The station wagon isn’t dead, it’s just disguised. If you think every single vehicle on the road is a crossover or SUV of some kind, then don’t despair: there are still some wagons out there.
Say hello to the Toyota Venza, effectively a station wagon version of the Camry. It has the same engine choices, apart from a hybrid, and while this one has available all-wheel-drive, you can get a front-driver too.
While the Venza looks bigger thanks to a jacked-up ride height, it occupies roughly the same footprint as the Camry. What’s more, just as station wagons were in the past, it’s positioned as a family-friendly vehicle that’s just that little bit more practical than your average four-door sedan.
Now in its seventh year and two years since the last facelift, the Venza’s disguise might be wearing a little thin. Let’s get it out on the road and find out what’s beneath the mask.
Design
Designed to slot in-between the RAV4 and the Highlander, the Venza appears at first glance to be slightly more upscale than either. The RAV4 is built with small crossover practicality in mind, and the Highlander screwed together to take on the soccer team, but the Venza’s just that little bit swooshier.
It looks a little like a Sienna caught in Willy Wonka’s taffy puller, and that’s intended as a compliment. Lower and wider than other crossovers on the road, the Venza hunkers down low over its 20” alloy wheels and — wait, hang on, 20” wheels? On a Toyota?
Yes indeedy-do. Part of the snazzy curb-image this thing has is a pair of boots fit enough to qualify for a walk-on part in a mid-2000s rap video. Even the base model gets 19” rims, something required by the sheet metal heavy styling.
For those of us who aren’t part of Nate Dogg’s posse, this is a bit of overkill and ruins the ride on bumpy pavement. Note that you can tuck much smaller 17” or even 16” wheels on for winter duty.
Environment
If the exterior of the Venza has aged well, the same can’t be said for the interior. Those attributes that worked before are still here: a spacious, roomy feel brightened up by a huge panoramic sunroof.
However, climb into a newer offering, like the arch-rival Subaru Outback, and this Limited trim tester starts looking a little long in the tooth. Fit and finish are still very good, and there’s a sense that the interior will take as much of a kicking as a Rubbermaid product, but it is much more plasticky than recently refreshed competitors.
Still, as mentioned, the essentials are all here. There’s a clever holder for your smartphone that includes a pass-through for the USB charging cord, a truly enormous sliding centre console, and the controls are all quite sensible. The centre-mounted screen is a tad on the small side, at 6.1”, but functionality is straightforward and hooking up streaming audio and operating the navigation is very easy.
Where the Venza excels, as do regular wagons, is in carrying adult-sized passengers. For a growing family with teens outgrowing a RAV’s back seats, the Venza has rear room to sprawl out and a trunk big enough to haul hockey bags: 870L with the seats up and nearly 2000 with them folded flat.
Performance
While a 2.7L four-cylinder is available on base-trim Venzas, please be aware that this is only a choice for the miserly. Producing 182hp, it’s pitted against 2245kg (plus options), which is quite a bit to shift.
The V6, Toyota’s ubiquitous 3.5L unit, produces a much better 268hp. The six is a bit of a gem and somewhat overlooked in the business. Lotus stuffs it in their Evora, and while an AWD crossover doesn’t have the lightness of a sportscar, the V6 Venza does at least have passing power to spare.
Making a few passes along the Sea-to-Sky highway reveals something of a duality to the Venza’s driving character. While the driving position is comfortable and slightly high up, the centre of gravity feels low. It’s a stable, planted machine through the corners.
However, the steering is somewhat overboosted and lacks feel. Toyota improved this with their redesigned Highlander, but the Venza does feel more like an older Toyota — which it is, so fair enough.
Grip from the all-wheel-drive could also benefit from Toyota’s recent work. Here, planting the accelerator from a stop causes the front wheels to brake grip, and then the rear to react. Toyota’s tightened this up elsewhere, but the Venza still has slip-and-grip.
For all that, it’s a comfortable cruiser that rarely puts a foot wrong. As with all crossover/wagons, the rear visibility could be better, but blind spots are managed well the old-school way with concave insets in the side mirrors.
Features
Loaded to the gills, my Limited-trim AWD Venza cracked the 40K mark: $41,740 after freight and before taxes and levies. That’s quite a bit, considering Toyota’s pricing on the Highlander.
You do get a lot though: a 13-speaker JBL audio system, LED running lights, push-button start and keyless entry, leather seating with power for driver and passenger, Bluetooth audio and navigation.
Official fuel economy is rated at a just OK12.8L/100kms city and 9.3L/100kms for the V6; the four-cylinder will do just over a litre better in town, and about the same on the highway. Observed fuel economy for mixed driving was right at 11L/100kms, which is actually very good.
Green Light
Comfortable seats; spacious rear seating and cargo; reliability should be very good.
Stop Sign
Dated interior; ride compromised by huge wheels; no standout technology.
The Checkered Flag
A practical people-mover with panache; the bones of a station wagon in a nicer package.
