2009 Toyota Venza - Engines, Details, and Features - First Drive

On our drive loops, we tried the AWD Venza with the V-6 and the front-drive four. The new 2.7-liter has 182 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque and is now the largest four-cylinder in the Toyota line. Throttle tip-in is a little touchy, but power delivery is smooth after that, and the four works well with the six-speed with Sport mode and tap-up/down shifting. But this vehicle is heavy. A four-cylinder Venza with AWD nears 4000 pounds; add five people and gear, and a drive in Colorado or over Southern California's Grapevine would tax the engine.

The V-6 is a livelier choice, with 86 more horses and 64 pound-feet more torque. Even so, there were times on inclines when the six-speed was too quick to shift and ended up doing a lot of hunting. Sport mode helped, as it held shifts longer and also left things in the driver's hands. Steering is more responsive here than in the Highlander, and it is more fun in turns than in a typical SUV, but as far as driving satisfaction is concerned, the Venza is still no substitute for a car.

The five-passenger interior is roomy and tastefully adorned, with comfortable leather-covered seats, semi-gloss wood on the center stack and transmission shifter, plus brushed-metal-like accents along the dash. The Venza's h-point is about 4.5 inches higher than that of the Camry, providing a better view of the surroundings. Subtle hints implied that Toyota expects the Venza buyer to skew a little bit older, stressing that the doorsills are as low as a car's for easy entry/exit; anyone who has trouble reading the text in the multi-information display can make the font size bigger; and there is no third-row seating available, typically the ideal spot for little kids. Also, there is a bevy of pet-friendly Venza-specific accessories that can be ordered at Toyota dealerships, great for empty-nesters who travel with their dogs. When it comes to interior volume and capacities, it looks as if Toyota was aiming squarely at the Edge. Headroom is within 0.4 inch and legroom is within 0.5 inch in the front and rear. Cargo volume also is close: 70.1 cubic feet for the Venza, 69.0 for the Edge. This is one of the easiest cabins to reconfigure based on what you're toting. Standing at the liftgate, if you need to drop the second row, there's a door pull on either side of the cargo area, much like the interior door handles from a Tacoma. One pull, and each side of the 60/40 row folds nearly flat. A power liftgate also is available.