2012 Toyota Venza Excellent Performance Review

Style 2012 Toyota Venza is about much more than just appearance. In essence, it’s about an elegant approach to life. An openness to new experiences. A way of doing things that seems natural even effortless. We think you’ll notice these same qualities in the 2012 Toyota Venza. With its bold lines, it fits in virtually anywhere. And with its four doors, rear liftgate and spacious, versatile interior, you’ll find that virtually everything fits in it. Of course, one’s style is defined by individual preference, and here, too, Venza’s appeal is obvious. It’s available in three model grades: LE, XLE and Limited. It offers you a choice of 4-cylinder or V6 engine, and Front Wheel Drive or available All-Wheel Drive. That’s because Venza was designed with one principle in mind: to help you live life on your own terms and look good doing it.


From the moment you approach the 2012 Venza, you will be taken with its many thoughtful touches. XLE’s and Limited’s Smart Key System1 helps usher you inside. The step in height is low, like in a sedan, while the seating position is elevated, like that of an SUV. The top of the dashboard, too, is low, resulting in an exceptional field of view and a refreshing sense of spaciousness. The fit and finish is precise. Go ahead. Revel in our obsession. Judging by Toyota Venza’s commanding presence, one can easily imagine the many comforts enjoyed by those inside. With spacious seating for five and a host of amenities, Venza is a crossover vehicle that rewards all of its occupants with thoroughly gratifying refinement.


Venza’s spacious and versatile interior accommodates a remarkable amount of cargo. In fact, with the rear seatbacks folded down, it offers an impressive 70.2 cubic feet of cargo room.1, 2 And with Venza’s 60/40 split and fold-flat rear seats, that room can be used to transport any combination of people or payload  even awkwardly shaped items like that antique sideboard you had your eyes on. But beware: Filling it up also means covering up all those handsomely upholstered surfaces. Venza’s spacious 5-passenger cabin easily transforms into a versatile cargo carrier. Thanks to cargo area one-touch fold-flat levers, the rear seatbacks quickly fold flat. Toyota Venza gives rear seat passengers first-class treatment. At the pull of a lever on either side, the 60/40 rear seatbacks recline.

Venza’s center console spoils rear-seat passengers with rear air vents. The vents are operated by the dual zone climate control system, which also features an air filter that traps dust and other airborne particles. 2012 Toyota Venza  available power liftgate can be operated in a variety of ways. It can be both opened and closed with buttons on the dashboard or on the remote keyless entry or available Smart Key3 fobs. The liftgate can also be closed by pressing a button located on the liftgate itself. Venza offers many places to store things. Under the center armrest’s padded top, you’ll find a storage tray and a deep storage compartment. There’s another large storage compartment and a 12V auxiliary power outlet under the sliding cup holder lid. That compartment and the pair of cup holders are illuminated by LEDs. And each door features a map pocket and a 20-oz. bottle holder. With its innovative design and high-quality materials, Venza is a remarkable blend of comfort, style and versatility.

Basking in the breezy comfort provided by Venza’s available panoramic roof is sure to have a revitalizing effect. But taking advantage of Venza’s many other thoughtful amenities, such as the helpful Multi Information Display, can be equally refreshing. And on those occasions when you’re inclined to keep the roof closed, the dual zone automatic climate control system will offer personalized comfort. With an available power tilt/slide moonroof above the front seats and panoramic roof above the rear seats, 2012 Toyota Venza creates a brilliant and airy experience inside the cabin.

The Multi Information Display provides data such as climate settings, outside temperature, fuel economy and trip information, and other important details. 2012 Toyota Venza available backup camera displays the area behind the vehicle visible to the camera on the available TFT Multi-Information Display. Or, on vehicles equipped with the available voice-activated touch-screen DVD navigation system,2 it is displayed on the navigation screen. XLE and Limited models offer an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support and seatback pocket, plus a 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat with power lumbar support and seatback pocket. The seats feature rich leather-trimmed seating surfaces with contrast piping. Dock your iPod or MP3/WMA player in the special holder in the center console, then plug it in via the USB port, and an iPod interface appears on Venza’s audio system display. On-screen, you can sort tracks in a variety of ways, including by song, artist, genre and playlist.

XLE’s and Limited’s leather-trimmed multi-stage heated front seats allow each front occupant to dial in their own level of comfort. The available 13-speaker JBL Synthesis surround sound system provides superb audio fidelity. The system has been acoustically optimized specifically for Venza’s interior, delivering brilliant clarity and dynamic range. On XLE and Limited, the Smart Key System with Push Button Start lets you lock or unlock your vehicle while the Smart Key fob is in your pocket or bag. There’s also a touch-sensor feature that lets you lock the doors by touching the top of the door handle or unlock them by grabbing the handle.

It seems you’ve always known where you’re going. And Venza, with its available All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with active torque control, shares your knack for direction. AWD actively monitors each wheel, distributing the engine’s power to the appropriate wheel at the appropriate moment. This advanced technology helps to optimize traction on both wet and dry surfaces. With a choice of two efficient engines, a standard 182-hp 4-cylinder or the available 268-hp V6, Venza is both responsive and responsible. With the 4-cylinder Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) configuration, Venza received an EPA-estimated 21/27 city/highway mpg rating, while the available Venza V6 FWD received an EPA-estimated 19/26 city/highway mpg rating. Both engines offer smooth performance via a 6-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i). Perhaps best of all, both have received an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV-II) rating.

2012 Venza was designed with performance in mind. The Venza V6 with Front-Wheel Drive accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 6.7 seconds. Plus, its wide stance, available 20-in. alloy wheels and lower center of gravity give it precise handling. What’s more, when equipped with the available Tow Prep Package, Venza V6 can tow up to 3500 lb. Whether you’re engaged in straight-line acceleration, low-speed cornering, highway cruising or hard braking, Venza’s available AWD distributes power between the front and rear wheels according to driving conditions to help enhance traction. To compensate for a loss of traction while cornering and help prevent sideways slipping, Venza utilizes Enhanced VSC. The system adjusts engine power, braking and steering torque-assist control to help the vehicle follow the direction in which it is being steered.

When accelerating from a standstill on an incline, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward. When activated, the feature holds the brakes for approximately three seconds as the driver switches from the brake pedal to the accelerator. By slightly applying the brake on a slipping drive wheel and reducing the throttle, Traction Control (TRAC) helps reduce wheelspin and maintain traction, according to road surface conditions. The system helps ensure vehicle control when starting or accelerating on slippery roads. As attractive as the 2012 Venza is, it’s even more appealing when you consider the extensive array of both active and passive safety features it provides. The advanced Star Safety System is designed to help you avoid trouble. Our rigorous crash testing has helped us develop a comprehensive occupant protection system that features seven airbags, should trouble prove unavoidable.

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