Thanks for the info. A few questions if you will: 1. Is there a fold-down armrest in the middle of the back seat, and does it have any storage or cupholders built into it? 2. I've seen photos of the spare tire and it didn't look full-size, and was on a cheap steel wheel. Can you confirm that it really is a full-size spare? 3. Any idea when a list of compatible bluetooth phones will be available for the Venza? None is currently listed on the toyota.letstalk.com site. 4. I also saw a photo of the rear hatch completely open and the top edge seemed to be very high. Can you tell me the measurement from ground to top-most edge of the open hatch? I'm concerned that the open hatch may bang against my open garage door?
Thanks in advance for your help. By the way, are you selling many Venzas?
Hi. I am in Snoqualmie and currently have a 2005 Lexus RX 330 AWD. I will be interested in looking at an I4 AWD Venza when it is available in Seattle area. Can you tell us what dealership you are with? Thanks!
I can't wait to see one in person. My local dealer told me that they don't expect their demo unit to arrive for another couple of weeks and he couldn't tell me what kind of options are being ordered for the first shipment of Venzas for sale.
Here are my questions:
1) How does the JBL sound system compare to the Highlander's JBL system? How does it compare to the 4Runner's JBL Synthesis? The 2008 Highlander's JBL is not a Synthesis system and I wasn't blown away when I tried it out. I currently have a 4Runner with the JBL and while it's pretty good, I thought the Bose systems I've heard in Nissans sounded better.
2) According to Toyota's specs, the spare tire is an 18" -- so I don't think it's considered "full size." Both my 4Runner and my previous 1st Gen Highlander had actual full size, non-temporary spares with an aluminum rim.
3) Do the dash and upper doors use soft-touch materials? I was disappointed that the Highlander's dash and upper door trim are hard plastic (though nicely grained). The 4Runner uses soft-touch/padded materials on the dash and upper door surfaces. I'm hoping the Venza is closer to the 4Runner than the Highlander in this respect.
4) Is the cargo mat (over the plastic floor) standard, or do you have to purchase as an accessory?
My Venza wish list based on the photos I've seen: - Struts to hold up the hood - Standard rear bumper protector (as opposed to an accessory)
Both are pretty minor (and the latter is solved by buying the accessory).
Regarding another post here about buying a first-year model, I bought a 1st Gen Highlander in 2001, the first year of production. I didn't have any problems, and the friend I sold it to a few years ago hasn't had any problems with it either.
I'm willing to try a 1st Gen Venza as well. The sheer number of major components (engine, transmission, etc.) shared with well-established models (Camry, Avalon, Highlander, ES350, etc.) help mitigate the risk, in my opinion.
Thanks for the answers. It's like we're living vicariously through you until we each get to see one in person.
I'm disappointed about the hard dash materials, though I'll hold final judgement till I see it in person. The '09 Murano uses a soft, padded material on the front portion of the dash and on the upper surfaces of the door (not just the vinyl/leather on the armrest).
Thinking about it more, it's a little silly -- how often do we touch the dash or even the upper portion of the door (unless you use it to rest your elbow with the window down)? If hard plastic is done right, it'll still look good (I think the Highlander's hard plastic looks good); however, soft-touch surfaces just look and feel so much more upscale.
Moving on to the JBL system, in your opinion, does the JBL Synthesis (13 speakers) in the Venza sound better than the JBL Synthesis (10 speakers) in the 4Runner? Even though they are both Synthesis systems, I'm thinking that they'll sound different (hopefully for the better)?
First to answer one of the questions, the cargo mat is part of the carpet floor mat/cargo mat option.
This is nothing more than a Camry wagon. Drives like a Camry, seats are identical to the Camry, it's a Camry. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with that. I'm sure Toyota will sell every single one they make. It still amazes me that the sales people working at these dealerships don't take the time to learn their product. How long have you known about this vehicle? sad. The guy that showed me the Venza tonight had no clue on how to open the power tail gate or the hood.
There is a "full size" tire in the spare tire wheel well but I did not bother to see if it was the same size as the tires on the vehicle. I did notice it had a steel wheel and not an alloy but it sure wasn't a donut size tire. The dash material is the same as on the Prius and on the Scion tC. They call it "rice paper" texture. I'm not joking. The door panels are the same hard plastic now being used by all manufacturers although it does not look as cheap as on the Corolla and the current Camry. About the only thing that semi-excited me was the dashboard layout. The shifter was placed in an optimum position and had the sequential shifter function. Whoever designed the center console ought to be shot. That is the worst design of a center console I've seen in my life. Just trying to move the console cover forward was an attempt in futility and God forbid if you have a drink in the first cupholder adjacent to it. You will decupitate it (pardon the pun!) and make a mess of things. Once I was able to open the console itself, there is plenty of room for storing cd's, etc. One disappointing aspect was an AUX plug to connect an mp3 player, not an Ipod. They do provide a mini plug male to male connector. Big oversight when you can get the actual Ipod connector and plug on the Scion line and not on a 37k dollar Toyota. The back seat feels roomy, plenty of legroom but three full size adults will be elbowing each other after a one hour trip. This vehicle seems to be designed for couples with no kids or as we used to call them here in California in the 80's Dink's (dual income, no kids) or maybe one but no more than two toddlers. The center armrest is the same as on the Camry. Pulls down and there is a covered cupholder box. Nothing fancy. The vehicle feels heavy on the road. I gunned it and it took a couple of seconds for the transmission to downshift and then take off. I got some tire squeal and the traction control kicked in immediately. One thing I liked was the electric power steering didn't feel like the electric power steering on their other vehicles. Toyota must have responded to customer's complaints about the lack of feel. There was actually some resistance as on a sport tuned vehicle but not as tight as say a Bmw 3 series or Infinity G35. Just enough to let you know you are still driving a Camry wagon. Last but not least I still don't like the melted Ford Edge grill look. The rest of the car looks great but that front end just doesn't do it for me. Which begs the question? Which came first? The Venza or the Edge? Toyota had the FTS-X concept for years and it looked like the Edge before there was an Edge. So did Ford copy Toyota? or did Toyota just sat on their laurels before finally going ahead with production? Hmm. And it makes me wonder. This particular Venza was the FWD V6 black with the gray leather, premium package 2, navigation system, and the carpet floor mats/cargo mat option. MSRP was $36,774.00 Oh, one last thing. The salesman was very pushy. All through the test drive he kept going on and on about how they were going to sell all of them at MSRP and that I should buy this one because they were going to be flying off the lot, blah, blah, blah, blah. I thought to myself: "This guy couldn't open the power liftgate even though the button is on the remote and he had the remote the whole time and expects me to just say "I'll take it! at MSRP." yeah, right. I told him with the current economic climate they would start piling up on the lot if they didn't discount them. I said he should get familiar with the internet and look at his competition. Some dealers here have them discounted on their websites already and the vehicles are not there yet.
gs933, I know you are anxious to hear about the JBL synthesis system. See my review above. I didn't turn the stereo on since I wear hearing aids and to me it's not a big deal. Having said that I would think they will sound different due to the sheer amount of speakers and the different textures and materials in both vehicles. I would tend to think it will sound brighter in the VENZA due to more hard plastics used in the door panels and rear cargo area than in the 4runner. The 4runner seems to have more sound absorbent materials and will emphasize your lower frequencies. (I was a recording engineer in my younger days)
Great write up, thanks. Shame the interior plastics are not as good as touted and I am dissapointed if the backseat cannot hold three people (or in my case three car seats). I agree that they will not be selling them at MSRP with this economic situation. They are giving zero % finance on most of their vehicles and this will happen with the Venza in due course. I was also interested to hear your comments about the center console, it sounds really good in terms of its sliding nature and large capacity. I wonder if anyone else has had trouble with it. Any other impressions from you would be great to hear.
"One disappointing aspect was an AUX plug to connect an mp3 player, not an Ipod."
What does that mean? An Ipod is one brand of MP3 player. Does the Ipod have a unique connection? I guess all us owners of non-Apple MP3 players should be glad they went with the standard instead of the Apple connector?
I don't know any non-ginormous vehicle that would seat three adults in a row comfortably for hours. And thank goodness. The vast majority of us never haul that many adults around. There are vehicles designed for that.
I gunned it and it took a couple of seconds for the transmission to downshift and then take off.
This concerns me. I find it hard to believe that after all of the transmission problems and complaints with the Camry, Toyota still hasn't gotten this right. I recently rented an '09 Maxima while on vacation and the CVT was amazing. No matter what speed I was going, stepping on the gas more produced instant results and yet, it still has a 6-sp manual mode.
This is a personal 'feeling' IMO. I've driven several Venza's. The new 6 spd tranny is worlds better than the one in the Camry 2 yrs ago. Is it a rocket? No but it is smooth as silk and it's far more powerful than the Murano and the CVT and/or the I4 turbo in the CX7.
"One disappointing aspect was an AUX plug to connect an mp3 player, not an Ipod."
What does that mean? An Ipod is one brand of MP3 player. Does the Ipod have a unique connection?
You can connect an ipod to any of these mini-jack plugs and play your ipod fine, but you have to control the player manually, on the player itself. What people want is the ability to control their ipod through the stereo without having to touch the player. This requires a special connector (20 pin I think) that the ipod can hook up to a computer. Lots of cars are starting to come out with this, on a new car it is an expected feature at this point. Ford (yeah, Ford) has had this for a while now. Why this is a problem for Toyota is a mystery to me, or why there is no slot for an SD card so you can load a bunch of songs up and use that instead. I don't get it, this isn't dificult to do, and I don't see why this kind of an easy technology addition isn't seen as a value added item to Toyota.
Thanks. That's a USB port/cable, isn't it? It is a bit odd that it's standard on a Scion. They probably figure their baby boomer target market for the Venza doesn't care about MP3 connectivity much.
Mary's comment is spot on. If you only knew how many Boomers have no clue and no interest whatsoever in the electronic downloading of music you'd be shocked. For the vast majority it's no interest whatsoever.
However for those who do have an interest in playing downloaded music, for the present MP3 inputs are the 'standard' because these are the most numerous. If at some time there develops more demand for an Apple interface and that becomes more numerous then the technology will be changed. Toyota is all about serving the largest demand meaning the most numerous number of buyers.
This is very much akin to the 'complaint' that the Corolla has no true performance model. Well that's true. That's because the larger number of buyers is in the basic transportation subsegment that wants reliability and fuel economy over performance. Similarly here more buyers are likely to have MP3's than iPods. The MP3 buyers get served until preferences change.
It's all about serving the greatest number of buyers.
"What does that mean? An Ipod is one brand of MP3 player. Does the Ipod have a unique connection? I guess all us owners of non-Apple MP3 players should be glad they went with the standard instead of the Apple connector? "
Mary, the Apple iPOD has its own unique connector. Some vehicles are equipped with it so you don't have to buy an adapter to listen to your tunes on your iPOD thru the vehicles sound system. For some reason Toyota decided to include them in the Scion line along with the AUX inputs which is targeted to the "y" generation and that's all they listen to; iPODs. I guess they figure the older population is not that hip so they give us AUX inputs. Look how long it took them to put bluetooth in the Avalon and Corolla.
I'll have to disagree with you on this one spidey. The VENZA seems to be targeted at younger buyers and not geriatrics like Highlander and Avalon buyers. I would venture to say this demographic is the young urban professional known in the eighties as "yuppies" They have the HD plasma or LCD big screen at home, hooked up to the XBOX 350 and Playstation 3 with the Blue Ray technology. Household income between $80-150k, one kid maybe two. And they all have iPods, iPhones, Blackberrys, and Palm pilots.
To me it's not a concern as it was explained by a Toyota Master Mechanic the way it works and it makes perfect sense to me. The ECU senses the accelerator to the flavor and pauses to decide what the real intentions of the driver are. If the pedal remains on the floor and there is no pedal lift then the tranny downshifts and takes off like a bat out of hell. No different than the car I drive now.
The JBL in the Venza sounds better than the one in the 4-runnner. I always use Hotel California "live version" by the Eagles as my benchmark and it sounds great in the Venza. I also test some dance music with a lot of bass and it thumps with a solid, rich sound.
There is NO excuse for a salesperson not knowing how to open the hatch or the hood on any car. Trust me, we are not all like that and I have been reading and studying about the Venza for several weeks now. And any sales person that does not know the answer to a guests questions should reply with "Thats a good question, I will find out and get back to you" Perhaps he was new and not really even a car guy like I am.
All the articles and press releases say the Venza's target market is the baby boomer, and those are far from geriatric and far from yuppies with kids at home.
I'd much rather have a generic MP3 player connection than a specialized iPod one. If I were into name brands like iPod I probably wouldn't be buying a Toyota in the first place.
From Toyota's own words it's primarily directed to Boomers coming out of Sequoias, 4Runners, Siennas, Explorers, Tahoes, etc. They want some room in back but they don't need the seating space that they needed when the family was full of kids and their friends. This group, and I can tell you from direct contact, has little or no knowledge of downloaded music.
The secondary goal with the less expensive 4 cyl model is young families with their first on the way where the mother-to-be is in a sports coup of some type or an old clunker from college. Ths will be their first new family vehicle together. This group is prolly 50/50 between iPODs and MP3 players.
I'd much rather have a generic MP3 player connection than a specialized iPod one.
I see absolutely no reason why both can't be provided. At the very least, the option to have the ipod integration should be offered for heaven sake. This was an error IMO.
Mary, my point was that regardless who this vehicle is targeted to, they should have incorporated both type of connectors into the vehicle. They did it on the Scions which sell for under 20k but couldn't put it on a 37k plus vehicle?
A lot of these boomers have grandkids with iPods. What are they going to tell Johnny or Susy or Roberto when they want to listen to their iPods on Grandpa's Venza?
The JBL in the Venza sounds better than the one in the 4-runnner.
Thanks, that's encouraging. I'm looking forward to trying it out myself.
Regarding an iPod input versus a generic AUX in, I was also disappointed that Toyota went with just the latter. I would love to be able to control my iPod from the steering wheel controls.
However, I can also understand why Toyota wouldn't include one. Some guesses: - Added cost to allow the audio system to control the iPod (yes it's software, but software costs money to develop) - Added cost of the proprietary connector (and maybe Apple charges a licensing fee for the connector?) - Added complexity -- you can support today's iPods, but will Toyota support future iPods as Apple changes their firmware or adds new models? A good example is the 2nd Gen iPod touch and 4th Gen nano that no longer support charging via the method that most older iPods use. - The target market just doesn't see it as being all that important.
I'm probably an anomaly from a demographic standpoint for the Venza. I'm a "millennial" and probably younger than Toyota's target market. I'll use my iPod with the aux in or burn MP3 CDs.
If enough buyers demand an iPOD connection then the vehicle will get one. This is one of those details that gets studied to death then the decision is made to go one way or another in order to eliminate variability and keep costs down.
I don't have a problem with it because I have an MP3 and just by chance this fits my profile perfectly. Except for the fact that I will be driving my Prius for the another 4-5 yrs the Venza is the vehicle that I would look at first in the entire line up....when it gets a hybrid option hopefully in 2-3 yrs.
Wow, judging from the responses on this forum alone, Toyota seems to have hit the nail on the head. Some say the Venza is targeted at young buyers with lots of kids still in car seats. Others say it was built for empty-nester boomers. Still others say it is a well-timed entry for those who want to move from their giant SUVs to something a bit more practical. Next we'll probably hear from the iPod-loving Scion xB owner who wants something that makes them feel more mature now that they have moved to suburbia. Personally, I like the Venza because it will handle a bit better than an SUV (maybe even handle very well when some performance-oriented tires become available), has reasonable cargo room for those trips to Home Depot, has a decent back seat when it's our turn to drive with our adult friends, it has available AWD for rain and snow and handling in general, it will be reliable, it ain't entirely ugly (hopefully there will soon be some sharp-looking, after-market replacement grills), it will probably be pretty safe in a crash, performs very well with the V6, gets better mpg than most other 268 hp vehicles (or wait for the I-4 for even better mpg), is priced reasonably compared with everything else offering the same size, performance and equipment levels and you can get one painted black. And though I am soon to become a grandpa, I usually burn my favorite iTune playlists onto a CD and play them in all of my cars, so I don't need a direct iPod connection. What's not to like? Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you for noting my lack of knowledge as far as a carpet mat goes. Its a little different to memorize different build combinations and reading what is included compared with how to open a hood or a back hatch. I was more excited about getting in the car and feeling the quality, drive feel, fit and finish etc than to worry if a cargo mat is standard or not.
Grandpa would say get a CD, or listen to the radio, or use the Aux port and control the iPod by hand. The children would get over it - it is not really a hardship. Although I agree it should be an option.
Has any one compared the Venza with the newly unveiled RX350/RX450H ?. I did a side-by-side photo comparison of the two vehicles (external and internal) and I was astonished at the resounding resemblance between the two vehicles (I tried to upload the comparison photos here - no luck). I guess Toyota is applying the successful formular of the best selling RX to the Toyota lineup - not a bad thing IMHO. The closest Toyota equivalent to the RX had always been the Highlander - but never a true equivalent (unlike ES350/Camry, Lancruiser/LX470 and 4Runner/GX470). It appears Toyota has just made a true Toyota version of the RX. And it is bound to be successful given the success of the RX.
Good comparison. I too think the Venza/2010 RX have very similar appearances. As you noted, the previous RX was based on the 2001-07 Highlander platform. Both the Venza & 2010 RX have that little triangular window just forward of the side mirrors. Also both have bright/chrome trim around the windows. Also, both seem to have a rather tall/upright front end. Of course the RX will have exclusive features and better quality leather/real wood trim not available on the Venza. Not sure I'm liking the 'rice paper' embossed upper door trim or dash surfaces. I'll have to see it in person to decide.
BTW, I'm wondering what some of you posters are driving now and how would the Venza better serve your automotive needs. I am presently driving a 2007 Highlander Hybrid Limited and find the Venza a bit more stylish than the HH. Other than that, I get really great MPG (28-29) which I doubt the Venza can match even in the 4 cylinder FWD model.
Geez, I'm sorry I even asked the original question about the cargo mat. Ignore the rude comments; I appreciate the info you've provided so far (definitely much more helpful than my local dealer).
Since most of the press photos show a carpeted cargo area and I found it interesting that the "standard" cargo floor is actually plastic (which may be a good thing, as long as it doesn't scratch easily).
Th Gen 6 look is entirely different but the same functionality is there, plus speaking to it on the fly is easier. Giving it an address as a new destination takes about half the time and I think it understand me better.
The buttons are rearranged somewhat but the options are still there.
Connecting a BT devise and disconnecting one is a snap now.
I actually drove a 6 cylinder Venza today & the 09 Hylander Limited. The Venza has a nice plastic cargo floor with some extra side storage areas under the covers - 1 on ea. side & 1 main cover over spare - doughnut. But there was also a carpeted mat that can go over the plastic cargo area.
It drives very good and handles well even when deliberating making sharper fast turns with the AWD. Good pickup too. It's quieter than the Highlander at all speeds and the transmission shifts smoother. The Limited Highlander is more floaty/bouncy. Venza more care like. I though the Venza seats slightly more comfortable. Cargo space depth and width is not much different but Highlander has more height. I prefer the Venza.
Things Venza might not have available - can check brochure - no turn signal mirrors or puddle lamps. I was told tire pressure monitor system only lets you know if a tire is low, unlike other systems that give you actual PSI for ea. tire.
The other thing I was told - seems like radio controls on steering wheel to change stations only lets you go up and down to to your 12 presets. To get to other stations, you still need to go to the unit in the dash.
I'm wondering how others might compare the loaded Venza to a loaded Lincoln MKX. The Venza's gas mileage is a little better. Lincoln MRRP is more, but has good deals on it now. Any opinions comparing these two? I don't even think the Lincoln has turn signal mirrors, but I think it has puddle lamps and you can get articulating headlamps. Both offer those panaroma roofs.
And how long you been selling Toyotas? In my experience, and I may be wrong. I don't think Toyota or Lexus include mats, floor, cargo or otherwise as standard equipment. They should take a page from Honda which makes them standard on their cars now.
I was told tire pressure monitor system only lets you know if a tire is low, unlike other systems that give you actual PSI for ea. tire.
That's the way it works in the regular Highlander (and many other Toyotas) too. The Highlander Hybrid shows the actual measurements on the multi-info display; not sure why it couldn't be done on other Toyotas with a multi-info display other than cost.
Same thing with the steering wheel audio controls. That's how it works on most other Toyotas. You can move between the presets (and switch between AM/FM1/FM2/CD/aux, etc.) from the steering wheel. I think holding down the steering wheel buttons does something else -- maybe scans from preset to preset. I prefer cycling through the presets any way -- much better than having to repeatedly push the buttons just to see what's on the other stations.
I'm wondering how others might compare the loaded Venza to a loaded Lincoln MKX.
I was thinking the same thing too after seeing an ad in the paper the newspaper this morning with a ~$33K price for an MKX (after employee pricing and incentives).
The MKX looks more like a Lexus competitor with real wood, heated/cooled seats, 4-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, etc. Based on Lincoln's web site, it looks like it's missing the Smart Key and HIDs that are optional on the Venza. I'm guessing the interior materials are a step above both the Edge and the Venza, but that's just a guess.
I got to drive one today. I have mixed impressions. I love the dash display, rice paper plastic, backup camera, and cloth upholstery. I didn't particularly love the exterior look or the huge console or the dog-usefulness. I guess I'm too young to care about the floor being even with the opening.
This one was that gold/brown with SmartKey & electric liftgate but not much else in add-ons. He said they wanted $32k.
To me it felt a bit big and heavy, with a hesitation at acceleration. Must be the CVT? The windshield was huge and offered great visibility. The back seat felt huge, with a ton of legroom. I liked the armrest with covered cupholders and the fact the back seats recline. Folded flat, you kind of had to push them down to get them flat.
I think I might be back in the CR-V market. There's a lot I love about the Venza but the huge console gave me a claustrophobic feel. The console wouldn't hold a purse so that means reaching into the back seat with it when there's a passenger. I like in the CR-V there's no console at all and a lot of floor space to put a purse. I really wanted SmartKey but maybe some year soon they'll perfect the aftermarket, cell phone driven ones.
Honda has a vehicle similar to the Venza slated for December 2009. I'm going to wait to check that out. Perhaps Honda will offer lower priced models . I'm certainly not going to pay 32k for a car. Like the CRV. The step in height is not too high.
Holding down the audio controls on the steering wheel shuts the system off.
If it works the same as the 4Runner, holding down the mode button shuts the system off (and on). I checked -- holding down the up arrow or down arrow scans to next higher or lower station (doesn't have to be a preset).
Drove the Venza. Very nice. Not a Lexus but manageable. I am seriously thinking of buying a fully loaded model. I am in the Seattle area. I found a dealer on the East coast that will sell me a fully loaded one at $700 over invoice but then I would have to have it shipped. Can anyone recommend a West coast dealer that is very aggressive with their pricing?
I have owned vehicles with both types of tire pressure monitors and I prefer the one that just warns you when a tire is low. Frequent, minor pressure changes that are caused by normal conditions, such as outside temperature and driving conditions can drive you nuts thinking there may be something wrong. But that's just me.
I doubt you will find a fully loaded MKX for $33K - that's probably a stripped vehicle that would be hard to come by on a dealer's lot. The low-ball pricing gets you to visit the dealer so they can sell you one for much more. A fully loaded Venza will list for about $38K and a similarly equipped MKX will list for $45K - $47K (it's difficult to get an exact feature-to-feature match). But up in that price range you should compare the MKX with a Lexus RX350 and other similar premium vehicles. 2009 RX350's are great bargains right now. If you still like the MKX, drive one and then immediately take a test drive in a Ford Edge and see which one is the better value. The MKX has a many add-on features but much of its content is identical to the Edge. Also consider value retention: Toyota/Lexus is a very solid company, even in today's economy. Where will Ford/Lincoln be 3 years from now? Will your local dealer still be in business? It's great to have so many choices.
Comments
1. Is there a fold-down armrest in the middle of the back seat, and does it have any storage or cupholders built into it?
2. I've seen photos of the spare tire and it didn't look full-size, and was on a cheap steel wheel. Can you confirm that it really is a full-size spare?
3. Any idea when a list of compatible bluetooth phones will be available for the Venza? None is currently listed on the toyota.letstalk.com site.
4. I also saw a photo of the rear hatch completely open and the top edge seemed to be very high. Can you tell me the measurement from ground to top-most edge of the open hatch? I'm concerned that the open hatch may bang against my open garage door?
Thanks in advance for your help. By the way, are you selling many Venzas?
Here are my questions:
1) How does the JBL sound system compare to the Highlander's JBL system? How does it compare to the 4Runner's JBL Synthesis? The 2008 Highlander's JBL is not a Synthesis system and I wasn't blown away when I tried it out. I currently have a 4Runner with the JBL and while it's pretty good, I thought the Bose systems I've heard in Nissans sounded better.
2) According to Toyota's specs, the spare tire is an 18" -- so I don't think it's considered "full size." Both my 4Runner and my previous 1st Gen Highlander had actual full size, non-temporary spares with an aluminum rim.
3) Do the dash and upper doors use soft-touch materials? I was disappointed that the Highlander's dash and upper door trim are hard plastic (though nicely grained). The 4Runner uses soft-touch/padded materials on the dash and upper door surfaces. I'm hoping the Venza is closer to the 4Runner than the Highlander in this respect.
4) Is the cargo mat (over the plastic floor) standard, or do you have to purchase as an accessory?
My Venza wish list based on the photos I've seen:
- Struts to hold up the hood
- Standard rear bumper protector (as opposed to an accessory)
Both are pretty minor (and the latter is solved by buying the accessory).
Regarding another post here about buying a first-year model, I bought a 1st Gen Highlander in 2001, the first year of production. I didn't have any problems, and the friend I sold it to a few years ago hasn't had any problems with it either.
I'm willing to try a 1st Gen Venza as well. The sheer number of major components (engine, transmission, etc.) shared with well-established models (Camry, Avalon, Highlander, ES350, etc.) help mitigate the risk, in my opinion.
I'm disappointed about the hard dash materials, though I'll hold final judgement till I see it in person. The '09 Murano uses a soft, padded material on the front portion of the dash and on the upper surfaces of the door (not just the vinyl/leather on the armrest).
Thinking about it more, it's a little silly -- how often do we touch the dash or even the upper portion of the door (unless you use it to rest your elbow with the window down)? If hard plastic is done right, it'll still look good (I think the Highlander's hard plastic looks good); however, soft-touch surfaces just look and feel so much more upscale.
Moving on to the JBL system, in your opinion, does the JBL Synthesis (13 speakers) in the Venza sound better than the JBL Synthesis (10 speakers) in the 4Runner? Even though they are both Synthesis systems, I'm thinking that they'll sound different (hopefully for the better)?
First to answer one of the questions, the cargo mat is part of the carpet floor mat/cargo mat option.
This is nothing more than a Camry wagon. Drives like a Camry, seats are identical to the Camry, it's a Camry. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with that. I'm sure Toyota will sell every single one they make.
It still amazes me that the sales people working at these dealerships don't take the time to learn their product. How long have you known about this vehicle? sad.
The guy that showed me the Venza tonight had no clue on how to open the power tail gate or the hood.
There is a "full size" tire in the spare tire wheel well but I did not bother to see if it was the same size as the tires on the vehicle. I did notice it had a steel wheel and not an alloy but it sure wasn't a donut size tire.
The dash material is the same as on the Prius and on the Scion tC. They call it "rice paper" texture. I'm not joking. The door panels are the same hard plastic now being used by all manufacturers although it does not look as cheap as on the Corolla and the current Camry.
About the only thing that semi-excited me was the dashboard layout. The shifter was placed in an optimum position and had the sequential shifter function. Whoever designed the center console ought to be shot. That is the worst design of a center console I've seen in my life. Just trying to move the console cover forward was an attempt in futility and God forbid if you have a drink in the first cupholder adjacent to it. You will decupitate it (pardon the pun!) and make a mess of things. Once I was able to open the console itself, there is plenty of room for storing cd's, etc. One disappointing aspect was an AUX plug to connect an mp3 player, not an Ipod. They do provide a mini plug male to male connector. Big oversight when you can get the actual Ipod connector and plug on the Scion line and not on a 37k dollar Toyota.
The back seat feels roomy, plenty of legroom but three full size adults will be elbowing each other after a one hour trip. This vehicle seems to be designed for couples with no kids or as we used to call them here in California in the 80's Dink's (dual income, no kids) or maybe one but no more than two toddlers. The center armrest is the same as on the Camry. Pulls down and there is a covered cupholder box. Nothing fancy.
The vehicle feels heavy on the road. I gunned it and it took a couple of seconds for the transmission to downshift and then take off. I got some tire squeal and the traction control kicked in immediately. One thing I liked was the electric power steering didn't feel like the electric power steering on their other vehicles. Toyota must have responded to customer's complaints about the lack of feel. There was actually some resistance as on a sport tuned vehicle but not as tight as say a Bmw 3 series or Infinity G35. Just enough to let you know you are still driving a Camry wagon.
Last but not least I still don't like the melted Ford Edge grill look. The rest of the car looks great but that front end just doesn't do it for me. Which begs the question? Which came first? The Venza or the Edge? Toyota had the FTS-X concept for years and it looked like the Edge before there was an Edge. So did Ford copy Toyota? or did Toyota just sat on their laurels before finally going ahead with production? Hmm. And it makes me wonder.
This particular Venza was the FWD V6 black with the gray leather, premium package 2, navigation system, and the carpet floor mats/cargo mat option. MSRP was $36,774.00
Oh, one last thing. The salesman was very pushy. All through the test drive he kept going on and on about how they were going to sell all of them at MSRP and that I should buy this one because they were going to be flying off the lot, blah, blah, blah, blah. I thought to myself: "This guy couldn't open the power liftgate even though the button is on the remote and he had the remote the whole time and expects me to just say "I'll take it! at MSRP." yeah, right. I told him with the current economic climate they would start piling up on the lot if they didn't discount them. I said he should get familiar with the internet and look at his competition. Some dealers here have them discounted on their websites already and the vehicles are not there yet.
I agree that they will not be selling them at MSRP with this economic situation. They are giving zero % finance on most of their vehicles and this will happen with the Venza in due course.
I was also interested to hear your comments about the center console, it sounds really good in terms of its sliding nature and large capacity. I wonder if anyone else has had trouble with it.
Any other impressions from you would be great to hear.
What does that mean? An Ipod is one brand of MP3 player. Does the Ipod have a unique connection? I guess all us owners of non-Apple MP3 players should be glad they went with the standard instead of the Apple connector?
I don't know any non-ginormous vehicle that would seat three adults in a row comfortably for hours. And thank goodness. The vast majority of us never haul that many adults around. There are vehicles designed for that.
This concerns me. I find it hard to believe that after all of the transmission problems and complaints with the Camry, Toyota still hasn't gotten this right. I recently rented an '09 Maxima while on vacation and the CVT was amazing. No matter what speed I was going, stepping on the gas more produced instant results and yet, it still has a 6-sp manual mode.
BTW, can the traction control be turned off?
Yes the Traction Control can be disabled.
What does that mean? An Ipod is one brand of MP3 player. Does the Ipod have a unique connection?
You can connect an ipod to any of these mini-jack plugs and play your ipod fine, but you have to control the player manually, on the player itself. What people want is the ability to control their ipod through the stereo without having to touch the player. This requires a special connector (20 pin I think) that the ipod can hook up to a computer. Lots of cars are starting to come out with this, on a new car it is an expected feature at this point. Ford (yeah, Ford) has had this for a while now. Why this is a problem for Toyota is a mystery to me, or why there is no slot for an SD card so you can load a bunch of songs up and use that instead. I don't get it, this isn't dificult to do, and I don't see why this kind of an easy technology addition isn't seen as a value added item to Toyota.
I think so. The connector that hooks up to the ipod itself is wider that a standard USB plug.
They probably figure their baby boomer target market for the Venza doesn't care about MP3 connectivity much.
That kind of thinking is going to get them into trouble. They ought to be able to look around and see what is going on with the other manufacturers.
However for those who do have an interest in playing downloaded music, for the present MP3 inputs are the 'standard' because these are the most numerous. If at some time there develops more demand for an Apple interface and that becomes more numerous then the technology will be changed. Toyota is all about serving the largest demand meaning the most numerous number of buyers.
This is very much akin to the 'complaint' that the Corolla has no true performance model. Well that's true. That's because the larger number of buyers is in the basic transportation subsegment that wants reliability and fuel economy over performance. Similarly here more buyers are likely to have MP3's than iPods. The MP3 buyers get served until preferences change.
It's all about serving the greatest number of buyers.
Mary, the Apple iPOD has its own unique connector. Some vehicles are equipped with it so you don't have to buy an adapter to listen to your tunes on your iPOD thru the vehicles sound system. For some reason Toyota decided to include them in the Scion line along with the AUX inputs which is targeted to the "y" generation and that's all they listen to; iPODs. I guess they figure the older population is not that hip so they give us AUX inputs. Look how long it took them to put bluetooth in the Avalon and Corolla.
There is NO excuse for a salesperson not knowing how to open the hatch or the hood on any car. Trust me, we are not all like that and I have been reading and studying about the Venza for several weeks now. And any sales person that does not know the answer to a guests questions should reply with "Thats a good question, I will find out and get back to you" Perhaps he was new and not really even a car guy like I am.
I'd much rather have a generic MP3 player connection than a specialized iPod one. If I were into name brands like iPod I probably wouldn't be buying a Toyota in the first place.
The secondary goal with the less expensive 4 cyl model is young families with their first on the way where the mother-to-be is in a sports coup of some type or an old clunker from college. Ths will be their first new family vehicle together. This group is prolly 50/50 between iPODs and MP3 players.
I see absolutely no reason why both can't be provided. At the very least, the option to have the ipod integration should be offered for heaven sake. This was an error IMO.
Thanks, that's encouraging. I'm looking forward to trying it out myself.
Regarding an iPod input versus a generic AUX in, I was also disappointed that Toyota went with just the latter. I would love to be able to control my iPod from the steering wheel controls.
However, I can also understand why Toyota wouldn't include one. Some guesses:
- Added cost to allow the audio system to control the iPod (yes it's software, but software costs money to develop)
- Added cost of the proprietary connector (and maybe Apple charges a licensing fee for the connector?)
- Added complexity -- you can support today's iPods, but will Toyota support future iPods as Apple changes their firmware or adds new models? A good example is the 2nd Gen iPod touch and 4th Gen nano that no longer support charging via the method that most older iPods use.
- The target market just doesn't see it as being all that important.
I'm probably an anomaly from a demographic standpoint for the Venza. I'm a "millennial" and probably younger than Toyota's target market. I'll use my iPod with the aux in or burn MP3 CDs.
I don't have a problem with it because I have an MP3 and just by chance this fits my profile perfectly. Except for the fact that I will be driving my Prius for the another 4-5 yrs the Venza is the vehicle that I would look at first in the entire line up....when it gets a hybrid option hopefully in 2-3 yrs.
BTW, I'm wondering what some of you posters are driving now and how would the Venza better serve your automotive needs. I am presently driving a 2007 Highlander Hybrid Limited and find the Venza a bit more stylish than the HH. Other than that, I get really great MPG (28-29) which I doubt the Venza can match even in the 4 cylinder FWD model.
Regards -
M. J. McCloskey
Since most of the press photos show a carpeted cargo area and I found it interesting that the "standard" cargo floor is actually plastic (which may be a good thing, as long as it doesn't scratch easily).
The buttons are rearranged somewhat but the options are still there.
Connecting a BT devise and disconnecting one is a snap now.
It drives very good and handles well even when deliberating making sharper fast turns with the AWD. Good pickup too. It's quieter than the Highlander at all speeds and the transmission shifts smoother. The Limited Highlander is more floaty/bouncy. Venza more care like. I though the Venza seats slightly more comfortable. Cargo space depth and width is not much different but Highlander has more height. I prefer the Venza.
Things Venza might not have available - can check brochure - no turn signal mirrors or puddle lamps. I was told tire pressure monitor system only lets you know if a tire is low, unlike other systems that give you actual PSI for ea. tire.
The other thing I was told - seems like radio controls on steering wheel to change stations only lets you go up and down to to your 12 presets. To get to other stations, you still need to go to the unit in the dash.
I'm wondering how others might compare the loaded Venza to a loaded Lincoln MKX. The Venza's gas mileage is a little better. Lincoln MRRP is more, but has good deals on it now. Any opinions comparing these two? I don't even think the Lincoln has turn signal mirrors, but I think it has puddle lamps and you can get articulating headlamps. Both offer those panaroma roofs.
That's the way it works in the regular Highlander (and many other Toyotas) too. The Highlander Hybrid shows the actual measurements on the multi-info display; not sure why it couldn't be done on other Toyotas with a multi-info display other than cost.
Same thing with the steering wheel audio controls. That's how it works on most other Toyotas. You can move between the presets (and switch between AM/FM1/FM2/CD/aux, etc.) from the steering wheel. I think holding down the steering wheel buttons does something else -- maybe scans from preset to preset. I prefer cycling through the presets any way -- much better than having to repeatedly push the buttons just to see what's on the other stations.
I'm wondering how others might compare the loaded Venza to a loaded Lincoln MKX.
I was thinking the same thing too after seeing an ad in the paper the newspaper this morning with a ~$33K price for an MKX (after employee pricing and incentives).
The MKX looks more like a Lexus competitor with real wood, heated/cooled seats, 4-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, etc. Based on Lincoln's web site, it looks like it's missing the Smart Key and HIDs that are optional on the Venza. I'm guessing the interior materials are a step above both the Edge and the Venza, but that's just a guess.
This one was that gold/brown with SmartKey & electric liftgate but not much else in add-ons. He said they wanted $32k.
To me it felt a bit big and heavy, with a hesitation at acceleration. Must be the CVT? The windshield was huge and offered great visibility. The back seat felt huge, with a ton of legroom. I liked the armrest with covered cupholders and the fact the back seats recline. Folded flat, you kind of had to push them down to get them flat.
I think I might be back in the CR-V market. There's a lot I love about the Venza but the huge console gave me a claustrophobic feel. The console wouldn't hold a purse so that means reaching into the back seat with it when there's a passenger. I like in the CR-V there's no console at all and a lot of floor space to put a purse. I really wanted SmartKey but maybe some year soon they'll perfect the aftermarket, cell phone driven ones.
I did notice the next Prius due out in spring has a unique interior layout which looks perfect for purses. http://www.homotron.net/2008/10/new_2010_prius_photo_leaked.html
2010 Honda Accord CUV - Spied
Honda hasn't exactly been on fire in terms of styling -- the 2nd Gen Pilot and Acura's new TL could both be described as "controversial" at best.
If it works the same as the 4Runner, holding down the mode button shuts the system off (and on). I checked -- holding down the up arrow or down arrow scans to next higher or lower station (doesn't have to be a preset).
I doubt you will find a fully loaded MKX for $33K - that's probably a stripped vehicle that would be hard to come by on a dealer's lot. The low-ball pricing gets you to visit the dealer so they can sell you one for much more. A fully loaded Venza will list for about $38K and a similarly equipped MKX will list for $45K - $47K (it's difficult to get an exact feature-to-feature match). But up in that price range you should compare the MKX with a Lexus RX350 and other similar premium vehicles. 2009 RX350's are great bargains right now. If you still like the MKX, drive one and then immediately take a test drive in a Ford Edge and see which one is the better value. The MKX has a many add-on features but much of its content is identical to the Edge. Also consider value retention: Toyota/Lexus is a very solid company, even in today's economy. Where will Ford/Lincoln be 3 years from now? Will your local dealer still be in business? It's great to have so many choices.