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2022 Toyota Venza Limited – Review by David Colman +VIDEO


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2022 Toyota Venza Limited

It's Like a Lexus on a Toyota Budget

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David Colman
Photos and Story By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL


For the first time in seven years, Toyota is once again offering the Venza SUV. The original production run, from 2008 to 2015, offered both in-line 4 (181hp) and V6 (268hp) models. The newly reintroduced hybrid version offers just one drivetrain: a 2.5 liter 4 augmented by 3 electric motors to produce 219hp. Although peak horsepower of the hybrid substantially lags the old V6, the latest Venza weighs 275 pounds less than its predecessor. More importantly, fuel mileage has increased dramatically, from 18MPG/25MPG to 40MPG/37MPG. Acceleration of the new hybrid is quick enough to satisfy most driving demands. The Venza Limited we tested covers the standing start quarter mile in 15.8 seconds at 89mph, and sprints from 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds. While you probably won't be taking it to the Wednesday Night Drags at Sonoma Raceway, the reborn Venza is still quick enough to cope with most two-lane passing challenges.


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2022 Toyota Venza Limited

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2022 Toyota Venza Limited

Dimensionally, the 2022 Venza sticks close to the original's size footprint with an overall length of 187 inches and a width of 73 inches. Where it does fall short, however, is the wheelbase length of 106 inches, which is shorter than the original model by 3 inches. In fact, the new Venza's high beltline made the all-black interior feel rather confining. To help alleviate that situation, Toyota offers a $1,400 "Star Gaze Fixed Panoramic Roof" which becomes opaque or translucent at the touch of a button on the overhead console. It just doesn't open or close.


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2022 Toyota Venza Limited

We had a real struggle trying to fit a mountain bike into the rubber matted storage area. The easy part was getting the rear seats folded flat: two latch pulls made that job gratifyingly simple. However, removing the retractable rear cargo cover proved difficult due to overly stiff springs inside the collapsible storage tube. When it finally came time to load the bike, the narrow 42-inch gap between the Venza's rear wheel wells made for a protracted episode of loading and re-loading before the job was done.

The Venza does not emphasize the sport definition of sport utility. Toyota equips the Limited version we drove with sparkling 19-inch "Multi-Spoke Super Chrome" alloy wheels. But the mud and snow-rated Bridgestone Ecopia HL Plus 422 tires gracing those snazzy rims were a bit undersized at 225/55R19, and biased in favor of long tread life, with a wear rating of TW 600. Consequently, the Venza never felt up to the task of challenging switchback curves. At moderate speeds, the all-wheel drive system - which is standard on all levels of Venza - looks after traction allotment fastidiously. A Drive Mode system lets you regulate the Venza's performance with 4 selections available: EV, ECO, NORMAL and SPORT. We found NORMAL to be commensurate with the Venza's relaxed suspension and rubber choice. However, steering feedback in this mode is overly light and uninformative.


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2022 Toyota Venza Limited

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2022 Toyota Venza Limited

Venza prices start at $34,575 for the base model LE, jump to $38,110 for the upgraded XLE and cap at $40,380 for the Limited model. The addition of the $1,400 photochromic sunroof plus a $725 Advanced Technology Package (Head-Up Display, Rain Sensing Wipers), and $425 for the Ruby Flare Pearl "Premium Paint" brought the final tally to $44,655. The Limited features a 12.3 inch digital dash, with currently de rigueur pressure sensitive controls for just about everything from heat to air to radio volume. These unintuitive dashboard playgrounds are distracting, confusing and ultimately disruptive to your attention span. It’s best to have a knowledgeable passenger in the other front seat to address the many issues out of your immediate control.


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2022 Toyota Venza Limited

While the Venza may be deficient in regards to cockpit operation, its long suit cannot be denied. This is a quality Toyota product. Unlike the previous Venza, which was constructed in Georgetown, Kentucky, the Gen 2 Venza is built in Aichi, Japan to a very high standard of assembly. It's the attention to little details that make a Toyota bulletproof. In the Venza's case, my idle fingers discovered just such a Toyota trademark: the indentation in the armrest you grasp to open the door is covered with a tiny patch of grippy material. That way your fingers don't slip - or discover a GM-style Phillips Head screw. It's those little details that differentiate a premium Toyota product like the Venza from everything else on the market.

2022 TOYOTA VENZA LIMITED

    ENGINE: 2.5 liter inline 4 DOHC, 16 valve + 3 permanent magnet synchronous AC motors
    HORSEPOWER: 219HP Combined Output
    TORQUE: N/A FUEL
    CONSUMPTION: 40MPG City/37MPG Highway
    PRICE AS TESTED: $44,655

HYPES: 37 MPG Overall, Full Size Spare, Lexus for less

GRIPES: Gulp Size Load Bay - Not Big Gulp

STAR RATING: 7.5 Stars out of 10