending four thousand dollars on options I don't want.
Toyota is very decentralized when it comes to selling. In fact Toyota Motor Manufacturing doesn't sell anything retail. It's all done by TMS and the regional distribution arms and the dealers. All three get together monthly at the regional level and decide what will sell in each region and how the vehicles should be configured.
Don't like your regional offerings? Look at the region next door. These offerings are not set in stone either. It's a flexible situation depending on market demand and need. In Maine there is a strong demand for 4WD and AWD vehicles. In NYC there is almost no demand. In WV it's all basic strippie 4WD trucks. In NoVA it's upscale hybrids and crossovers.
TMMC might believe that it should product 60% V6 models evenly split between FWD and AWD and 40% I4's all in FWD. Overtime the market may make its preference known for 40% V6's with most being AWD and 60% I4's split 50/50 between FWD/AWD. This normally takes 6-12 mo's to be sorted out.
I'm still not sure why everyone is still so worked up about Toyota's marketing hype around their positioning of the Venza. All companies are going to claim their new product breaks new ground, totally "revolutionizes" a segment, or "reinvents" it.
No company is going to introduce something new and claim it's a me-too product in an already crowded field.
Interesting that you mentioned the Outback. I didn't realize it, but it's about the same length as the Venza. It is several inches narrower, though, and the 6-cylinder engine requires premium fuel. I'm not interested in AWD, so I've never really considered any Subaru (though the Forrester seems to always get high marks in the compact SUV category).
The regional concept needs to be more flexible. When I bought my Highlander my region only stocked third row seat models. I bit the bullet and bought one but the third row seat has never seen the light of day except to show my friends what joke it is. I paid extra for it because the region said I must have it. Next time I don't think that is going to happen for me. Provide the vehicle I want and need or I will go elsewhere and not 3-500 miles to another region.
I doubt it. As kdhspyder mentioned, the domestic manufacturers are moving toward less customization to improve efficiency. Why would Toyota and Honda repeat the errors of the domestics?
Simply put, building many different combinations of a vehicle is inefficient. Of course, that has to be weighed against providing customers with at least a bit of flexibility or they won't buy. That's the mass market dilemma.
Look at the Maybach -- you can order one tailor-made to your specifications down to the interior materials used. The non--mass market price allows them to make those kinds of accommodations.
For th eoptins, people don't seem to have a problem with Honda (other than an occasional moonroof complaint). It is clear what car has what, and every dealer has the same choices. ANd an EXL is an EXL everywhare.
Toyota is frustrating because they claim to have models (and clearly list them in the brochure) that they never actually make. I went through this with a SIenna. Decided that an LE with say package #3 was exactly what I want. Then find out that they make package 1,2 and 9 only, so to get what I wanted out of #3 would cost me many thousands of dollars extra.
the domestics did (or would) actually make all the different permutations. Thats what cost them so much. I think they are trying to go the Honda route, not Toyota.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Unfortunately your request for a package 3 Sienna or the prior request for a Highlander w/o a 3rd row seat happen to fall into a minority of demanders. The majority gets served in these cases.
TMMC offers a slate of production possibilities but the regions determine what the majority want and this is what is offered locally. It's not arbitrary it's based on customer and visitor input at the store level. It's also not inflexible. It gets changed all the time - from input at the store level - in order to meet the greater demand.
I guess I'm one of the few that dislikes Honda's approach. I understand why they do it, though. Essentially the number of combinations of each model becomes a function of the number of trim levels multiplied by exterior colors.
It's great that an EX-L is the same everywhere -- it also means it's missing features everywhere that force you to purchase a Touring (such as a power liftgate or Bluetooth on the Pilot).
As far as Toyotas go, I've been pretty lucky that my needs/wants have matched up with what they've ordered (and they do order a finite number of combinations). The Highlander Limited and Highlander Hybrid Limited I've been looking at have had packages that met my needs.
I'm hoping to be able to get a 2WD V6 Venza with Premium Package 2, JBL 6CD, and the moonroof. Test drive units are supposed to arrive mid or late November, or so they've said.