Are Venza seats comfortable?
Overall, yes. The Toyota Venza typically offers comfortable seating, with supportive front seats and a roomy rear bench that suits most adults for daily commuting and longer trips. Taller passengers may notice slightly less rear headroom on certain trims, but the seats themselves are generally well-padded and accommodating.
Front-seat comfort
Front seating is the first thing buyers notice, and reviewers consistently note how the Venza's front cushions and backrests support long drives. Here are the key takeaways from recent reviews.
- The front seats are well-padded with supportive lumbar regions, making them comfortable for urban commutes and highway trips.
- There is ample thigh support and a roomy seating position that helps reduce fatigue on longer drives.
- Seat surface materials feel comfortable, and higher trims offer heated seating to enhance comfort in cold weather.
- The level of bolster support is generous but not aggressively contoured, which suits a wide range of body types.
Overall, front-seat comfort is one of the Venza's strengths, contributing to a relaxed and confident driving experience across model years and trims.
Rear-seat comfort
Rear seating matters for families and passengers sharing long trips. Reviewers assess legroom, headroom, and the overall cushion feel for back-seat passengers.
- Legroom in the rear is generally ample for average-height adults, enabling comfortable seating on longer rides.
- Headroom is adequate for most passengers, though very tall individuals may find the ceiling bottleneck slightly limiting on certain tall-body configurations.
- The rear bench offers a comfortable cushion and good lower-back support for two adults; the middle seat tends to be narrower and less comfortable for longer trips.
In everyday use, the rear seats are comfortable for two adults on most trips, with a caveat for the middle occupant on longer journeys.
Ride quality and cabin feel
Seat comfort is closely tied to the overall ride and cabin environment. The Venza has a reputation for a smooth, quiet ride that complements seating comfort.
- The suspension delivers a calm ride over mixed road surfaces, reducing fatigue on longer drives.
- The cabin is notably quiet, which makes conversations and seat comfort feel enhanced during highway cruising.
- Fabric and leather combinations in different trims offer a refined feel that enhances the perceived comfort of the seating surfaces.
Taken together, the seating and overall ride contribute to a comfortable interior experience for most drivers and passengers, especially on longer trips.
Summary
Bottom line: The Toyota Venza offers a solidly comfortable seating experience. Front seats are widely praised for comfort and adjustability, while rear seating is adequate for adults on most trips, with the middle position being the only noticeable drawback on longer journeys. Coupled with a quiet, smooth ride, the Venza tends to deliver a comfortable daily driver and family-hauler.
Why is the Toyota Venza not selling?
Market repositioning and overlap: Toyota phased out the first-generation Venza (2008--2015) because it overlapped with other Toyota models (Camry, RAV4, Highlander) and sales were modest. The Venza's mid-size crossover niche was narrow--between sedans and larger SUVs--so Toyota chose to consolidate offerings.
Is the Toyota Venza a quiet ride?
A: The Venza provides a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its hybrid powertrain and advanced suspension system.
What is the disadvantage of Venza?
We were impressed by the Venza's superb fuel economy of 37 mpg overall and appreciated some optional and unusual features such as the dimmable panoramic glass roof. But unintuitive controls and limited rear visibility proved to be definite downsides. Such contrasts define the Venza.
Why isn't the Toyota Venza popular?
The Toyota Venza is not popular due to a combination of factors, including its higher price point compared to other Toyota models like the RAV4, limited cargo space, and a driving experience that some find disappointing. It also faces stiff competition and lacks features like a standard towing capability, and earlier models were considered confusing hybrids of different vehicle types.
This video discusses some common issues with the Toyota Venza: 59sRealistickYouTube · Jan 25, 2024
Key reasons for its lack of popularity
You can watch this video to learn about common issues with the Toyota Venza: 59sTech AddictsYouTube · Nov 25, 2022
- Price and value: The Venza is often priced higher than the RAV4 Hybrid, which offers more cargo space and a lower starting price.
- Cargo and utility: It offers less cargo space than some key competitors and does not have a towing capacity, which limits its utility compared to traditional SUVs.
- Disappointing driving experience: Some reviews have found the driving experience to be a letdown, with critiques including a large center tunnel that hinders passenger comfort, a lack of physical buttons for the infotainment system (on some models), and issues with road noise.
- Confusing market position: The original Venza was considered an "oddball" blending sedan and SUV features, and its return was met with a similar identity crisis, as it was a hybrid-only vehicle that didn't have the rugged appeal of a traditional SUV but was also less practical than other options.
- Strong competition: It competes in a crowded segment with well-established and popular alternatives like the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which provide more cargo room and a lower price.
- Other drawbacks: Owners have also reported issues such as soft paint that scratches easily, a less-than-crisp JBL sound system at high volumes, and the expensive and non-opening "stargazer" panoramic glass roof.
