We purchased a 21 Venza Limited 6 weeks ago and love it. Comfortable and fun to drive. We’ve been averaging 40 MPG mixed city and highway. I was a little concerned with all the touch controls at first. But after 1500 miles of driving, we have become comfortable using them and not that big a deal.
I purchased one in December...I really love it. I'm by myself other than my toy poodle (She has her own seat at the passenger seat) I really love it. Mine is the XLE.
At 6’3 I barely fit under the roof line of the front seat and i don’t fit in the rear seat. Also the vision lines are constrained by smaller windows on the rear, compared to say a Subaru Outback or a CRV hybrid which have so much better head room and very good vision out windows. The rear storage is very small . However for the not very tall the Venza feels very high end
I love the late model Venza. I bought a 2024 XLE Venza, love that vehicle. Very nice, not too big, but luxurious. Close to the RAV4 Hybrid, but nicer. Now I hear that the Venza will not be in production after 2024. That's insane. I like the Venza a lot. The Venza uses the same powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid, which is a good thing. I don't feel either vehicle is loud. To me it's perfect. Wow, you guys say the engine sound is offensive? Damn. I don't feel that way at all. I think the RAV4 Hybrid and Venza is great in every way.
I would want the LE trim. That comes with everything I would ever need, and it comes with physical buttons and knobs instead of the capacitive touch controls. Sure, you only get an 8" infotainment screen instead of the massive 12"? screen in the Limited trim, but 8" is enough, and worth it to me for easier to use controls.
John’s not a fan of any Toyota,so I would not take his advice on any Toyota/Lexus...He loves his German cars & I think he should stick with his brands.
A lot of those testers are car enthusiasts who love the manual gear boxes as much as the next person. That said, nobody has ever accused Toyota as the sporty alternative. There's not much else to talk about with Toyota knowing it should sell well and be reliable.
i still for the life of me cannot fathom why people still bother to complain about capacitive touch buttons when you have redundant physical buttons on the damn steering wheel.....consumers are impossible.. nothing is wrong with the venza's controls....its yall to blame for making fun of toyota for sticking with old tech...yet they still have you covered on the steering wheel...
I read and confirmed that the lower Venza trims (LE and XLE) both come standard real buttons and knobs. The screen is smaller, but worth the trade off every time.
Yes it's true. And many reviews are testing the top trim and saying it's all touch buttons when they don't mention that the lower trims have real buttons standard.
CR, After watching the video, I am even more thankful for Jen's reliable words of wisdom and the ready access to sharp razor blades in my locality. Hopefully this all-Hybrid Venza creates CAFE space for the GR Yaris and 2 door Prado in Toyota's North American fleet. Speaking of driver's tests, did you hear about the kid near Toronto who was caught doing 100 mph on the way to his?
Toyota also puts some of the Cheapest tires on their new cars. I remember buying a new Camry That drove smoothly and quietly around town but once you got on the highway the ride got choppy and the road noise cranked up to 7. I took my one week old Camry into Sears auto to make sure there wasn't something wrong with the tires and everyone there laughed that The good year liberty Tires they used where the cheapest Goodyear tires They sold. I replaced the tires with A set of michelin defenders and I swear that Sears gave me back a new Lexus. Although it wasn't horrible it was an extra $700 cost on top of what I had just spent a week before to buy the car so if you are negotiating on a new Toyota factor in that you're gonna wanna get rid of the crapy dealer tires
Same thing with my Mitsubishi Outlander! Replaced the garbage Nexum tires with Michelin’s and WOW, what a difference. Dealer agreed the Nexums were terrible, but said Mitsubishi saved $5 a tire (spread over thousands of car’s equated to a huge savings). Makes sense.
This is a reminder that both Ford and Honda tried these touch panel controls and customers hated it. The cabin and road noise I experienced in my road test and I will keep my first generation Venza which is so much better at quietness on road trips as well as local driving.
About noise. I own a 2018 Toyota Camry hybrid. Previous to that I owned a 2012 Camry hybrid. Exact same engine. My newer car is noisier than the 2012 model. I'm convinced it's because they put less sound deadening insulation in it. I think all of the car manufacturers have decided that a quiet car should cost more and so they really concentrate on reducing sound in their premium models such as Lexus. They are forcing us to buy premium models if we want a quiet car. Yes, insulating a car doesn't cost very much and it does add to the weight of the car but not significantly. So to my point of view, the manufacturers have decided if you want a quiet car buy our premium model. That.s wrong! It's kind of like bicycle helmets. If you want a lighter weight bike helmet (one with less material) you actually pay more money. Doesn't make sense. Also, I agree with their comments about the controls on the venza. I love having a volume knob for the audio even though you can control it from the buttons on the steering wheel.
I really enjoy Talking Cars. In response to the question about getting the Highlander, the Ascent, or the Mazda CX-9, I recommend the Mazda CX-9. We bought a 2019 CX-9 GT in January of 2020 for a great deal. It's been an excellent car. We put three child car seats across the 2nd row, and can still access the 3rd row. The Ascent and Palisade/Telluride cannot do that. (I'm not sure about the Highlander.) The car is luxurious, sporty, and can be had for a great value. The top trim Telluride needed to get similar features to my CX-9 GT was forcing us to purchase 2nd row captains' chairs and going to cost at least $8k more as they were hard to find and going for above MSRP.
Agree 100% with your comments about the Venza's climate and audio controls. Not just an ergonomic mess, but a safety issue, too. Those piano black plastic (ugh) buttons are way too fiddly to make adjustments while on the move. The Venza also has NO tie-down loops in the trunk, which is a bizarre omission. But the LE model does have conventional control knobs, and smaller 18" wheels for a much smoother, quieter ride. Skip the gimmicky sunroof and fake leather seats of the Limited model, and the LE model will save you $thousands - and possibly your sanity, too.
Your words at the end we’re heartfelt and sincere..to Gabe Jen Jake Jon the two Mike’s Ryan Emily thank you for allowing us to take a peek into the amazing jobs you have and we wish we had.. here’s to a healthier 2021!
BMW should put a *Depreciation Gauge* on the dashboard right next to the tachometer. It would have to be something like a calendar / odometer combo gauge, with a dollar figure overlay, so you could see just how much value your new BMW is losing with every passing mile, and every passing day. This gauge would run continually in the background, so that when you get into the vehicle after a prolonged absence, it would be able to tell you exactly how much less it is worth since the last time you drove it. I would also suggest that they include a *Doomsday / Sunset* feature with the depreciation gauge, (they could market it as a package!). This feature would activate when the car has achieved *Maximum Worthlessness* , which can best be described as the point where it would make more sense financially to have it crushed and made into a coffee table, than it would to replace the carbon ceramic brakes.
What a beautiful thought and 10-15 years ago I would have concurred completely with your line of logic. However it is now 2020 and there has been plenty of evidence provided to the public about BMW's perpetually shoddy standards. These days the people who buy a BMW are willfully ignorant or pretentious badge snobs or both. They deserve to have their Ultimate Vanity Machine disintegrate around them.
The Mercedes Benz infotainment is one of the Best System you can control it as a touch screen just like every infotainment but you can also use the touch pad or control on steering so how come non of the option is good enough for you
Joel, For the sake of your grand kids, leave some fresh air for them to breath. Don't buy a gas-guzzler when the Highlander Hybrid is very probably more reliable than the competition and will burn 50% less gas over its expected 15-20 year lifespan.
Snow tires are more important than AWD. Invest in good snow tires and front wheel drive and you’ll be fine. Unless you live on a steep road in the mountains. Note: I live in NW Vermont and get an average of 83 inches of snow a year.
Can you oil spray a toyota hybrid? I recently bought a Venza and salesperson told me using Krown would void the warranty on my Venza? Is this true? I live in northern Canada where oil spraying my cars is a must! I think it’s a scam to get us to buy their electromagnetic rust proofing that barely works and is expensive
I own an original (2010) Venza V6 and love it with two exceptions 1. It is very loud on the highway. It is a combination of wind and tire (Michelin) noise. Can't even use the radio because of the racket.. 2. The suspension is too tight for me. Even minor bumps are definitely felt.
I seen all 283 episodes of Talking Cars & I love the show; it is a highlight my week. I am thankful for the great advice I have received from CR for over 50 years.
That was the deal breaker for me was the instrument panel and start stop bottom location. The noise level is not as good as the first generation Venza which I own. The noise level is not to Toyota standards for me.
Is it quite inside? Is it nice to drive? I was a toyota fan for few years until I drove Mercedes benz. Benz is just quite cabin and fun to drive. Underneath Mercedes cars you can see layers of protection. I hope venza has those great qualities
I like Toyota vehicles so far they are very reliable vehicle this Venza design much better than previous boxy wagon design at the mean time Toyota must do update on 2022 versions 1: For the drivers who are 5'10" and over if they drive long hours or stuck in traffic will feel very uncomfortable on sitting driver seat and may feel leg pain they must add manual or power thigh support like German vehicle even now some Buick models have it 2: Touch system some times in cold weather will not respond and may confuse the driver and take off his eyes off from the vehicle , A/C Heating power on off, control buttons will have to update with semi touch system as like Buick or Cardilac with led light indication 3: Back side signal indicators they should add one more under the tail lights aswell for the vehicle safety during the day driver from other vehicle may not see and cause accident 4 : Inside the vehicle power start button is too far for driver to bend down to search to press Let's hope Toyota will update
Except for reliability concerns, I would go for the Chrysler Pacifica (non-hybrid for the stow and go seating feature) for room, comfort, utility and overall long distance riding and drving comfort. Because of reliability concerns, I would include purchase of a maintenance contract from Mopar (a division of Chrysler) as one from the same company as custopmer treatment and eithics will most likely be far superior to that of any, especially widely advertised thrid party companies!
I really like the 2022 Venza. It just needs a volume knob and move the ignition button. But I can live with it. It’s very close to a Lexus but $15k cheaper.
That was basically what the old Venza was... I guess they didn't sell enough and killed it off. The old venza competed with the Honda accord crosstour.
Tires are to car what speakers are to stereos . Why they give lousy tires on new cars mystifies me . For an extra $10 bucks per tire make world of difference. Rented a Camry and the tires roared on highway .
Another huge hit for KIA is the new Sorento. It is a 3 row, and it is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. My current ride is a Lexus GS 350. I also am super interested in the new Cadenza.
At least one comment here mentions tires or at least asks about tires and the road noise. Recently my two buddies and I drove back to back, the new Venza Hybrid and the Rav4 Hybrid in test drives. We were expecting the Venza to blow us out of the water with it’s newness compared to the Rav. It didn’t! Far from it. It was extremely noisy on rough pavement as mentioned by the “ Talking Cars “ reviewers. It was noisy to the point I think there is a “major problem” with noise in the final production of this vehicle kind of like the Mazda zonks of the 2012+. We noted the Rav4 in our back to back test drives wore Michelin Tires and we put it’s much quieter ride down to those tires. Under hard acceleration however like the Venza under hard acceleration the Rav was very noisy ( engine noise) as well. Not good - TOYOTA. So if buyers can, they might try finding the Venza c Michelin’s as OEM’S! Secondly it was mentioned early in this review and we noted likewise that cost of this Venza is way way up there. Buyers be diligent in your final decision. Is it worth the money? Go Ni
I'm surprised you didn't mention the afterthought design of the external lights on the Venza. The low IIHS headlight rating and the very small, and low placed rear turning lights was one of the main reasons I decided to get a Forester. It was disappointing since I loved the comfortable ride and the hybrid drive.
The Telluride probably wasn't on the list because they can't find one or the dealerships are STILL asking over MSRP. After driving them back to back, the Venza makes the Escape Hybrid sound truly refined in comparison. I don't care if it will last 300,000 miles, if I have to listen to that RACKET every time I step on the throttle in earnest I'll pass.
If the lady with her grand kids wanted to keep her cars for a long time ask yourself how many 10 year old Mazda or 10 year old Hyundai/kia Are still on the road then ask yourself how many Toyotas.
Kia and Hyundai are now the equal of Toyota. Toyota sells more cars, so there will be more on the road over the long haul. As far as quality and design are concerned, Kia and Hyundai are the proud carriers of the torch of the present and future.
@@Al-thecarhistorian We've been Hyundai (and Kia) fans for a long time, since our first Elantra in 2000. However, the issue they've had with bearing failure in the Sonata and Optima has bothered me to the point where I got a Mazda6 as my last car. Now I find I need to take my wife's Soul in for a "Product Improvement Issue" where they reflash the computer so that, if the bearings start to fail, you can use "limp mode" to take it to the dealer to be repaired. I'm not happy about it.
The new Venza has the same wheelbase and the same width as the Rav4. It is shorter (height) than the Rav4, and slightly longer, due to the odd snout design. Can someone please explain to me how this is considered a midsize and not a compact?
I'm going to take it a step further. What is the difference between texting while driving and trying to navigate these ridiculous and dangerous controls? I think this baloney needs to be toned down and consumer reports has to stop testing this stuff and go after the car companies for creating something that is more dangerous then what it's trying to replace. Wake up CR.
If they stop testing how will people know that in fact some of these controls are horrendous! The consumers are the ones who need to give feedback to the manufacturers (And by feedback, I mean hell) So they stop this nonsensical trend! I love Acura as a brand and I think most of their vehicles are pretty rocking. However, I'd buy never one as long as they have a thousand buttons on that center stack, it's overkill!
New one won't satisfy old Venza owners, who tend to love that underrated car. The new one gives up size and comfort to the old design. I'm OK with the smaller dimensions, but its reported LOUD drive-train and lack of physical controls takes it off my list. I also miss Toyota's perfect old cruise control stalk in all their new vehicles, which seems to have been replaced simply for change's sake.
I don't see a new Venza being any more popular than the old model. I never liked the Venza. It's not a wagon or a CUV but a combination of the worst of both those worlds. I have no bias against either wagons or CUV's. I've owned both but never in 1 car.
Name a hybrid SUV that gets better MPG. The drag coefficient is so high on those rolling bricks, that 39 is impressive. For a hybrid sedan, you're right, 39 would not be that great. For an SUV, it's an engineering miracle.
I don’t understand how automotive journalists can call the Venza so comfortable and appealing when it’s such a loud car to drive, that’s one of the key components of a vehicle’s comfort
The new Toyota Highlander has been having some engine software problems. Here is a video on a brand new Highlander Scotty Kilmer reviewed and he wants the dealer to fix it, so far, they won't. ruclips.net/video/4Ux667qwtGo/видео.html Everyone please stay safe and healthy.
I keep my cars for about 200,000 miles and even the Toyota batteries start losing their ability to charge at 100,000 miles, which is expensive to replace ($6000 for the dealer to do). Kind of ironic they talk about maintenance costs after the warranty goes out and never mention the limited life of batteries before performance degrades. You can drive the hybrid with a battery being subpar for awhile but eventually, it will go completely bad and the car will need either a big repair/update or be junked. I usually hit 100,000 at 7 years, so by year 10 you need to replace the battery. I should know - I owned one.
You know that striking, almost every car journalist in Australia set RAV 4 is the BEST SUV even for the non hybrid one, against more refine and heavy hitter like VW Tiguan and Mazda CX 5, I understand in terms of Hybrid there is no contest Toyota is the king , but without hybrid RAV 4 is below average at best let alone compare to its top rival. For some reason most for car journalist never mention the hash transition from hybrid to petrol mode, and how noisy it is overall, Tiguan and CX5 have solid door closing sound yet RAV 4 sound cheap. this against aging car , with all new Hyundai Tuscan and KIA Sportage this will be even worse for Rav 4.
We purchased a 21 Venza Limited 6 weeks ago and love it. Comfortable and fun to drive. We’ve been averaging 40 MPG mixed city and highway. I was a little concerned with all the touch controls at first. But after 1500 miles of driving, we have become comfortable using them and not that big a deal.
I purchased one in December...I really love it. I'm by myself other than my toy poodle (She has her own seat at the passenger seat) I really love it. Mine is the XLE.
I'm thankful for your podcast. I am eager to watch it each week. Keep em coming!
Test drove the 2023 Venza and it's much quieter than the Rav4. Very nice ride.
At 6’3 I barely fit under the roof line of the front seat and i don’t fit in the rear seat. Also the vision lines are constrained by smaller windows on the rear, compared to say a Subaru Outback or a CRV hybrid which have so much better head room and very good vision out windows. The rear storage is very small . However for the not very tall the Venza feels very high end
I love the late model Venza. I bought a 2024 XLE Venza, love that vehicle. Very nice, not too big, but luxurious. Close to the RAV4 Hybrid, but nicer. Now I hear that the Venza will not be in production after 2024. That's insane. I like the Venza a lot. The Venza uses the same powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid, which is a good thing. I don't feel either vehicle is loud. To me it's perfect. Wow, you guys say the engine sound is offensive? Damn. I don't feel that way at all. I think the RAV4 Hybrid and Venza is great in every way.
That was a great segment on being thankful. Real feelings and sentiment, not just cookie-cutter platitudes.
I would want the LE trim. That comes with everything I would ever need, and it comes with physical buttons and knobs instead of the capacitive touch controls. Sure, you only get an 8" infotainment screen instead of the massive 12"? screen in the Limited trim, but 8" is enough, and worth it to me for easier to use controls.
The LE is a bargain given how many standard features it has.
John’s not a fan of any Toyota,so I would not take his advice on any Toyota/Lexus...He loves his German cars & I think he should stick with his brands.
“I just don’t like highlanders” the hate is so blatant
A lot of those testers are car enthusiasts who love the manual gear boxes as much as the next person. That said, nobody has ever accused Toyota as the sporty alternative. There's not much else to talk about with Toyota knowing it should sell well and be reliable.
i still for the life of me cannot fathom why people still bother to complain about capacitive touch buttons when you have redundant physical buttons on the damn steering wheel.....consumers are impossible.. nothing is wrong with the venza's controls....its yall to blame for making fun of toyota for sticking with old tech...yet they still have you covered on the steering wheel...
The Venza XLE is my sweet spot trim....get real buttons and can also option for the heated and ventilated seats.
Y'all are amazing and wait every Friday for your podcast. Thank you for watching out for the consumer!
I read and confirmed that the lower Venza trims (LE and XLE) both come standard real buttons and knobs. The screen is smaller, but worth the trade off every time.
Yes it's true. And many reviews are testing the top trim and saying it's all touch buttons when they don't mention that the lower trims have real buttons standard.
Those adaptive lights that have the high beams on by default are going to be great for other drivers when the sensors or cameras go bad....
Thanks so much for answering my question on the podcast! You all are great!
You guys are good people. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
CR, After watching the video, I am even more thankful for Jen's reliable words of wisdom and the ready access to sharp razor blades in my locality. Hopefully this all-Hybrid Venza creates CAFE space for the GR Yaris and 2 door Prado in Toyota's North American fleet. Speaking of driver's tests, did you hear about the kid near Toronto who was caught doing 100 mph on the way to his?
2021 venza is a facelifted Toyota Harrier, not really ALL NEW but im glad its back, Every person I ever met with a Toyota Venza loved it
Jen and the whole crew .... such great people. John, I'm diggin' the stach'.
Thank you all and keep bringing the honest reviews.
Toyota also puts some of the Cheapest tires on their new cars. I remember buying a new Camry That drove smoothly and quietly around town but once you got on the highway the ride got choppy and the road noise cranked up to 7. I took my one week old Camry into Sears auto to make sure there wasn't something wrong with the tires and everyone there laughed that The good year liberty Tires they used where the cheapest Goodyear tires They sold. I replaced the tires with A set of michelin defenders and I swear that Sears gave me back a new Lexus. Although it wasn't horrible it was an extra $700 cost on top of what I had just spent a week before to buy the car so if you are negotiating on a new Toyota factor in that you're gonna wanna get rid of the crapy dealer tires
Same thing with my Mitsubishi Outlander! Replaced the garbage Nexum tires with Michelin’s and WOW, what a difference. Dealer agreed the Nexums were terrible, but said Mitsubishi saved $5 a tire (spread over thousands of car’s equated to a huge savings). Makes sense.
My Camry came with Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires.
This is a reminder that both Ford and Honda tried these touch panel controls and customers hated it. The cabin and road noise I experienced in my road test and I will keep my first generation Venza which is so much better at quietness on road trips as well as local driving.
Venza’s back and more incredible than ever!
And the funny thing is it wasn't bad m to begin with
About noise. I own a 2018 Toyota Camry hybrid. Previous to that I owned a 2012 Camry hybrid. Exact same engine. My newer car is noisier than the 2012 model. I'm convinced it's because they put less sound deadening insulation in it. I think all of the car manufacturers have decided that a quiet car should cost more and so they really concentrate on reducing sound in their premium models such as Lexus. They are forcing us to buy premium models if we want a quiet car. Yes, insulating a car doesn't cost very much and it does add to the weight of the car but not significantly. So to my point of view, the manufacturers have decided if you want a quiet car buy our premium model. That.s wrong! It's kind of like bicycle helmets. If you want a lighter weight bike helmet (one with less material) you actually pay more money. Doesn't make sense. Also, I agree with their comments about the controls on the venza. I love having a volume knob for the audio even though you can control it from the buttons on the steering wheel.
You raise some very valid concerns. How long was your test drive on the 2018 Camry?
They seem to put the NVH trays everywhere except between the engine and passengers.
6:08 Could you please give an example of the "detachment" between the location of the controls and the feature being controlled in the 2021 Venza?
ITS NOT A Lexus ITS A VENZA and better looking than a Lexus!🤠
I really enjoy Talking Cars. In response to the question about getting the Highlander, the Ascent, or the Mazda CX-9, I recommend the Mazda CX-9. We bought a 2019 CX-9 GT in January of 2020 for a great deal. It's been an excellent car. We put three child car seats across the 2nd row, and can still access the 3rd row. The Ascent and Palisade/Telluride cannot do that. (I'm not sure about the Highlander.) The car is luxurious, sporty, and can be had for a great value. The top trim Telluride needed to get similar features to my CX-9 GT was forcing us to purchase 2nd row captains' chairs and going to cost at least $8k more as they were hard to find and going for above MSRP.
Agree 100% with your comments about the Venza's climate and audio controls. Not just an ergonomic mess, but a safety issue, too. Those piano black plastic (ugh) buttons are way too fiddly to make adjustments while on the move. The Venza also has NO tie-down loops in the trunk, which is a bizarre omission. But the LE model does have conventional control knobs, and smaller 18" wheels for a much smoother, quieter ride. Skip the gimmicky sunroof and fake leather seats of the Limited model, and the LE model will save you $thousands - and possibly your sanity, too.
Your words at the end we’re heartfelt and sincere..to Gabe Jen Jake Jon the two Mike’s Ryan Emily thank you for allowing us to take a peek into the amazing jobs you have and we wish we had.. here’s to a healthier 2021!
Well said
BMW should put a *Depreciation Gauge* on the dashboard right next to the tachometer. It would have to be something like a calendar / odometer combo gauge, with a dollar figure overlay, so you could see just how much value your new BMW is losing with every passing mile, and every passing day. This gauge would run continually in the background, so that when you get into the vehicle after a prolonged absence, it would be able to tell you exactly how much less it is worth since the last time you drove it. I would also suggest that they include a *Doomsday / Sunset* feature with the depreciation gauge, (they could market it as a package!). This feature would activate when the car has achieved *Maximum Worthlessness* , which can best be described as the point where it would make more sense financially to have it crushed and made into a coffee table, than it would to replace the carbon ceramic brakes.
The Depreciation Gauge would go down faster than the gas gauge.
What a beautiful thought and 10-15 years ago I would have concurred completely with your line of logic. However it is now 2020 and there has been plenty of evidence provided to the public about BMW's perpetually shoddy standards. These days the people who buy a BMW are willfully ignorant or pretentious badge snobs or both. They deserve to have their Ultimate Vanity Machine disintegrate around them.
The Mercedes Benz infotainment is one of the Best System you can control it as a touch screen just like every infotainment but you can also use the touch pad or control on steering so how come non of the option is good enough for you
When will the venza be fully evaluated and published in CR?
15:39 that seems easy enough to get around. just have a "dumb low beam" setting.
I always enjoy your informatice Talking Cars.
I'll look at hybrid sienna
The engine start button, it's not Toyota first time doing this, they did the same thing on the 86/FRS/BRZ
I am grateful for John rock'in a mouse stash.
Joel, For the sake of your grand kids, leave some fresh air for them to breath. Don't buy a gas-guzzler when the Highlander Hybrid is very probably more reliable than the competition and will burn 50% less gas over its expected 15-20 year lifespan.
I’m interested to know how it drives in the snow
Snow tires are more important than AWD. Invest in good snow tires and front wheel drive and you’ll be fine. Unless you live on a steep road in the mountains.
Note: I live in NW Vermont and get an average of 83 inches of snow a year.
Really good, much better than my 2018 Camry, both with winter tires
Can you oil spray a toyota hybrid? I recently bought a Venza and salesperson told me using Krown would void the warranty on my Venza? Is this true? I live in northern Canada where oil spraying my cars is a must! I think it’s a scam to get us to buy their electromagnetic rust proofing that barely works and is expensive
I wish the Venza was a little more sporty. It’s otherwise an excellent little car.
No to the mustache. Yes to the Venza.
It could be for Movember 👍
Interesting comment about road noise: what brand/model were the tires?
I own an original (2010) Venza V6 and love it with two exceptions 1. It is very loud on the highway. It is a combination of wind and tire (Michelin) noise. Can't even use the radio because of the racket.. 2. The suspension is too tight for me. Even minor bumps are definitely felt.
When will it come in Taiwan to sell
I seen all 283 episodes of Talking Cars & I love the show; it is a highlight my week. I am thankful for the great advice I have received from CR for over 50 years.
Thank you!
I hope Toyota is taking note. Hopefully they address these issues in the refresh or remodel.
It already needs a refresh? WTF
Your right leg bangs against that large center console
That was the deal breaker for me was the instrument panel and start stop bottom location. The noise level is not as good as the first generation Venza which I own. The noise level is not to Toyota standards for me.
Venza is very nice but a lot of head room? Absolutely not. Please add a tall driver to your panel one of these days.
I'd rather have an old Venza over this.
No buttons easier for me to clean I like that a lot. Toyota did not mess up on this one.you don’t like buttons you don’t like change!
Is it quite inside? Is it nice to drive? I was a toyota fan for few years until I drove Mercedes benz. Benz is just quite cabin and fun to drive. Underneath Mercedes cars you can see layers of protection. I hope venza has those great qualities
It’s noisier than animal house party. Tire noise and that shit e cvt noise. It’s loud
I like Toyota vehicles so far they are very reliable vehicle this Venza design much better than previous boxy wagon design at the mean time Toyota must do update on 2022 versions
1: For the drivers who are 5'10" and over if they drive long hours or stuck in traffic will feel very uncomfortable on sitting driver seat and may feel leg pain they must add manual or power thigh support like German vehicle even now some Buick models have it
2: Touch system some times in cold weather will not respond and may confuse the driver and take off his eyes off from the vehicle , A/C Heating power on off, control buttons will have to update with semi touch system as like Buick or Cardilac with led light indication
3: Back side signal indicators they should add one more under the tail lights aswell for the vehicle safety during the day driver from other vehicle may not see and cause accident
4 : Inside the vehicle power start button is too far for driver to bend down to search to press
Let's hope Toyota will update
Except for reliability concerns, I would go for the Chrysler Pacifica (non-hybrid for the stow and go seating feature) for room, comfort, utility and overall long distance riding and drving comfort. Because of reliability concerns, I would include purchase of a maintenance contract from Mopar (a division of Chrysler) as one from the same company as custopmer treatment and eithics will most likely be far superior to that of any, especially widely advertised thrid party companies!
We went with the Pacifica hybrid with the Mopar 8 year extended warranty and are very happy.
I really like the 2022 Venza. It just needs a volume knob and move the ignition button. But I can live with it. It’s very close to a Lexus but $15k cheaper.
The 2023 has the volume button switches now.
They could've just made a Camry wagon with a higher ride height. Call it Camry Cross Country or something.
Bring back the Camry wagon!
That was basically what the old Venza was... I guess they didn't sell enough and killed it off. The old venza competed with the Honda accord crosstour.
re: the adaptive LED headlight question. I believe new Volvo’s have this technology (option) with low beams, sold in the US?
Volvo and others have lights that turn with the steering wheel, but it’s less sophisticated than the matrix beam
Tires are to car what speakers are to stereos . Why they give lousy tires on new cars mystifies me . For an extra $10 bucks per tire make world of difference.
Rented a Camry and the tires roared on highway .
Exactly.
Great car I’m buying it!
Another huge hit for KIA is the new Sorento. It is a 3 row, and it is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. My current ride is a Lexus GS 350. I also am super interested in the new Cadenza.
At least one comment here mentions tires or at least asks about tires and the road noise.
Recently my two buddies and I drove back to back, the new Venza Hybrid and the Rav4 Hybrid in test drives. We were expecting the Venza to blow us out of the water with it’s newness compared to the Rav. It didn’t! Far from it.
It was extremely noisy on rough pavement as mentioned by the “ Talking Cars “ reviewers.
It was noisy to the point I think there is a “major problem” with noise in the final production of this vehicle kind of like the Mazda zonks of the 2012+.
We noted the Rav4 in our back to back test drives wore Michelin Tires and we put it’s much quieter ride down to those tires. Under hard acceleration however like the Venza under hard acceleration the Rav was very noisy ( engine noise) as well. Not good - TOYOTA.
So if buyers can, they might try finding the Venza c Michelin’s as OEM’S!
Secondly it was mentioned early in this review and we noted likewise that
cost of this Venza is way way up there.
Buyers be diligent in your final decision. Is it worth the money?
Go Ni
2021 Venza...another Toyota hand-me down from Japan!
Fine by me.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the afterthought design of the external lights on the Venza. The low IIHS headlight rating and the very small, and low placed rear turning lights was one of the main reasons I decided to get a Forester. It was disappointing since I loved the comfortable ride and the hybrid drive.
Why didn't you buy a RAV4 Hybrid instead?
Get the 6 cylinder highlander.
The Telluride probably wasn't on the list because they can't find one or the dealerships are STILL asking over MSRP. After driving them back to back, the Venza makes the Escape Hybrid sound truly refined in comparison. I don't care if it will last 300,000 miles, if I have to listen to that RACKET every time I step on the throttle in earnest I'll pass.
If the lady with her grand kids wanted to keep her cars for a long time ask yourself how many 10 year old Mazda or 10 year old Hyundai/kia Are still on the road then ask yourself how many Toyotas.
I've owned several Mazdas well past 10 years. Our 2007 MX-5 is still going strong. Don't lump Mazda in with the Koreans.
Kia and Hyundai are now the equal of Toyota. Toyota sells more cars, so there will be more on the road over the long haul. As far as quality and design are concerned, Kia and Hyundai are the proud carriers of the torch of the present and future.
Mazda, because it doesn't change it's engines, transmissions and tech much, is at the top of CR's reliability report this year.
You must have missed last week's episode when they talked about how Mazda reliability scores are #1, ahead of Lexus and Toyota
@@Al-thecarhistorian We've been Hyundai (and Kia) fans for a long time, since our first Elantra in 2000.
However, the issue they've had with bearing failure in the Sonata and Optima has bothered me to the point where I got a Mazda6 as my last car.
Now I find I need to take my wife's Soul in for a "Product Improvement Issue" where they reflash the computer so that, if the bearings start to fail, you can use "limp mode" to take it to the dealer to be repaired.
I'm not happy about it.
Good show . Thank you
God bless you CR
Used to trust CR until I just saw what they did with the Suzuki Samurai in a video from the Donut Media channel.
Telluride relatability sucks on load and Hyundai do your own research test them all
The new Venza has the same wheelbase and the same width as the Rav4. It is shorter (height) than the Rav4, and slightly longer, due to the odd snout design. Can someone please explain to me how this is considered a midsize and not a compact?
Exactly.
I'm going to take it a step further. What is the difference between texting while driving and trying to navigate these ridiculous and dangerous controls?
I think this baloney needs to be toned down and consumer reports has to stop testing this stuff and go after the car companies for creating something that is more dangerous then what it's trying to replace. Wake up CR.
If they stop testing how will people know that in fact some of these controls are horrendous! The consumers are the ones who need to give feedback to the manufacturers (And by feedback, I mean hell) So they stop this nonsensical trend! I love Acura as a brand and I think most of their vehicles are pretty rocking. However, I'd buy never one as long as they have a thousand buttons on that center stack, it's overkill!
Mustache? John, you look completely different. If it wasn’t for your voice, I wouldn’t know... you are Tom Hanks of CR.
I only want Toyota, Subaru and Porsche.
John... John... JOHNNNNNN.... moustache.
I’m semi-silently judging him for it. That said, this year has been nuts. If a mustache is gonna make you happy - go for it.
Somehow, the remaining hair on his head went South. 😆
@@RatKing59 it's Movember. Lots of guys growing mustaches to raise money/awareness about men's health initiatives.
New one won't satisfy old Venza owners, who tend to love that underrated car. The new one gives up size and comfort to the old design.
I'm OK with the smaller dimensions, but its reported LOUD drive-train and lack of physical controls takes it off my list.
I also miss Toyota's perfect old cruise control stalk in all their new vehicles, which seems to have been replaced simply for change's sake.
I agree, currently own a 2012 venza loaded, with a v-6. Why would I spend 40k to go from 268 horsepower to 252.
I don't see a new Venza being any more popular than the old model. I never liked the Venza. It's not a wagon or a CUV but a combination of the worst of both those worlds.
I have no bias against either wagons or CUV's. I've owned both but never in 1 car.
New Venza has NO towing capacity. How can Toyota produce an SUV with NO towing capability????
Good question. With essentially the same drivetrain, it should tow as well as the RAV4 Hybrid .
i think towing capacity is same as rav4 or more, some other youtube car reviews did mention it...
If you flipped a coin and got the result you wanted would you be grateful to the coin?
Yes!
I like you all
but all SUV's is just too boring.
I test drove the Venza a few weeks ago the engine lacks power and refinement.
Best way to buy a bmw buy a Lexus.
Stop asking for money. You are not a small independent RUclips creator
Why is 39 mpg considered impressive fuel economy for a hybrid in 2021?
Because it's an SUV that isn't slow as balls.... And you don't sacrifice styling or utility, reliability or a hefty price tag by comparison
It’s a traditional hybrid only. Not a plug hybrid. It’s only impressive compared to other cars you don’t have to plug in of similar size.
Name a hybrid SUV that gets better MPG. The drag coefficient is so high on those rolling bricks, that 39 is impressive. For a hybrid sedan, you're right, 39 would not be that great. For an SUV, it's an engineering miracle.
Hybrid SUV. They get worse gas mileage than hybrid cars. But folks gotta have they SUVs...
For an SUV it is!
I don’t understand how automotive journalists can call the Venza so comfortable and appealing when it’s such a loud car to drive, that’s one of the key components of a vehicle’s comfort
Noisy. Would like Twice horsepower with 700 mile range, more than Aviator
What planet do these people live on where they think BMWs are reliable. Just get a Toyota
Well if you buy the new Toyota supra you're buying a BMW. lol But yes BMW reliability is terrible it's even worse than Mercedes
Actual data. Not "i know this cause I know it".
Scotty Kilmer?
Lease European, buy Japanese!
The new Toyota Highlander has been having some engine software problems. Here is a video on a brand new Highlander Scotty Kilmer reviewed and he wants the dealer to fix it, so far, they won't. ruclips.net/video/4Ux667qwtGo/видео.html Everyone please stay safe and healthy.
Just buy a lower trim and you get all the buttons you need and safe several thousand.
BM Trouble you
I keep my cars for about 200,000 miles and even the Toyota batteries start losing their ability to charge at 100,000 miles, which is expensive to replace ($6000 for the dealer to do). Kind of ironic they talk about maintenance costs after the warranty goes out and never mention the limited life of batteries before performance degrades. You can drive the hybrid with a battery being subpar for awhile but eventually, it will go completely bad and the car will need either a big repair/update or be junked. I usually hit 100,000 at 7 years, so by year 10 you need to replace the battery. I should know - I owned one.
2010 Prius with 229,000 miles and going strong on original battery.
John, hope you are doing well. You seem to have lost weight. Maybe you are reinventing yourself
You know that striking, almost every car journalist in Australia set RAV 4 is the BEST SUV even for the non hybrid one, against more refine and heavy hitter like VW Tiguan and Mazda CX 5, I understand in terms of Hybrid there is no contest Toyota is the king , but without hybrid RAV 4 is below average at best let alone compare to its top rival.
For some reason most for car journalist never mention the hash transition from hybrid to petrol mode, and how noisy it is overall, Tiguan and CX5 have solid door closing sound yet RAV 4 sound cheap. this against aging car , with all new Hyundai Tuscan and KIA Sportage this will be even worse for Rav 4.
Hard pass on this Venza
Is it due to the powertrain?