Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures owner satisfaction with vehicle quality after the first 90 days of ownership, the Toyota Venza received 4 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures owner satisfaction with performance and design attributes of a vehicle, the Toyota Venza received 4 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

Predicted Reliability – The Toyota Venza is a new model for 2009, and has not yet been included in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures customer satisfaction with dependability after three years of ownership. Based on the historical performance of other Toyota products in the Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability studies, the 2009 Toyota Venza receives a Predicted Reliability rating of 4 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Fuel Economy – The 2009 Toyota Venza is equipped with a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine rated to develop 182 horsepower or a 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated to develop 268 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission delivers power to the front or all four wheels. The EPA says the Venza four-cylinder gets 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive and 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway with all-wheel drive. With the V-6 engine, fuel economy ratings drop to 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway with all-wheel drive.

Our review vehicle, a Venza V-6 with front-wheel drive, averaged 19.8 mpg in mixed driving with a highway emphasis. Combined with the Venza’s standard 17.7-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 350-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

Safety – According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2009 Toyota Venza receives 5-star crash-test ratings for the driver and front passenger in a frontal impact, 5-star ratings for front and rear occupants in a side impact, and a 4-star rollover rating with front- or all-wheel drive.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the 2009 Toyota Venza a “Top Safety Pick” and gave it a “Good” rating in the offset frontal impact test, a “Good” rating in the side impact test, and a “Good” rating in the rear impact test.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Toyota Venza consumes between 14.3 and 16.3 barrels of petroleum annually, depending on engine and drivetrain, with a carbon footprint rating ranging between 7.7 and 8.7 tons of air pollution per year. The Toyota Venza’s national and regional air pollution scores have not been published by the EPA, but Toyota says the four-cylinder model qualifies for a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) rating in California.