A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Toyota Venza

The 2012 Toyota Venza offers the best combination of the SUV and a sedan. It has ample headroom and legroom so passengers are comfortable for long rides, while offering a four-cylinder front-wheel drive version or V6 option all-wheel drive version.

Key Features

The Toyota Venza comes with a 2.7 liter four-cylinder engine that offers 268 hp. This vehicle gets a fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. An optional 3.5 liter V6 engine is available that offers 268 hp. The V6 version gets 19 mpg while driving in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Both have six speed automatic transmissions with the ability to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Changes for 2012

The 2012 Toyota Venza comes in three different styles of trim. The LE and XLE have the option of a four or six-cylinder engine, where the Limited only has the six-cylinder option. All of the styles now come with front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive option.

What We Like

The Venza offers a smooth ride on all types of road. Passing power is adequate while still having good fuel economy. The sliding center console has a nice arm rest with ample storage space. An MP3 holder and auxiliary input jack are also in the console providing a convenient feature. The power lift gate is operated with just the push of a button and is perfect for those carrying a lot in their arms.

What Concerns Us

The Toyota Venza is on the pricier side and it doesn’t have a third row seat. If you are looking for more room, check out the Mazda CX-9 or the Hyundai Veracruz. If you need better fuel economy, the Subaru Outback may be a better option.

Available Models

The 3.5 liter V6 comes with 268 hp at 6,200 rpm. The estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Different trim features include the LE, XLE, and the Limited.

Major Recalls

The 2012 Toyota Venza was recalled due to a water leak in the air conditioning condenser. This can cause a short circuit and disable or deploy the airbags. The Venza was also recalled due to the labels being outside the one percent accuracy of actual weight. The vehicle was also recalled due to the passenger seat sensor system calibration not being tested. If it is out of calibration, the airbags may not deploy properly.

Common Issues

Common complaints include paint chipping, sunroof exploding, windows exploding, bad odor, battery failing, and the seat belt would not release.

Toyota Venza 2012 Interior


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25 years of experience
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18 years of experience
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