Vehicle Profile: 2013 Toyota Venza

The Toyota Venza is back for 2013! This crossover was created to provide SUV capability with luxury car refinement. It delivers the perfect combination of performance, luxury, versatility and bold design.

What’s New?

For 2013, the already stylish Venza sports a refreshed front fascia with foglamps, new upper and lower grilles, and new taillamps. A new 19-inch wheel design and three new exterior colors – Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl and Cosmic Gray Mica – round out the visual changes.

Trims

The 2013 Toyota Venza (MSRP $27,700) is available in 3 different trims: LE, XLE and Limited.

The LE comes equipped with a Display Audio system with 6.1-inch touch-screen, Bluetooth® wireless technology and dual-zone climate control. An available Convenience Package adds a power liftgate and rear back-up camera. There is also a Preferred Package, which gives the Venza LE a panoramic glass roof and adds navigation and Entune® to the Display Audio system.

The Venza XLE offers a little more luxury with the addition of a leather-trimmed steering wheel, seats and shift knob, multi-stage heated front seats and the Display Audio system complete with Entune and navigation as standard equipment. An anti-theft system with alarm, the Smart Key System with Push-Button Start and the power liftgate with back-up camera are also standard on the XLE. The only option package available for the XLE is the Premium Package, which adds the panoramic glass roof and a JBL® audio system with 13 JBL Synthesis speakers including subwoofer.

The top Limited trim comes standard with the panoramic glass roof, Premium HDD Navigation with Entune and the JBL speaker system, and adds High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with LED daytime running lights.

All Venza trims are available with a choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and all models come equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. LE and XLE models offer your choice of a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 181 hp or a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 268 hp. The Venza Limited is available exclusively with the V6.

Performance

Fuel economy for the FWD four-cylinder Venza is EPA-estimated at 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway, with the AWD model coming in at 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. V6 models return 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway for FWD and 18/25 for AWD.

For those of you looking to lug some stuff around, the 2013 Venza offers an optional Tow Prep Package for V6-equipped models, which provides a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. That is nearly the full weight of the Venza itself.

Safety

The 2013 Toyota Venza is equipped with Toyota’s Star Safety System™ which includes safety features such as Traction Control (TRAC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) combined with advanced airbags. Antilock brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop brake override technology (SST) are also included in the Star Safety System.

Conclusion

The 2013 Toyota Venza received substantial improvements in entertainment and connectivity from its predecessor, while remaining a comfortable, practical, and stylish pick for those who are not looking for a super rugged SUV.

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Vehicle Preview: 2013 Toyota Venza

Introduction

The Toyota Venza offers a combination of a great look, roominess and versatility that made it a main stay in the North American market. The 2013 Toyota Venza will be no different, offering consumers with SUV flexibility thanks to its fold-flat rear seats, a spacious cargo area, available AWD and up to 3,500-lbs. towing capacity.

What’s new for 2013?

The 2013 Toyota Venza now offers a redesigned exterior, as well as several new standard features and updated option packages that include Toyota’s Entune multi-media system.

The Venza’s exterior redesign will add a new upper and lower grille, fog lamps and rear taillights for the 2013 model year. The 2013 Venza will also get a 19-inch wheel design.

The 2013 Toyota Venza will be available in three new exterior colors: Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica.

Interior Design

The 2013 Toyota Venza offers three interior colors: Ivory, Light Gray, and Black. Each color is offered in fabric and leather depending on the trim. 

One plus to the 2013 Toyota Venza is that it has a uniquely designed center console that gives both the driver and front passenger the feeling that 60 percent of the vehicles space is accessible from their seating position.

Trims and features

The 2013 Toyota Venza is available in the following trims: The base LE, mid-range XLE and the top of the line Limited trim.

The 2013 Venza is offered as either a four-cylinder or V-6 in the base LE and mid-range XLE trims while the Limited model is only available as a V-6.

Each trim level adds new features for the 2013 Venza. Those who buy the LE model will get new Display Audio systems, puddle lamps, a blind-spot side mirrors, and outer turn signals. In addition to Entune multi-media features, XLE models add on reverse-tilt outside mirrors, a memory power driver's seat, and a navigation system. The top of the line Limited models now get the above mentioned features plus LED daytime running lights, premium 13-speaker JBL sound and an upgraded navigation system.

Under the Hood

The 2013 Venza offers four and six cylinder models in FWD and AWD versions.  The Venza’s 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine pushes 181 horsepower and 182 lb.-ft. of torque and is EPA-rated at 21 MPG city/27 MPG highway for the FWD model and 20/25 for the AWD.The 3.5-liter V6 is able to produce 268 horsepower and 246 lb.-ft. of torque The V6 FWD model has EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 MPG city/26 MPG highway and 18/25 for the AWD. 

Both engines are mated to a six-speed sequential-shift electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i), which helps optimize fuel economy. Uphill/downhill shift logic selects the proper gear for driving conditions and helps provide moderate engine braking during downhill driving.

The 2013 Venza offers an available Towing Prep Package on V6 models which add on an engine oil cooler, a larger radiator fan and a heavy-duty alternator.

Safety

Safety features on the 2013 Venza include Toyota's STAR Safety System which features enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC) Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist and the Smart Stop Technology (SST).Other safety features include: a driver’s knee airbag, driver and front-passenger front-seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side-curtain airbags, Front seat-belt pretensioners and more.

One great safety feature in the 2013 Venza is the active headrests found on the driver and passenger seats.  This feature equips the seat with a cable mechanism that will move the headrest upward and forward if the vehicle is struck from the rear, and thus limiting the movement of the occupant's head.

Conclusion

I want to get my hands on one and give it a test drive! The new exterior gives it a much better look, while the extra features should make this one worth a trip to your dealer.

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