Decisions, decisions...Toyota Venza

[Tink's Pixieduster]

I'm in the process of looking at new cars. Among other cars I'm considering, I'm looking at a Toyota Venza, which I had a chance to test drive yesterday. Although the size and features seem like they would work for me, I'm not completely sold. I have checked reviews on Youtube, Edmunds and KBB, but would like input from someone who drives one every day. If anyone on this board has recently (2012 - 2013) purchased a Venza I would appreciate feedback on how the vehicle worked for you (my children are adults and I have no grandchildren, so features focused on children are not a consideration at this point). Is there anything that stands out as a terrific idea that works well? On the opposite end, is there anything that you think is a negative, from being an inconvenience to an outright epic fail?

Yep, WDW related because the car would be used for trips

 

[DisneyIll]

I have a 2011 Venza that has been to WDW twice. These were round trips over 2200 miles each. I have 2 kids one is 20 and the other 16. There is plenty of room.On long trips I actually prefer the back seat as it is so so comfy.I drive this vehicle everyday for work and it has over 80,000 miles on it. I love it, can you tell? The only negative to me is temperature control. I have to keep it around 72 year round to keep the interior from being too hot or too cold. It also gets pretty good gas mileage for a cross over SUV.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

I have a 2011 Venza that has been to WDW twice. These were round trips over 2200 miles each. I have 2 kids one is 20 and the other 16. There is plenty of room.On long trips I actually prefer the back seat as it is so so comfy.I drive this vehicle everyday for work and it has over 80,000 miles on it. I love it, can you tell? The only negative to me is temperature control. I have to keep it around 72 year round to keep the interior from being too hot or too cold. It also gets pretty good gas mileage for a cross over SUV.

Thank you! This is exactly the type of opinions I'm hoping for!

 

[nicks mom]

I agree...have one that I bought in July 2011 and drive it for work up and down the east coast...love it!! I have one child but my parents are with us quite often and they think it is extremely comfortable, both the passenger seat and the back seat. Great gas mileage and it is a very smooth drive. Been thinking of getting a new car just because the mileage is getting up there but decided to keep it because I do really love it. Good luck!

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

I agree...have one that I bought in July 2011 and drive it for work up and down the east coast...love it!! I have one child but my parents are with us quite often and they think it is extremely comfortable, both the passenger seat and the back seat. Great gas mileage and it is a very smooth drive. Been thinking of getting a new car just because the mileage is getting up there but decided to keep it because I do really love it. Good luck!

Thank you!

 

[Swimalie]

My dad has had his for 2 years. It is nice and is very quiet on the highways. But, I also have a Subaru Forester that is 2 years old and my car seems about the same inside and out as his and cost less. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy mine over his.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

If I had to do it all over again, I would buy mine over his.

Is price the only reason for you to say this? Are there features that you think are better on your Subaru?

 

[hops&dreams]

ok, I am not a venza owner, but Dh's aunt has had hers for 2-ish years now, and she LOVES it. It is driven at least 3-4 times a year from Cincinnati to the Michigan shore (north of Holland) and is very comfortable. She went from a Honda Odessey to a Toyota Prius to the Venza, and she can't stop talking about how in love with the Venza she is. She said it's roomy like the mini-van, but drives like a car. She loves being able to throw her tennis gear (she's a coach for a HS team) and stuff for her charity in the back. Dh's uncle (her husband) is a car afficianado, and is very happy with how the car has held up over the years they've had it, how little maintenance has been required, and says it's still purring like a kitten.

DD's best friend's mom also recently got a Venza. She is the mom of a 6th grader and a 4th grader. She went from a Nissan minivan to the Venza and LOVES it. She said she enjoys it for her (long) commute to work, because the gas mileage is great, it's comfortable and roomy, and it handles like a car. She likes the room for the kids. She said it's like having a minivan room-wise, but not having to compromise style wise (she's just getting back into the dating scene.)

DH's mom and stepdad are looking at replacing his Prius, and are very impressed with the Venza. He likes the roomy-ness, and the fact that he can get in and out of the Venza very easily. He has a bad back, and his back surgeon is the one who actually suggested they take a look at it.

Just wanted to let you know what I'd heard. It's already on my list of cars to look at when I'm ready to replace mine.

 

[Swimalie]

Is price the only reason for you to say this? Are there features that you think are better on your Subaru?

Price is a small part. The main reason is that I'm not one that needs a lot of bells and whistles on the car. The Venza seems to have a lot of extras that I just don't need and wouldn't spend the money on. Although I do love the push button lift gate closer. I don't have that (Subaru's don't have that option) and wish I did. Size is a part as well. The Venza is bigger and feels like it would be harder for me to drive. Also, in order to fit both our cars in the garage, we stay smaller in our cars.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

ok, I am not a venza owner, but Dh's aunt has had hers for 2-ish years now, and she LOVES it. It is driven at least 3-4 times a year from Cincinnati to the Michigan shore (north of Holland) and is very comfortable. She went from a Honda Odessey to a Toyota Prius to the Venza, and she can't stop talking about how in love with the Venza she is. She said it's roomy like the mini-van, but drives like a car. She loves being able to throw her tennis gear (she's a coach for a HS team) and stuff for her charity in the back. Dh's uncle (her husband) is a car afficianado, and is very happy with how the car has held up over the years they've had it, how little maintenance has been required, and says it's still purring like a kitten.

DD's best friend's mom also recently got a Venza. She is the mom of a 6th grader and a 4th grader. She went from a Nissan minivan to the Venza and LOVES it. She said she enjoys it for her (long) commute to work, because the gas mileage is great, it's comfortable and roomy, and it handles like a car. She likes the room for the kids. She said it's like having a minivan room-wise, but not having to compromise style wise (she's just getting back into the dating scene.)

DH's mom and stepdad are looking at replacing his Prius, and are very impressed with the Venza. He likes the roomy-ness, and the fact that he can get in and out of the Venza very easily. He has a bad back, and his back surgeon is the one who actually suggested they take a look at it.

Just wanted to let you know what I'd heard. It's already on my list of cars to look at when I'm ready to replace mine.

Thank you SO much! I'm going from a Highlander to a Venza so I'll be downsizing, which was one of my concerns. I drive a carpool once a week and when I test drove the Venza last Sunday it felt like it would accomodate 5 comfortably, but I wanted an opinion on this that didn't come from a salesman or a website that reviews cars. I was looking for practical experiences with the Venza and you helped a lot with that.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

Price is a small part. The main reason is that I'm not one that needs a lot of bells and whistles on the car. The Venza seems to have a lot of extras that I just don't need and wouldn't spend the money on. Although I do love the push button lift gate closer. I don't have that (Subaru's don't have that option) and wish I did. Size is a part as well. The Venza is bigger and feels like it would be harder for me to drive. Also, in order to fit both our cars in the garage, we stay smaller in our cars.

I'm used to larger vehicles (going from an Odyssey to a Highlander and now to a Venza) so this car actually felt a bit smaller to me, but still seemed to have the room I would need. My car isn't garaged, so that is not an issue for me.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

Thanks everyone for all your feedback! I placed a deposit on a Venza this afternoon and will go back later in the week to make sure the one I have on hold is the one I really want (I might change my mind on the color). You've all been very helpful!

 

[Swimalie]

I'm used to larger vehicles (going from an Odyssey to a Highlander and now to a Venza) so this car actually felt a bit smaller to me, but still seemed to have the room I would need. My car isn't garaged, so that is not an issue for me.

Sounds like a good choice then. When my parents come to visit, we put our son's car seat in their car (back seat) since their car can fit 3 across comfortably, even with the car seat where as we can't do that as nicely in the Forester.

 

[DisneyIll]

Thanks everyone for all your feedback! I placed a deposit on a Venza this afternoon and will go back later in the week to make sure the one I have on hold is the one I really want (I might change my mind on the color). You've all been very helpful!

Congrats. You will love it,!

 

[hops&dreams]

So, OP - now you've had it for a couple of weeks... what do you think???

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

So, OP - now you've had it for a couple of weeks... what do you think???

So far so good. The tires (Michelins) grip the road and the ride is smooth, with an excellent turn radius. The seats are comfortable and there is plenty of space inside, including the back seat. The XLE model I got has seat memory so if someone else adjusts the driver's seat I can reset it back to my personal settings by pushing a single button. The side mirrors tilt down when I back up so its easier to see if I'm inside parking space lines. It also has seat warmers which I haven't tried yet (no doubt I will this winter). And I like the way it looks.

There is one con I would change if I could; the display screen for the navigation/audio/backup camera is flush with the dash so it fades out when sunlight hits it and you can't see the image. I was using the navigation the second day I had the car and there were times during the trip when I glanced at the screen and I couldn't see it unless I was in shade or the sun was behind a cloud. This flaw isn't vital to the operation of the car (I listen to the spoken directions rather than watching the screen), but I think to be 100% useful it needs to be set into the dash and not flush with it so the sun can't hit it directly.