Toyota Venza: which version to buy and why (specs compared)

If the question is which Toyota Venza to buy, the data split is simple. First generation (January 2008–January 2016, including the May 2012 restyling) is a SUV 5-doors with four Gasoline 2.7 AT / 3.5 AT pairings of FWD and AWD. Second generation (from May 2020, no end date in the data) is one Hybrid 2.5 CVT AWD. Power in the catalogue runs from 182 hp to 268 hp.

If the question is which Toyota Venza to buy, the data split is simple. First generation (January 2008–January 2016, including the May 2012 restyling) is a SUV 5-doors with four Gasoline 2.7 AT / 3.5 AT pairings of FWD and AWD. Second generation (from May 2020, no end date in the data) is one Hybrid 2.5 CVT AWD. Power in the catalogue runs from 182 hp to 268 hp. Combined fuel use, where measured, runs from 6 L/100 km (2.5 CVT) to 10.7 L/100 km (first-generation 3.5 AT FWD) and 10 L/100 km (restyled 2.7 AT AWD). Ground clearance is 206 mm on most first-generation versions, 205 mm on restyled 2.7 AT, and 195 mm on 2.5 CVT. The rest of this page is those numbers compared, not a second overview of the model.

Searches for Toyota Venza 2024, 2025, 2026, Limited, or “for sale” are not answered here: the data have no trim names, no list prices, and no stock. What they do have is engine, horsepower, torque, drive, weight, and mpg-style consumption for every named version.

Generations: what actually changed between versions

1 generation (January 2008–April 2012)SUV 5-doors, 4 versions. Two engines, each with FWD and AWD.

1 generation, restyling (May 2012–January 2016) — still SUV 5-doors, still 4 versions. Same 2.7 AT / 3.5 AT names, not a new generation.

Arithmetic on the restyle: 2.7 AT gained +3 hp and +7 Nm, peak power +1000 rpm, peak torque +200 rpm, displacement −22 cc. Specific output: 182 / 2.694 ≈ 67.6 hp/L before restyle, 185 / 2.672 ≈ 69.2 hp/L after (+1.6 hp/L). 3.5 AT specific output is 268 / 3.456 ≈ 77.5 hp/L in both generations — +8.3 hp/L versus restyled 2.7 AT.

2 generation (from May 2020)SUV 5-doors, 1 version.

2.5 CVT specific output: 222 / 2.487 ≈ 89.3 hp/L+11.8 hp/L versus 3.5 AT, +20.1 hp/L versus restyled 2.7 AT. Torque is the lowest in the catalogue (221 Nm vs 247 Nm on restyled 2.7 AT and 334 Nm on 3.5 AT).

Toyota Venza engine specs (every version)

GenerationVersionhp (kW @ rpm)Nm @ rpmccFuelCyl. / layoutBoostGearboxDrive
1 generation2.7 AT 182 hp182 (134 @ 4800)240 @ 40002694Gasoline4 InlineNoAutomatic 6FWD
1 generation2.7 AT 182 hp182 (134 @ 4800)240 @ 40002694Gasoline4 InlineNoAutomatic 6AWD
1 generation3.5 AT 268 hp268 (200 @ 6200)334 @ 47003456Gasoline6 V-shapedNoAutomatic 6FWD
1 generation3.5 AT 268 hp268 (200 @ 6200)334 @ 47003456Gasoline6 V-shapedNoAutomatic 6AWD
1 generation, restyling2.7 AT 185 hp185 (136 @ 5800)247 @ 42002672Gasoline4 InlineNoAutomatic 6AWD
1 generation, restyling2.7 AT 185 hp185 (136 @ 5800)247 @ 42002672Gasoline4 InlineNoAutomatic 6FWD
1 generation, restyling3.5 AT 268 hp268 (200 @ 6200)334 @ 47003456Gasoline6 V-shapedNoAutomatic 6FWD
1 generation, restyling3.5 AT 268 hp268 (200 @ 6200)334 @ 47003456Gasoline6 V-shapedNoAutomatic 6AWD
2 generation2.5 CVT 222 hp222 (163 @ 5700)221 @ 3600–52002487Hybrid4 Inlinenot measuredVariableAWD

Fuel grade on every version that lists it: 95. Engine oil type, air-filter part numbers, and engine-bay layout: not measured.

Performance, mpg, and kg per hp

0–100 km/h (where measured). Fastest: 3.5 AT 268 hp FWD and AWD at 9.2 s (both generations). Restyled 2.7 AT 185 hp FWD and AWD: 9.4 s (+0.2 s). 2.5 CVT: 9.9 s (+0.7 s vs 3.5 AT, +0.5 s vs restyled 2.7 AT). Pre-restyle 2.7 AT 182 hp FWD and AWD: not measured.

Top speed. Restyled 2.7 AT and 2.5 CVT: 180 km/h. All measured 3.5 AT: 175 km/h (−5 km/h despite +83 hp vs restyled 2.7 AT). Pre-restyle 2.7 AT 182 hp: not measured.

Fuel (L/100 km). Combined, lowest to highest among measured rows:

1. 2.5 CVT Hybrid: city 5.9, highway 6.4, combined 6. Highway is 0.5 above city. 2. Restyled 2.7 AT 185 hp FWD: 12.3 / 7.1 / 9.1. 3. Restyled 2.7 AT 185 hp AWD: 13.3 / 8 / 10. 4. First-generation 3.5 AT 268 hp FWD: 12.4 / 9 / 10.7.

Not measured: both 2.7 AT 182 hp; first-generation 3.5 AT AWD; both restyled 3.5 AT. CO2 and eco class: not measured on every version.

Versus 2.5 CVT combined 6 L/100 km, restyled FWD 2.7 AT uses +3.1 L/100 km, restyled AWD 2.7 AT +4.0, first-generation 3.5 AT FWD +4.7. Tank 67 L vs 55 L on 2.5 CVT (−12 L).

kg per hp (kerb / hp), measured kerb only.

2.5 CVT kerb 1745 kg is 10 kg below 3.5 AT FWD 1755 kg and 200 kg below restyled 2.7 AT AWD 1945 kg. Gross: 2.5 CVT 2250 kg vs 3.5 AT AWD 2390 kg (−140 kg). Pre-restyle 2.7 AT kerb/gross: not measured.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Wheelbase and exterior length/width/height: not measured (including 2025-style dimension queries).

Ground clearance. 206 mm: all first-generation versions except restyled 2.7 AT (205 mm, −1 mm). 2.5 CVT: 195 mm (−11 mm vs 206 mm).

Tank. 67 L on every first-generation version; 55 L on 2.5 CVT.

Wheels. First generation: not measured. 2.5 CVT: 225/60 R18, 225/55 R19.

Suspension / brakes. Independent, spring front and rear on every version that lists them. Front Ventilated disc on every version. Rear Disc on every version except both 2.7 AT 182 hp, where rear brakes are not measured.

Which Toyota Venza version to choose

Choose second-generation Hybrid 2.5 CVT AWD if the decision is current-generation Venza hybrid, one drivetrain, and the lowest measured combined use (6 L/100 km). You get 222 hp from 2487 cc (≈ 89.3 hp/L), Variable gearbox, AWD, 180 km/h, wheels listed, kerb 1745 kg. You give up 3.5 AT torque (221 vs 334 Nm, −113 Nm), 0.7 s on 0–100 vs 3.5 AT, 11 mm of clearance vs 206 mm, and 12 L of tank. Boost is not measured. There is no FWD 2.5 CVT in the data.

Choose restyled 3.5 AT (May 2012–January 2016) if horsepower is the ranking rule. 268 hp and 334 Nm are the catalogue peaks; ≈ 6.55 kg/hp FWD is the best power-to-weight among measured kerb figures. 0–100 9.2 s is the best measured sprint. Top speed 175 km/h is 5 km/h below restyled 2.7 AT and 2.5 CVT. Combined mpg on restyled 3.5 AT: not measured — do not treat first-generation FWD 10.7 L/100 km as the restyle figure. FWD vs AWD on this engine is +80 kg kerb and +79 kg gross for AWD, same 268 hp and same 9.2 s / 175 km/h. Fuel for AWD 3.5 AT: not measured.

Choose restyled 2.7 AT 185 hp if you want the four-cylinder Automatic 6 after May 2012, with 0–100 and mpg actually filled in. FWD: 9.1 L/100 km combined, 1860 kg, 10.05 kg/hp. AWD: 10 L/100 km, 1945 kg, 10.51 kg/hp+0.9 L/100 km and +85 kg for AWD, same 185 hp, same 9.4 s / 180 km/h, same 205 mm. Versus 3.5 AT you give up 83 hp and 87 Nm for a 5 km/h higher listed top speed and (FWD only) a measured combined figure.

Choose first-generation 3.5 AT 268 hp (2008–April 2012) if you want the V-shaped 6 before the restyle. FWD is the only 3.5 AT row with city/highway/combined (12.4 / 9 / 10.7). AWD adds 80 kg kerb; its consumption is not measured. Engine numbers match the restyled 3.5 AT.

Choose first-generation 2.7 AT 182 hp only with the gaps in view. Displacement 2694 cc, Front, longitudinal, compression 9.5, 95 × 95 — the only Venza 2.7 AT with those four fields. FWD and AWD share 182 hp / 240 Nm. 0–100, top speed, fuel, kerb, gross, rear brakes: not measured. Versus restyled 2.7 AT you lose 3 hp and 7 Nm and you do not get a measured sprint or mpg in this dataset.

What “extra” AWD buys in these numbers (no prices in the data). On restyled 2.7 AT: +85 kg, +1.0 / +0.9 / +0.9 L/100 km, same power and 0–100. On 3.5 AT: +80 kg kerb, +79 kg gross, same 268 hp and 9.2 s; mpg not measured for AWD. On 2.5 CVT, AWD is the only drive.

2021-spec vs 2015-spec vs 2010-spec in this catalogue. A 2021 (and later) match is 2.5 CVT Hybrid only. A 2015 / 2014 match is the restyling 2.7 AT 185 hp and 3.5 AT 268 hp. An early-generation / 2010–2011 match is 2.7 AT 182 hp and 3.5 AT 268 hp with the longitudinal 2.7 layout. Toyota Venza Limited is not measured as a separate version.

Reliability and problems are not measured in the launch data. Rank by the filled columns: Hybrid economy and kg on 2.5 CVT; peak hp and kg/hp on 3.5 AT FWD; documented four-cylinder mpg on restyled 2.7 AT FWD; AWD as a 80–85 kg add-on where both drives exist.