2009 Toyota Venza

[Booker B.]

Got a flyer in the mail about this crossover car last night. For a change, the tow capacity was advertised front and center - 2500lbs for the I4, 3500lbs for the V6 engine. Both of the engines get good mileage and it's available in AWD.





Canadian Driver Review

It's not a station wagon!

[Laura & Rick]

I’m a “little biased” but the Toyota Highlander would be a great TV choice. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, great fuel mileage, AWD, roomier and very, very comfortable.

[Frederick L. Simson]

It's not a station wagon!

[Taylor Kissinger]

But it does look CooooooooooL. Plenty big enough for a smaller Egg

[Marv Watson]

I may be a little biased, too, Rick...but this "cross-over" sure seems to be a lot like the Subaru Outback (my TV for our 13' Trillium). Let's see...how many years has the Outback been on the market? I've noticed this trend by other makers as well, with their "cross-over" attempts. Ford Focus is one that comes to mind. Everytime I see one when we're traveling, I exclaim "whose station wagon is that? Looks a lot like a Subaru wagon".

[pjanits]

Best TV ever was my '87 Suburban Diesel 4 wheel drive. 22 mpg hwy,tows 12,500 lb. Pull a house off it's foundation. Fuel was cheap.
Oh gee, there I go living in the past again..

I got rid of it after 12 yrs and 180,000 miles because the inside of the windows got wet when running through puddles,
I did have some body rot. But engine/ trans was still ok.
I do miss it tho.......

[Booker B.]

I was definitely thinking about the 13' foot crowd when I posted it =)

[CliveAlive]

I may be a little biased, too, Rick...but this "cross-over" sure seems to be a lot like the Subaru Outback (my TV for our 13' Trillium). Let's see...how many years has the Outback been on the market? I've noticed this trend by other makers as well, with their "cross-over" attempts. Ford Focus is one that comes to mind. Everytime I see one when we're traveling, I exclaim "whose station wagon is that? Looks a lot like a Subaru wagon".

It's not a station wagon? That's hilarious! There must be a stigma to station wagons.

Well, I'm very biased of course. Let's not forget perhaps the longest running series of a station wagon, the Volvo 240 series. From 1975 to 1993.

Here's mine, still a baby, just turned 200,000 over the holidays ...

[Phil 4500]

Got a flyer in the mail about this crossover car last night. For a change, the tow capacity was advertised front and center - 2500lbs for the I4, 3500lbs for the V6 engine. Both of the engines get good mileage and it's available in AWD.


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Canadian Driver Review

It's not a station wagon!

I agree with you Booker, I think its a great looking vehicle and would be perfect for towing our trailer. There are very few vehicles that I like that tow over the 1500lb mark but under 3500 or 5000lbs. With Honda for example, the CRV, Element etc have a rating of 1500lbs, and with our trailer at 1800lbs, you have to go all the way up to the Ridgeline with a tow rating of 5000lbs and 20 mpg to tow it. This larger 2.7L 4cylinder in the Venza looks like a perfect combination of enough towing capacity, without being too much and the bonus is that its from a manufacturer that puts out reliable products and does not have a cloud of bankruptcy hanging over it like some manufacturers.

[Booker B.]

That's why we went with the Subaru Forester Phil - we had the same problem finding something in that 2000-2500lb range. There are very few 4 cyl cars with the tow capacity for a 13-15' trailer.

[CliveAlive]

That's why we went with the Subaru Forester Phil - we had the same problem finding something in that 2000-2500lb range. There are very few 4 cyl cars with the tow capacity for a 13-15' trailer.

That's one of the reasons I love the 240 series. Maximum trailer weight for the 4 cyl 240 is 3,300 lbs.

[Laura & Rick]

Have to agree with CliveAlive. My old Volvo 245 could pull a trailer, with two kids, wife and dog plus all thier stuff and drive like a dream. Well, ok except for mountain passes!

Still, my perference, in order, would be: PORSCHE (the heck with the Casita, I should have kept at least one of my mine - fanstic automobile period). The Highlander - nice, good ride, quite and comforable. Volvo. A pickup, Toyota, Ford or Nissan.

[Phil 4500]

That's why we went with the Subaru Forester Phil - we had the same problem finding something in that 2000-2500lb range. There are very few 4 cyl cars with the tow capacity for a 13-15' trailer.

Hi Rick,

I noticed Subaru is one of the few manufacturers who do have vehicles in this tow range. Unfortunately, they discontinued the model I liked - the Baja and there is no Subaru dealer within a reasonable distance of my home. In my case, the Toyota dealer is within walking distance, something I have to consider, Otherwise I very much appreciate the fine products of Japan's often overlooked manufacturer, Subaru.

[Alf S.]

Hi: All... Thats one spicy lookin' "SSwagin'" or "Criss/cross" or what ever... To me a station wagon made more sense than driving something like my Dads 4dr. sedan!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Phil 4500]

I was looking at the video of the Venza on Toyota Canada's website and recognized it as having been filmed, in part, at the Etobicoke Yacht Club (Toronto) where I used to keep my boat - neat.

http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WW...11?index%2ehtml

here is another Canadian review

http://drivingtv.canada.com/CarRevie...s.php?ccID=702

[Roger H]

The best station wagon I've ever owned... and I miss it! These teenie-tiny "crossovers" are for kids.





Roger

[Pete Dumbleton]

Actually, the best family vehicle for me was a full-sized Dodge van with long body and set up for sleeping or table inside -- Plenty of room for transporting scouts and back-packing gear, power for pulling boats, etc.

OTOH, we also had a Pinto station wagon pulling a small utility trailer which we would load with tools or family camping gear or whatever and that was a really useful rig, plus fun to drive (It did not have the Fireball Ending which was only available on the Pinto sedan body).

[Ron Stewart]

I sat in one in a showroom today. This is MUCH bigger than my Subaru Forester or my father's Outback. I can see over the top, but just barely. I think it is wider and it is definitely longer than the RAV 4 beside it in the showroom. Seat height is higher than an Outback, but significantly lower than the RAV 4.

The interior is very, very nice.

I am planning on buying a 17 foot Escape, and want a tractor with a 3500 lb tow rating. The Venza would top my list except that financing is 5.9%, compared to 0% for the Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute. The sticker price of the Venza is $4,000 higher, but after 60 months at that interest differential, the Venza will cost $15,000 more than the Tribute. I just can't make that work.

Ron
Vancouver, BC

[Pete Dumbleton]

I really don't know how the 0% financing works (other than the purchase price has to be higher to compensate for it), but I'd be in there talking to the Toyota people about a better financing deal or lower price -- They've got to be under some pressure to sell given their record low performance recently.

I usually try to pay cash for vehicles, effectively taking a loan from myself -- Every time I have taken a loan from others I have had some kind of problem.

[Mike Magee]

I sat in one in a showroom today. This is MUCH bigger than my Subaru Forester or my father's Outback. I can see over the top, but just barely. I think it is wider and it is definitely longer than the RAV 4 beside it in the showroom. Seat height is higher than an Outback, but significantly lower than the RAV 4.

The interior is very, very nice.

I am planning on buying a 17 foot Escape, and want a tractor with a 3500 lb tow rating. The Venza would top my list except that financing is 5.9%, compared to 0% for the Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute. The sticker price of the Venza is $4,000 higher, but after 60 months at that interest differential, the Venza will cost $15,000 more than the Tribute. I just can't make that work.

Ron
Vancouver, BC

That seems a bit high. Don't forget that as the principal balance declines during the loan's life, so does the interest. The interest on $30K at 6.5% on a 60 month loan is about $5200. But still, we certainly see your point.