Why Buy a Used Toyota Venza: Alan Jay's Comprehensive Guide
The Venza is one of Toyota’s most interesting vehicles. Having gone on a brief hiatus, it came back better than ever. Let’s take a look at some aspects of the two generations and give you a few top reasons to consider a used Toyota Venza.
Key Takeaways:
- When looking at the Venza, the two generations are pretty different, one is everything great about 2000’s while the other showcases how far we’ve come with hybrid powertrains.
- Being that the first generation didn’t have trim levels for the first few years, you’ll have to look for the packages and what they come with.
- If you’re wanting the most up to date tech, then look for a 2023 Limited.
First generation (2008-2017)
When the Venza first hit the market in 2008, it was truly something special. While it was offered with two engines, the base engine gave the best fuel economy. The base engine gives you 21 mpg in the city, and 29 mpg on the highway.
Being that this generation only came in one trim level for the first few years, you could expect decent features no matter what. Some of the features you can look for include:
- 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels
- Homelink Feature
- Dual Zone-Climate Control
If you have a collection of CDs from years ago, or enjoying the physical media revival, then the 6-disc CD changer might catch your eye. This will easily allow you to enjoy your favorite albums without much effort.
In 2010, the Venza saw a USB audio input and Bluetooth capability join the lineup. Because of this, the 6-disc changer was replaced by a single disc unit. But in 2012 is where the big changes came in. The Venza saw the addition of trim levels.
The trims you could now find are the LE, XLE, and Limited. The first two trims could take both of the powertrains and pair it with both drivetrains that were available. While the Limited only came with the one engine option.
Second generation (2020-2024)
This generation picked up a few years after a brief hiatus. Coming to the North American market for 2021, this generation didn’t see much added which prompted another discontinuation. The real standout for this generation was the all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain that could get 40 mpg. For the 2022 year model, the Limited trim was given fog lights to help make the vehicle safer to operate when the weather gets bad. For the 2023 year model, Toyota added the Nightshade package for the XLE trim.
Toyota also replaced the Blizzard Pearl color with Wind Chill Pearl. While the Limited trim gets a 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster, and features four drive modes. These four drive modes help give the driver more options to pick from and really optimize your fuel consumption.
Which Venza is the right one for you? That depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re wanting a bit of a throwback that is still reliable, then the early first gen is what you want. If you’re wanting something a bit more modern that comes with “a host of modern amenities” as Car and Driver implies , then look for something after 2010. Whichever you’re looking for, come see us here at Alan Jay, we’ll be happy to help you.