Hi. I'm a Toyota Venza. I have no idea what I am. 

"dinobot666" (dinobot666) 07/30/2014 at 13:08 • Filed to: toyota venza v6 beige bites back lol highlander rav4 camry what is it

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The Toyota Venza is seriously one of the strangest cars for sale today. It isn't really a traditional station wagon in the truest sense, nor is it a pseudo-wannabe SUV like its Highlander cousin, which it shares a platform and drivetrain.

It's somewhere in in no mans land in terms of classification, because even though it is based on the Camry platform, its goofy, oversized wheels give it a bit of a truckish stance, but it sits too low to be on par with a Subaru Outback in terms of looking like it can go off-road. So it's not a crossover, it's not an SUV, it's not really a wagon. Hmm.

It's not all bad though, really, it isn't. When speced with a the 3.5 V6 (268 HP), it can hustle to 60 mph in about 7 seconds, give or take, and it'll even tow up to 3,500 pounds. Driving dynamics are a bit dull, but the seats are comfortable. A decent overall vehicle for what it is, but that begs the question, what is it?

All Motor Is Best Motor > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:10

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It's a CUW. Crossover Utility Wagon.

HammerheadFistpunch > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:11

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A reason for empty nesters to spend more money on a Camry.

Brian Silvestro > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:11

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5 Series GT: trying to solve a problem that never existed

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:12

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Hi I'm a Ford Edge and I have the same problems :(

EL_ULY > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:14

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*cough cough* not for sale anymore maybe for that reason

DailyTurismo > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:15

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It is shockingly close in side/function to a V6 Rav4, so I asked my buddy who works at Toyota Tech Center why it exists when you can get the Rav4. He said it is all about marketing. The Rav4 is a young mom's car and the Venza is an aging baby boomers car (empty nester is the term he used), but they both do the same thing, just different segments of the market that don't want to be stereotyped as each other. Auto marketing is an odd place, but it is very mini-market segment driven, instead of the old 50's approach to family car, truck or sports car.

Rico > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:15

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It's a Highlander that had sex with an Sienna, this is their inbred child.

dinobot666 > EL_ULY 07/30/2014 at 13:15

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I always thought it was a handsome whatever it was trying to be kind of vehicle. I don't know what it was either.

Money Hustard > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:16

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It was on the shortlist when we bought my wife's Outback simply because it really was a decent value. Driving it next to something like an Outback though, there really is no comparison.

Most any crossover is based on a car, it's just a CUV.

dinobot666 > DailyTurismo 07/30/2014 at 13:16

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It's too bad Toyota dropped the axe on the RAV4 with the 3.5 V6. That little cute ute was crazy fast.

HammerheadFistpunch > EL_ULY 07/30/2014 at 13:16

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not REALLY the same thing. The R class was a minivan for people with minivan phobia. The Venza is a tall Camry for people without kids.

dinobot666 > Money Hustard 07/30/2014 at 13:18

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The Outback handles much better and has better driving feel than the slightly numb Venza. I'd probably opt for an Outback for those very reasons, but man, that V6 in the Venza is silky smooth.

EL_ULY > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:19

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yeah they were not too bad. Also not sure. What I do know is how much a pain in the arse it was replacing the oh so troublesome panoramic roof assemblies for hardly any warranty pay.

EL_ULY > HammerheadFistpunch 07/30/2014 at 13:20

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Tall CLS and minivan phobia works as well :]

dinobot666 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/30/2014 at 13:22

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Haha. It's funny you mention that, because the Venza is/was on a list of my potential next vehicle for the wife and I and we don't have kids, nor do we plan to. I don't mind how freakish the Venza is, probably because I've driven Subaru's most of my life.

Wacko > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:28

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Driving dynamics are a bit dull

So in other words it drives like a Toyota

dinobot666 > Wacko 07/30/2014 at 13:29

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Pretty much, which is also why a Forester XT is also on the list of potential new vehicles.

RazoE > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:31

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It's a Camry wagon that doesn't look too much like a wagon because Americans don't like wagons. Honda's done the same with the CrossTour and Nissan has the Murano.

The Highlander is a Camry disguised as an SUV.

HammerheadFistpunch > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:32

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this might be of some interest

dinobot666 > RazoE 07/30/2014 at 13:33

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It's weird, I can stomach the Venza for what it is, as it still has decent utility, but the Crosstour isn't very functional at all. At least the Murano looks slightly CUVish.

dinobot666 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/30/2014 at 13:37

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Nice review. :)

HammerheadFistpunch > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:40

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Thanks, thats when I was still driving the forester. I liked the new XT...just didn't love it.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > EL_ULY 07/30/2014 at 13:47

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I thought it was because Mercedes got sued by pirates.

EL_ULY > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username 07/30/2014 at 13:48

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possibly :]

Because Race Kart > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:48

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WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU?!?! MINIVAN OR SUV?!

McMike > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 13:56

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Venza ain't got shit on the Crosstour.

(X6 and ZDX fastback trucklets included)

dinobot666 > Because Race Kart 07/30/2014 at 13:58

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With that butch snout, it's a uh. I'm not sure. Why did you do this GM?

Fleetwouldhoon > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 14:07

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My parents own the 2.7.

Not a bad car - I'd describe it as a 2013 Camry with a 2011 Camry face, donk 20"s, a voluminous boot, and a more comfortable dash. However, if you are getting the limited V6, you should just bite the $100 bullet and get the RX350. Now that I realize it, it is a very confusing car.

dinobot666 > Fleetwouldhoon 07/30/2014 at 14:08

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Ha! Told you so.

mazda616 > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 14:08

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I don't mind them. Before our purchase of our CX-5, my wife and I looked at a few Venzas. Boring, but not terrible. Pretty much the same attributes as a Camry.

Textured Soy Protein > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 14:29

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Toyota has the Highlander and Venza, Honda has the Pilot and Crosstour.

The Venza is obviously rather more successful than the Crosstour.

ranwhenparked > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 18:27

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It's marketed to empty nesters in their 60s that don't need minivans or full-fledged SUVs anymore, but still want something with cargo space for Home Depot runs and vacations. Plus, having driven said SUVs and minivans continuously for the past few decades, it lets them keep the elevated ride height they've grown accustomed to.

Saf1 > dinobot666 07/30/2014 at 20:13

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It's funny how crossovers first came about as initially unclassifyable cars and now we have cars that apparently cannot even be called crossovers anymore :D In such a short time too!

dinobot666 > Saf1 07/31/2014 at 08:28

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The Venza is just barely a crossover though, it's still more wagonesque.

My Alfa 164 is Too a Real Alfa > ranwhenparked 08/01/2014 at 21:21

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Can confirm, my dad's-friend's-wife has one and they are 60 year old empty nesters. This observation is spot on.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > EL_ULY 08/07/2014 at 11:32

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These looked like they would make good hearses. So there's that.

EL_ULY > NotUnlessRoundIsFunny 08/07/2014 at 11:41

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lol true, I wouldn't mind. Town Car would be sweet also because Pantherrr!