On the Japanese manufacturer's hierarchical model ladder, the Toyota Venza occupies a place one step lower than the Highlander and is a direct competitor to another Japanese crossover, the Honda Crosstour. Both of these cars are a universal solution for a family man who prefers an active lifestyle, but without sacrificing comfort and speed.
The second generation Toyota Venza received an updated radiator grille, consisting of three massive curved horizontally oriented fins. Above it, in the manner of Skoda cars, the manufacturer’s logo is located, forming a small beak on the hood. The headlights have an elongated shape and look quite stylish. They also boast lensed optics and a garland of daytime running lights.
Dimensions of Toyota Venza
Toyota Venza is a mid-size crossover with two rows of seats. Its overall dimensions are: length 4833 mm, width 1905 mm, height 1610 mm, wheelbase 2775 mm, and ground clearance is 205 mm. Thanks to its solid ground clearance, the crossover can easily climb medium-sized curbs and easily navigate dirt roads far from civilization. For those who like to get out into nature, there is an all-wheel drive version with even greater cross-country ability.
The trunk of the Toyota Venza can please you with its capacity. With the backrests of the second row of seats raised, there is 975 liters of free space in the rear. This is more than enough for both everyday city use and long trips. If, by a whim of fate, the owner needs to transport something larger, he can always fold down the backrests of the second row and free up up to 1987 liters of free space.
Toyota Venza Engine and Transmission
Toyota Venza in the domestic market is equipped with one power unit, a six-speed automatic transmission, as well as an all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive system. Although the choice cannot be called extensive, the proposed units are quite versatile and can meet most of the requirements of potential buyers.
The Toyota Venza engine is a transversely located in-line naturally aspirated four with a volume of 2672 cubic centimeters. The large displacement, proprietary gas distribution system and two overhead camshafts allowed engineers to squeeze out 185 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 247 Nm of torque at 4200 rpm. With such a power unit and all-wheel drive system, the crossover reaches a speed of one hundred kilometers per hour in 10.6 seconds, and the speed ceiling, in turn, will be 180 kilometers per hour. The engine's appetite is quite decent, but it is worth noting that the volume is rather large. The fuel consumption of a Toyota Venza with all-wheel drive will be 13.3 liters of gasoline per hundred kilometers at a city pace with frequent acceleration and braking, 8 liters during a measured trip on a country road and 10 liters of fuel per hundred in a combined driving cycle.
equipment
Toyota Venza has a rich technical content; inside you will find a lot of useful devices and clever systems designed to make your trip interesting, comfortable, and most importantly, safe. Thus, the car is equipped with: seven airbags, a rear view camera, climate control, a multifunctional on-board computer, a light sensor, full power accessories, heated mirrors, windows and seats, xenon headlights, passive cruise control, adaptive headlights, seats with electric settings, elevator and memory of parameters, sunroof and panoramic glass roof, premium audio system, electric trunk lid, standard navigation system, as well as a key card for starting the engine using a button.
Bottom line
Toyota Venza keeps up with the times, it has an elegant and stylish design that perfectly emphasizes the status and character of its owner. The car will look great both on busy city streets and on country roads far from civilization. The salon is a kingdom of luxury, high-quality finishing materials, precise ergonomics and comfort. Even a long trip will not cause unnecessary inconvenience to the driver and passengers. Inside you will find a lot of clever devices and useful systems that will not let you get bored on the road and greatly simplify the operation of the car. The manufacturer understands perfectly well that the car is not a high-tech toy and, first of all, it should provide driving pleasure. That is why, under the hood of the crossover there is a powerful and modern engine, which is the quintessence of innovative technologies, many years of experience in the field of engine building and legendary Japanese quality. Toyota Venza will serve you for many kilometers and give you an unforgettable driving experience.
Video
On June 15, official sales of the Toyota Venza, a cross between the Camry and Highlander models, will start in Russia. The car turned out to be large and noticeable in an American way, but not without oddities. To study the character and “Americanisms” of this “interclass” phenomenon, AvtoVesti went to the historical homeland of Venza.
The young woman was no longer young: the Toyota Venza, developed in America, went into production at a plant in Kentucky back in November 2008. Quite a few used Venzas were imported into Russia through “gray” channels. But only this year Toyota finally officially brought the “American” to our market. As they say, better late than never. Yes, and Venza, which went through a mild crisis in 2012, is still not bad looking and looks, as they say, “pretty good,” that is, quite good. And if at a gas station they suddenly ask what kind of device this is, you can safely say: it’s a cross between a Toyota Camry and a Highlander. And this is not far from the truth. Toyota people say that the Venza is a combination of the comfort and handling of the Camry sedan with the capacity, functionality, high seating position and high ground clearance of the Highlander crossover.
The half-breed turned out to be even larger than its progenitor: Venza is 48 mm longer than the rather large Highlander, although in overall height it is 150 mm lower than it. But the ground clearance of the Venza is only a millimeter less than the “dad’s” (205 mm), and it is more convenient to climb into it, because the seat height in the cabin is 70 mm lower than that of the Highlander. In terms of the distance between the first and second rows of seats, the difference is only a few millimeters, and the Toyotas also promise the largest space in the “gallery” in the class.
Factory roof rails are available to Americans as an accessory, but they are not yet offered in Russia. But, unlike the USA, Russian Venzas already have LED daytime running lights as standard. And the headlights are not halogen, but xenon, with both low and high beam. And in the top-end “Prestige” configuration, the headlights also automatically switch from high to low and back. Headlight washers are also standard. Wheels are already standard - only 19-inch.
However, the first thing I do is look into the trunk, which the Yankees also claim is almost the largest in the class. I press the button on the fifth door, the lock opens, but the door itself does not move. You have to open it with your hands, with your hands. But there is an electric drive here (albeit without position memory and only in the top version “Prestige”)! There is, but it will only work to lift the door from the buttons in the cabin and on the key fob. And the tailgate glass, by the way, does not open separately - contrary to American traditions.
But the trunk itself is really huge, up to the ceiling behind the rear seats - 975 liters (757 liters), the floor is low, the “gate” is wide, I don’t want loads. Only if something has rolled into the far corner will you have to climb into the trunk with your feet, and it’s easy to get smeared in the slush on the protruding bumper. But if you fold the back sofa, the volume of the “shed” will reach two cubic meters - you can take out half an apartment! But to the dacha, a Venza packed to the brim will go “squatted”: there is no automatic correction of the floor level under load (like, say, in) the rear suspension.
The Venza is hospitable to rear passengers: the threshold is low and it is comfortable to sit down, the wide doors open almost 90 degrees and cover the threshold itself with the lower part, protecting it from dirt. True, it won’t be possible to seat your mother-in-law in the third row: unlike the Highlander, the Venza is only a five-seater. The rear sofa is 12 mm higher than the front seats, but the roof does not press (plus the base already has a huge double hatch) and it is very spacious here, there is room to put your feet, and your knees do not rest against the back of the seat even when the seat is moved all the way back. The sofa itself, sewn into slippery leather, is completely flat in profile and does not hold up in sharp turns. But the backrest is adjustable in angle, the headrests are adjusted well, a lamp is perched directly above your head, so you can comfortably lie down in the gallery with a book. For complete happiness, the only thing missing is heating, which, for example, “Crosstour” has.
The Venza interior is offered in three colors: beige and gray with brown and black wood-look inserts, as well as black with carbon-imitating inserts (pictured). For safety, 7 airbags, active front head restraints and seat belt pretensioners are already included in the basic configuration. The Venza has a five-star crash test rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The third passenger, especially a tall one, is no longer so at ease. He feels the protruding armrest on his back, there is a massive transmission tunnel in his legs, and his knees can rest against the sides of the front backrests. I was also impressed by the combination of premium features and cheap solutions. For example, when raising the glass, the servo drive slows down in the last centimeters so that the window closes without knocking. But under the ceiling there are like simple pull handles taken from a suitcase, without any microlifts that are now found even on budget cars. American contrasts!
Is the plastic in the cabin also made in the American way? In the upper part of the instrument panel and front doors it is soft to the touch, below it is already hard and loud. But it looks decent and doesn’t creak while driving: at least in the new test car, the interior and instrument panel were “silent.” But the sliding armrest between the front seats can creak and knock in some positions. Only the Yankees themselves care about plastics and squeaks: they, unlike the Russians, are not so fixated on this. It’s more important for them to have a place to stick a can of Coke and stuff their travel items. With this, Venza is in complete order, everything is just in American traditions. There are plenty of pockets and pockets, the cup holders between the seats are large, with LED backlighting. In the center console there is a mini-branch of the trunk with three (!) containers with a total volume of 13.7 liters. My camera sank into one of them, like into a black hole, along with the trunk! And I, naive, thought that the Chevrolet Tahoe had a large glove compartment...
Gigantomania also occurs in the case of wide front seats. There are no questions about the range of settings, but the seats were clearly made for people wider and heavier than me: with my height of 180 cm, I literally dangle in them. Developed lateral support, well-developed back profile? No, you haven't heard! Everything is simpler and without frills, like a home sofa. I’ll pick on the location of the automatic transmission selector: when you use the manual mode of the transmission, your elbow rests against the back of the seat. Visibility is also nuanced. The windshield pillars are very massive and block a considerable field of view - be on your guard. The rear wiper cleans only a small embrasure, and although the front window has heated blades, there is no rain sensor, which would be much more useful than a light sensor. The side mirrors were also surprising. But not because they are folded only by hand. It’s just that the mirror elements are already small, and a little more was pinched off from them, installing a lens in the corner that shows the car in the blind spot. A twofold solution: someone will probably like it, but I never had time to get used to it.
The multimedia system and navigator in the Venza are Russified, and the radio receiver is retuned to Russian frequencies. But the touch screen in all trim levels is only 6-inch (a 7-inch touchscreen is only available in the top-end Limited trim of cars with V6 engines), and navigation tips are not duplicated on the screen under the windshield. I didn’t really like the climate control “twists”: they are slippery and do not lock clearly.
How does it all go? Unlike the USA, Venzas with a V6 engine will not be sold in Russia yet: they are expensive, and the Highlander does not need an extra competitor. Therefore, under the hood of the test car there is only a 4-cylinder 2.7-liter engine with 185 hp. and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces a decent 247 Nm of torque, but the Venza is no pushover. The front-wheel drive version weighs 1860 kg, and the all-wheel drive model we tested already weighs 1945 kg. So, no miracles with dynamics: Venza AWD goes up to 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds, mono-wheel drive in 9.9. Do you like to drive? But the Venza, not so much. She wouldn’t say that she’s a “vegetable,” but she’s more inclined toward a calm, measured drift. And if you need dynamics, the engine must be spun at 4000 rpm and above, where it demonstrates noticeable pickup. Although you shouldn’t expect a kick in the ass in the style of the Fast and the Furious movie during acceleration, and the hysterical, harsh sound of the engine is already beginning to break into the cabin, which in such a “take-off” mode also vibrates to the floor. In general, at first the crossover seemed a little noisy: you could hear the suspension, you could hear the background muttering of the engine even in quiet modes... I got behind the wheel on the third day - and it didn’t seem to be so loud anymore, apparently, I got used to the car.
During the test
average fuel consumption made up
12.7 l
At 100 km
But Venza doesn’t let you get bored, it throws up nuances. Take, for example, “automatic”. His soft but leisurely work with delays in response to adding or releasing gas did not become the discovery of America. As well as the fact that in “sport” mode the engine-box tandem is a little more active. But the logic of the manual mode is a mystery! In the manual, the automatic transmission clearly lives its own life: it doesn’t particularly hold the selected gears, spontaneously shifting “down” or “up” when the gas is pressed or released, and, on the contrary, it does not allow switching to higher gears during active acceleration.
I’ll also add that the gearbox included in D does not hold the crossover on a slope: release the brake and the Venza rolls back. In this case, all trim levels have a hill start assistant (HAS), which, after releasing the brake pedal, holds the car for about 3 seconds. But if in European and Japanese cars such systems immediately “grab” the car, as soon as you press the brake a little, then in Venza the pedal must be pressed further for the system to turn on and issue a signal to the panel. The brakes themselves are also unique, with a long, seemingly two-stage pedal stroke and some kind of “rubber” feeling that bears little resemblance to intelligible information content. The grip of the brakes, taking into account the weight, also turned out to be average, although during active braking the Venza does not rush around and slows down smoothly.
In addition to the Venza, the 4-cylinder engine of the 1AR-FE series is installed on the American versions of the Highlander, the Sienna minivan and the Lexus RX270. The engine is equipped with intake and exhaust camshaft camshaft shifters, a variable length manifold and a variable displacement oil pump. In addition, Russian versions have a larger coolant radiator and an additional engine oil cooler. Maintenance intervals are 10,000 kilometers, vehicle warranty is 3 years or 100,000 km.
The crossover also moves along a straight highway as if on rails. But there is no great desire to drive along winding roads - the “format” of the car is not the same, you can immediately feel its weight and sweeping habits. Comfort on the go? The suspension practically does not notice the road "trifles", but at large transverse joints the car already shudders. I also passed through an area with a broken crushed stone grader. In general, the suspension allows you to drive quite actively on such a surface. But in deep transverse gullies and large holes the steering wheel is already shaking, the steering wheel is trembling, the suspension is booming and the vibrations from the hefty 19-inch “rollers” measuring 255/45 are felt more and more strongly. Eh, there would be 18-inch tires with a higher profile, a softer one... But there won’t be such wheels, the car is already equipped with only size 19 (on V6 versions - even 20 inches). But Russian Venzas (and we drove American versions) will receive softer shock absorbers and tires with reinforced tread! It's a useful thing, but the Venza won't become too wobbly with such a suspension.
The Americans also promise other calibrations of the electric power steering. Otherwise, on test cars there is a typical American wattage and unnatural effort on the steering wheel. Settings for changing direction, not for handling refinements. I hope that the Russian versions will have a sharper steering wheel, but what definitely won’t change is the considerable (almost 6 meters) turning radius: on a tight street you won’t be able to turn around in one sitting. Also in our car on the grader there were knocking noises in the steering mechanism. I would like to believe that I just got a bad car...
The Venza has quite a serious ground clearance of 205 mm under the front gearbox. The bottom is generally flat, only the exhaust tract hangs down, which at bends in the terrain risks being the first to come into contact with the ground. By the way, the list of accessories will also include steel engine protection.
But I didn’t manage to drive the car “into the fields” to test the all-wheel drive similar to the RAV4 with an electromagnetic multi-plate clutch in the rear axle drive. In the States, you still have to find off-road roads, especially since everywhere you spit, there is private property everywhere. And local landowners may not understand the desire of strangers to spread dirt on their lands. And if you consider how many weapons the American population has in their hands... However, having crawled around the Venza from below, I was even glad that I didn’t go looking for adventures on my own. Because if the Venza got stuck somewhere, then... Dig-push! And this is not only a curse, but also a call to action. Because there is nothing to pull, the car has no towing eyes! If you gently pull the shallowly stuck crossover, you can anchor yourself at the front by the stamped lower arms. But I wouldn’t risk tugging on the less thick rear ones. Dragging by the tow bar? It won’t work either: it is available in American versions, but for Russian ones it is not certified and is not sold by “officials”. So, even if you were drawn to nature, you wouldn’t take a step off the asphalt without a shovel. Or, through friends, acquaintances or “gray” suppliers, order a tow bar from the States and install it on the car yourself.
The folded backrests of the rear sofa provide a flat floor and 1988 liters of volume. The backrests fold themselves, just pull the handles in the trunk. Carpet on the floor and cargo nets are options, and a cargo cover is standard only on the top-end Prestige trim. Under the hard plastic floor there is a dock.
In a word, the crossover turned out to be ambiguous. Not the freshest and most progressive, not the most refined in habits, with questions about ergonomics and other oddities. However, our customers are unlikely to be deterred by the car’s possible shortcomings. Because on the other side of the scale, Venza has an expressive appearance and a spacious interior, good equipment and a high seating position above the road. It’s also a Toyota, and there’s a special attitude towards it in Russia. So the Russian sales expected by marketers at the level of 5,000 Venzas per year do not look fantastic. In any case, even before the start of sales, the planned volume of pre-orders for the Venza has already been doubled.
The last question remains: how much to pay? The most affordable Venza is the front-wheel drive version of "Elegance" priced at 1,570,000 rubles. The equipment list already includes a leather interior, 2-zone climate control, xenon headlights with washer, heated front seats, a CD radio with 6 speakers and a 6-inch touchscreen, and rear parking sensors. By paying another 101,000 rubles, we get an all-wheel drive Venza with a rear view camera. The top-end Venza will cost 1,776,000 rubles, and it will already have front parking sensors, a servo drive for the fifth door, keyless access to the interior and engine start, automatic switching of headlights from low to high beam, a Russified navigator and a powerful JBL audio system with 13 speakers.
In the photo - Venza, adapted for Russia. As they say, find 10 differences. But they exist! The rear bumper already has red foglights; in addition, Russian dealers will initially install front and rear parking sensors in the bumpers themselves. Taking into account our “sandblasting” roads, the density of “anti-corrosion” on the hood has been increased, plus additional anti-corrosion treatment has been given to wheel rims, emblems and door handles.
Rivals? Toytists consider the Nissan Murano, which costs from 1.59 to 1.93 million rubles, to be the competitor of Venza No. 1 in Russia. The second on the list is the Volvo XC70, but only diesel versions (2 and 2.4 l) are suitable for the price, ranging from 1.43 to 1.87 million rubles. For Subaru Outback, only 2.5-liter (167 hp) options fall into the price range (from 1,555,000 to 1,753,000 rubles). There is also an all-wheel drive VW Passat Variant Alltrack with a price tag starting from 1,529,000 rubles. Of course, we won’t forget about the Honda Crosstour, but the updated 4-cylinder version (2.4 l, 194 hp, 220 Nm) is available in Russia only with front-wheel drive, a 5-speed automatic transmission and only in one top-end configuration priced at 1,599,000 rubles.
Engine
Quite a bit of time has passed since a new crossover for this market was presented to Russian buyers, which without a doubt can be classified as a premium segment. Official dealers have already begun accepting applications for this model, the restyled version of which was greeted with delight at the last auto show in New York. It is expected that the Toyota Venza modification will be supplied to the territory of the Russian Federation, reviews of which are filled with gratitude from customers almost all over the world. Indeed, as part of the 2013/2014 model year, the appearance of the previous generation car, which until recently was not officially offered in the Russian Federation, was changed.
Features of the production process
Where the car will be assembled are located in the United States of America in Kentucky. So you can forget about concerns about poor quality work and insufficient qualifications of employees. After all, this company has long specialized in its professional activities, and its choice as the main assembly base for the updated Toyota Venza, reviews of the previous generation of which were positive, is more than justified. After all, the plant in Kentucky will supply its products not only to the Russian market, but also to customers throughout the CIS, where regional conditions are largely similar.
Layout
If you look at the features of the Toyota Venza body, then, to your surprise, you will find that it is not very suitable for a classic crossover; it should rather be classified as an all-terrain station wagon, which occupy an intermediate niche in the classification of cars. To build this model, the platform from the previous generation Camry sedan was used due to its high unification and reliability. However, the Japanese corporation classifies the Toyota Venza car, reviews of which in the land of the rising sun were not the most enthusiastic, as an SUV. Statements from manufacturers emphasize increased ground clearance, a powerful power plant and all-wheel drive, so in all of them the model is conventionally classified as a crossover, but with a note about its use only in “urban jungle” conditions. After all, despite all the thoughtfulness of the car, it has a rather narrow scope of application, which can be seen in the process of comparing various parameters of the Toyota Venza 2014, the technical characteristics of which without a shadow of embarrassment indicate that the model is intended for use on high-quality road surfaces at various transport interchanges , highways or highways, and not on mud roads. After all, in this car great attention is paid to comfort and functionality, which, in turn, presupposes a developed transport infrastructure and a corresponding consumer. If any of this is missing, this car will become unclaimed.
Facelift
The restyling, which was carried out at the end of last year, introduced many innovations into the appearance of the Toyota Venza car. Reviews of this event fully reflected the delight of critics and car enthusiasts, because this model underwent a whole range of favorable changes - instead of the old headlights, completely new optics were installed, more durable bumpers took the place of the previous ones, and also underwent changes. The side mirrors acquired a light indication with the repetition of turns, and the ground clearance and rims were prepared for the characteristics of Russian open spaces. The interior and exterior of the car have been refreshed and become much more modern, while retaining the features of its ancestor, the Toyota Camry.
Linear dimensions and reviews from owners
The car retained its dimensions, but became a little taller: with a width of 1905 mm and a SUV length of 4833 mm, the distance from the bottom of the wheels to the top of the roof was 1.61 meters. At the same time, the base and ground clearance remained unchanged - 2775 and 250 mm, respectively. When fully equipped and in the maximum configuration, the car weighs 1.86 tons, and for models with all-wheel drive - 1.945 tons. The trunk volume of the car is 975 liters, which is quite a lot for a vehicle of the Toyota Venza class. Reviews from the owners of this model captivate any connoisseur, because the luxury and elegance of the interior is beyond praise - the interior uses bold combinations of various materials that qualitatively imitate natural wood and carbon fiber, and the leather upholstery of the seats with unobtrusive backlighting of the instrument panel will surprise you with its functionality. The interior is comfortable and spacious, but if you need to move large cargo or luggage, you can fold the rear seats, which will increase the available space by another 60% of its capacity. At the same time, during long trips, none of the passengers will have any complaints, because they are equipped with adjustable seat backs, niches for storing various small items, armrests and cup holders, a heating system and much more.
Nuances of new cars in the Russian Federation
Unfortunately, for the Russian public, this crossover will be presented only with the 2.7-liter 1AR-FE power unit, this is the “junior” engine that is installed on Toyota Venza cars. Fuel consumption, reviews and operational features of this 185 hp engine. do not cause any complaints from many users, because its four-cylinder “heart” is equipped with a timing belt with a chain drive, a gas distribution system and 16 DOHC valves. In preparation for Russian realities and fuel, the car's power and torque were slightly increased, their maximum reaches 136 kW and 247 Nm.
Dynamic characteristics
These indicators are enough to easily reach a speed of 180 km/h; the car accelerates to the first hundred in no more than 9.5 seconds - for its weight this is a very good time. When using a manual gearbox, these figures could be increased even more, but the Toyota Venza will be equipped only with a six-speed sequential automatic transmission. All-wheel drive will not be installed in the base car; its plug-in variation will be available only in top trim levels (4WD functions only when the front axle slips and when connected through a multi-plate clutch). In the urban cycle, fuel consumption will not exceed 12.3-13.3 liters per 100 km, while in the suburban cycle the consumption is much less - 7.1-8.0 liters.
Equipment of the car that foresaw expectations
Maximum comfort and minimal roll while moving along the road surface will be provided by a fully independent suspension. After all, the new Toyota Venza, reviews of which leave no doubt as to who will become the sales leader in this price segment, is equipped with special settings that reduce vibrations and vibrations on Russian transport arteries. Since the MacPherson strut suspension has been adapted to possible unevenness, this will reduce their impact to a minimum. In addition, the most modest configuration already includes ventilated brake discs on the front wheels and standard ones on the rear wheels.
Safety is a priority
A lot of different electronic assistants are also offered: assistance when moving from or on a slope, anti-lock braking and traction systems and many other pleasant additions for Toyota Venza cars. Reviews from experts about safety in this car do not differ, because everything in it is organized at the highest level. You just have to verify this yourself, since the front seats of the model are equipped with a lumbar support function, the base already has airbags for passengers and the driver, curtains for the first and second rows of seats, which prevents possible damage in road accidents.
Premium segment in perfect execution
In addition to high-quality assembly and an ergonomic interior, the new product on the Russian market still has something to brag about. After all, the wealth of configurations of this model was to the taste of many, so reviews of Toyota-Venza cars, even based on the results of short test drives, are filled with enthusiastic descriptions of the differences in the interiors of the Prestige, Eleganse and Elegance+ classes, thanks to which everyone can create everything they need around themselves - from xenon headlights, light sensors, running lights, alloy wheels of various sizes to cruise control, immobilizer, parking sensors, heated seats, mirrors, windshield and much more. The car will fully satisfy any wishes for a cost from 1,600,000 to 1,900,000 rubles.
Crossover or station wagon?
Not long ago, official Toyota dealers in Russia opened applications for a new Toyota Venza car for our country - its technical characteristics have been modified in accordance with the operating conditions of cars in our country. In general, the car was released at the end of 2008. But deliveries to Russia are only starting now. This will be a 2013-2014 Venza. This updated version was presented at the last New York Auto Show. The assembly of the car for the domestic market will be carried out in North America, at the production facilities of the plant in Kentucky.
The Japanese manufacturer classifies the Toyota Venza as a crossover, which, in their opinion, is indicated by the increased ground clearance, powerful engine and all-wheel drive system. However, with all the listed advantages, on a country road such a car will not be as comfortable as a full-fledged SUV. Therefore, it is more accurate to call it an “urban” crossover, or an all-terrain station wagon.
It is worth noting that the Toyota Venza was designed on the platform of the previous generation Camry sedan.
Appearance
Since only the restyled version of the Toyota Venza will be supplied to our country, we will not consider both generations of this car and conduct a comparative analysis of them, but will dwell in more detail on the updated Venza, which is of more interest to us.
In general, changes in the external appearance gave the car a more powerful and aggressive look, thereby preparing it for Russian reality. Venza's streamlined exterior design features new upper and lower grilles, fog lights and taillights for a dynamic look. The new look is complemented by 19-inch wheels. There is also a choice of three body color options. The Toyota Venza's dimensions are mostly similar to those of the Camry, but the Venza is significantly taller.
Key indicators of Toyota Venza:
- ground clearance or ground clearance is 205 mm;
- the curb weight of the car is 1860 kg for the front-wheel drive version and 1945 kg for the all-wheel drive version;
- trunk volume - 975 liters.
Interior decoration
The interior is luxurious and elegant. The new Toyota Venza features wood or carbon fiber inserts, giving the interior the appearance of a premium car. The seats and steering wheel are covered in high-quality leather, and the dashboard is equipped with LED backlighting.
The salon turned out to be ergonomic and very spacious. The developers took care not only of the comfort of the driver and front seat passenger, but also of the convenience of rear seat passengers by designing for them a folding armrest with cup holders, adjustable seat backs, a heating system and several pockets for small items.
Engine, transmission
It's time to take a closer look at the technical characteristics of the Toyota Venza. If in the USA and Canada the Toyota Venza is available with two engines, then only one power unit will be available for domestic buyers. It will be a 2.7-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, which has been modified to a certain extent and prepared for the particularities of operation on Russian roads. In addition, by 3 hp. The power was increased, now amounting to 185 hp. And the maximum torque of 247 Nm at 4200 rpm helps to confidently accelerate the car to a top speed of 180 km/h. There is no information about acceleration speed yet, but the first generation model reached a speed of 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds.
The new Toyota Venza for Russian buyers will be equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. There is no version of the car with a manual transmission. Venza is equipped with both exclusively front-wheel drive, typical for basic configurations, and all-wheel drive, which is activated through a multi-plate clutch when the front axle slips. This version is typical for more expensive modifications.
Fuel consumption and safety
Fuel consumption indicators are formed depending on the Toyota Venza model and its operating conditions:
- a crossover model with front-wheel drive in urban driving conditions consumes about 12.3 liters, outside the city the consumption decreases to 7.1 liters, and with a combined cycle fuel costs will cost approximately 9.1 liters;
- modifications with all-wheel drive consume 13.3 liters in urban conditions, about 8.0 liters on the highway, and about 10.0 liters of fuel will be consumed in mixed driving modes.
Many car enthusiasts who are interested in the Toyota Venza are interested in the question of why the Toyota Venza is not available to Russian buyers with the popular Toyota 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine. This is explained by the fact that more expensive Highlander brands are equipped with such units, the demand for which, if such engines are installed for Venza, will be significantly reduced. This is not beneficial for the Russian branch of the Toyota concern.
Toyota Venza is equipped with a fully independent suspension front and rear, which is based on MacPherson struts and is equipped with settings developed taking into account the characteristics of Russian roads. Ventilated brake discs are used on the front wheels, while non-ventilated discs are used on the rear wheels. The braking system of the new Venza includes anti-lock brakes, brake assist, brake force distribution, traction control and hill start assist. Moreover, all this additional equipment is available as standard.
The rack and pinion steering wheel is equipped with an electric booster. Also, already in the basic modification of the car, the front seats are supplemented with:
- lumbar support system;
- safety hatch;
- front and side airbags, two each for front seat passengers;
- knee pad for the driver;
- side curtain airbags for front and rear row seats.
All this suggests that the developers of the updated Toyota Venza took maximum care not only about the safety of the driver and passengers, but also about the comfort and convenience of their movement.
Options and prices
The Venza model for the Russian car market has not only a beautifully designed interior and good build quality, but also a basic package almost typical of prestigious cars. However, Toyota Venza is offered in Russia not only in the basic configuration and, accordingly, has a different price, depending on the availability of additional equipment:
- The initial “Elegance” package includes xenon headlights, fog lights front and rear, LED running lights, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather steering wheel and seats, panoramic roof with sunroof, full power accessories, dual-zone climate control and cruise control, front electrically adjustable and heated seats, as well as a heated windshield, light sensors, rear parking sensors, an audio system with a 6.1-inch screen and 6 speakers, central locking and an immobilizer. The cost of this modification of Toyota Venza will be 1,587,00 rubles.
- The Elegance Plus package is complemented by a rear view camera and an all-wheel drive system. The price of the car in this case will increase to 1,688,000 rubles.
- The “Prestige” package includes an electric rear door, front parking sensors, an automatic headlight leveling system, a Smart Entry vehicle access system, an engine starting system with a Push Start button, a navigator in Russian with voice control, as well as a premium audio system with 13 speakers. The price of this configuration will be 1,793,000 rubles.
It's not easy to answer. The cars overlap in price: for example, the difference between crossovers in the same Prestige configuration is less than 150,000 rubles. Add here the same platform, comparable dimensions and a lot of standardized components. Essentially, the Venza is an all-wheel drive Toyota Camry hatchback, and the Highlander is an all-wheel drive Toyota Camry station wagon.
To prevent buyers' brains from exploding at the car showroom, the Russian representative office of the Japanese concern still sold out the models. First of all, with the help of power units. The Venza is supplied to our market exclusively with a 2.7 four-cylinder engine, while the Highlander is available with a more powerful and status V6 3.5. Equipment details play in favor of the first model, but the larger “relative” can take seven on board.
So what is it? Just another marketing ploy to not lose a customer, or are the cars really different, despite all their similarities? We'll figure out...
Let's see. Toyota Highlander is a classic two-volume car. The brutal and not very harmonious style should clearly appeal to men who are not averse to stylistic refinements. The main thing is that the Highlander from the outside gives the impression of a large SUV and resembles Land Cruisers, which means the designers have already pleased Russian buyers.
The Venza is more refined. Her streamlined look, while not overly intricate, is still more pleasing to the eye. First of all, freshness. And also unusual: it is difficult to determine which class this model belongs to. For a crossover it is squat, for a classic hatchback it is large, for a van it is too small. In general, you will be able to stand out from the crowd at first.
The Venza appears to have lower ground clearance. But this is an optical illusion! The ground clearance under the crankcase protection is the same for the cars – 205 mm. It’s just that the Highlander has better geometric cross-country ability due to its higher body position. It is thanks to the high-standing body that the Toyota Highlander seems like a truly large all-terrain vehicle - it’s hard to call it a crossover.
Once inside the Highlander, the first thing you immediately notice is the quality of finishing materials. There is not a single piece of plastic that is soft and pleasant to look at or touch in a car that costs two million. The “wooden” sticker on the dashboard on a gray background looks too colorful. And the skin is smooth and slippery.
But a miracle! Instead of the “branded” antediluvian electronic watch of the late 80s, the Highlander’s center console is crowned with a color multifunctional liquid crystal display of the on-board computer. The second all-Toyota screen, although with simple graphics, clearly and without much glare displays multimedia information and a navigation map.
The ergonomics of the large crossover are up to par: it fits well in the car and looks far away. The only thing missing is lateral support for the seats and steering wheel adjustment ranges. Otherwise, everything is built according to the usual, and therefore convenient, scheme: not only is everything at hand, but also the keys, according to the Toyota tradition, are the size of a matchbox, and the radio and climate control washers can be rotated even with mittens.
There are as many as four (!) cup holders at hand: for Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Nuka-Cola and coffee. And there's enough room in the armrest for a bucket of French fries. In a word, “Made for USA”.
The Toyota Venza also cannot be called a crossover, but for a different reason - you get into it, almost like a regular car. The materials here are no better. But the interior is more modern and much more interesting. The main stylistic highlight of the cabin is the asymmetrical center console, and the main feature is a multifunctional tunnel-armrest with a section that moves on rails.
There are also no problems finding the right buttons and adjustments. Except that everything is designed a little differently. Both displays in the Venza are exactly the same as in the Highlander, although the navigation map firmware was more recent.
Venza is especially attentive to smartphone owners: a special compartment has been made for them with velvet edges inside and a hole at the bottom for connecting the device to a USB port or 12-volt outlet. By the way, the “carbon fiber” finish looks much nicer than the “wooden” one.
The interior of both cars is quite spacious, especially for a person of average height. However, if the “Highlander” takes the volume of the body and the height of the roof, then the “Venza” takes the light pouring from all sides: panoramic glazing and two hatches do their job; The spaciousness here is felt more visually.
The second row of the Toyota Venza is very good: wide, spacious, with a soft sofa, an adjustable backrest and a huge amount of space, allowing you to sit cross-legged.
The trunk is the delight of the summer resident, traveler, family man and just a “plushkin”. 957 liters in the nominal position, and with the seats folded - 1988 liters!
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But to describe everything that is happening behind the backs of the front seats in the Toyota Highlander, a paragraph is not enough. First of all, it’s worth saying that the salon... has six seats. Yes, yes, I didn’t say exactly “six,” although formally there are seven places. It’s just that the second row is, in fact, two chairs connected by a partition-armrest. It's not very comfortable to sit here. But this place can easily be occupied by a child seat - then seven will be comfortable. If you stay on the second row together, the level of comfort will be like in a business-class car: folding armrests, autonomous climate control with separate air deflectors and plenty of space in all directions.
The Highlander has its own secret “zest” in the armrest. An additional multifunctional box “lives” inside it, which can be swapped with the same folding armrest of the second row of seats, finally making the sofa a double one.
The trunk, of course, is even larger than in the Venza - as much as 1198 liters. A maximum of 2,700 liters of cargo can be crammed into the car - the same amount as, for example, in a commercial Peugeot Partner heel. And with all the seats folded down, there will be room for only 292 liters of luggage. It can also be loaded through a separately folding glass. However, what is most memorable about the Highlander is not its cargo-and-passenger capabilities, but its magnificent engine. The seemingly ordinary 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 works wonders even with an old five-speed automatic transmission.
A more than confident start from a standstill, a distinct grip in the mid-speed zone and an indicative peak of traction at the “top”. Moreover, the engine power cannot be called excessive, but it is always enough and everywhere. And in terms of elasticity, this engine can give odds to many of its turbo “colleagues”. We can’t help but say thank you to the Japanese for the soft “automatic”, which protects the occupants of the cabin from jerks and jolts, and for the carefully adjusted accelerator sensitivity, thanks to which the driver uses the capabilities of the power unit in the most precise way. And as a sign of mutual gratitude from the “Highlander” itself - a pleasant rumbling of six cylinders.
The fact that the Toyota Highlander is more suitable for long-distance voyages is clearly evident from its fuel consumption. On the highway at a speed of about 100 km/h, we managed to achieve a figure of 9.4 liters per “hundred”. Moreover, an increase in speed to 120-140 km/h does not greatly affect appetite - the average consumption rises to 12-12.5 liters. But in the city crowd, get ready to see 18, 20, or even all 25 liters per 100 km.
Surprisingly, the Toyota Highlander does not have American laxity in behavior on the road. The two-ton crossover rushes smoothly along the highway, swimming into turns with a slight delay and without swaying on potholes. The car can only be shaken by too much speed in a sharp turn, when the heavy body submits to the power of energy. At high speeds, uneven road surfaces become more noticeable. If you drive calmly, then the Highlander walks over potholes as if walking on cotton wool - complete comfort. But as soon as you add gas, the joints and cracks begin to take shape. Especially large ones sometimes annoy with muffled blows.
The sound insulation of the Toyota Highlander is impeccable up to a speed of approximately 100 km/h. Then the hum of the tires and the aerodynamic noise of the large and square body begin to appear. The Venza has less reason to be proud of its engine. Although it has a decent volume - 2.7 liters, and 187 horsepower, and the automatic transmission is more modern - six-speed. But there are only four cylinders, and there are still 86 fewer “horses” than in the Highlander. And in terms of weight, the Venza is not much inferior to the Highlander.
No, the car has enough power unit. But right next to each other. If in the city this is not particularly noticeable and, in general, does not interfere in any way, then on the highway everything falls into place. Here you see smooth acceleration, trying to catch up with the tachometer needle and a muffled squeal of the engine. And overtaking is only with a good margin in the oncoming traffic. On the other hand, if everything is done measuredly and smoothly, as it should be on a family crossover, then the only complaint about the Venza’s dynamics will be the inability to quickly overtake when there is an urgent need. And so, it goes and goes: you need to go 100 km/h - it will go 100, you need 150 km/h - it will go 150.
The Venza's automatic settings, regardless of driving style and the mode turned on, are always on the side of comfort. That is, switching occurs smoothly and imperceptibly. Sixth gear is not for speed records, but for the sake of efficiency. By the way, looking ahead, we note that the average fuel consumption of the Venza during the test day was not much inferior to that of the Highlander. Not surprising: under the same loads, the engine of the younger Toyota operates at noticeably higher speeds. Regularity and smoothness are also necessary when driving a Venza. As in the Highlander, you feel that the car is weighty, and it’s not worth sending it into a “steep dive” again. The front wheels here also react to steering deviations with a theatrical pause, but due to the lower driving position, there is no urgent need to brake before a bend.
We left off-road testing of crossovers behind us. And it’s clear that the Highlander’s advantage over the Venza is obvious. Permanent all-wheel drive versus plug-in, better geometric cross-country ability and a couple of buttons that have nothing to do with off-road capabilities, but in the right hands can at least somehow help. Venza becomes the sixth all-wheel drive vehicle in the Toyota family. True, this did not increase the number of real SUVs in the model line. Moreover, if you put together the direct and indirect parameters of “off-road”, the Venza turns out to be the most incapable of all Toyotas. Except that it doesn’t really cling to curbs.
