THE 'NIGERIAN' SUV THAT HAS NOT AGED (VAMPIRE SUV)
The automotive world is full of diverse SUVs, but one in particular seems to have its radiator filled with water straight from the fountain of youth. The ever-young SUV that I refer to is non-other than the Toyota Venza. Let me give you a little back story...
I first saw a Venza in 2011 and I remember vividly that it was gold coloured. As a young chap in JS1 who was home for the midterm, I had followed my mum for school runs on that faithful day and we happened to park just beside this gold coloured beauty. Unlike today, only a handful of people owned Venzas at the time. So, I stared in awe at the sleek looking car wondering what it was.
It had the dimensions of an SUV or what y'all refer to as a 'jeep', but it also looked like a wagon, because it didn't have so much ground clearance. I came down from my mums car and went behind the mystery car to look at the name. Lo and behold, I was met with the alien word 'VENZA'. I then took my tiny Nokia Asha, navigated to my browser and did my research on the gold coloured car. Since its inception, the Venza has been a household in Nigeria. It was and probably is still considered a 'Big Mans' car. Funny enough the Toyota Venza was a failure in the North American market (a story for another day), but in Nigeria it found it's home.
Lately, I have been seeing quite a number of Venzas up for sale on the market and it got me thinking, how is a 17 year old car still so relevant in todays automotive market? I bet you are shocked that the Venza is that old. Well, the first generation Venza began production in 2008 and was produced for 9 years, ending production in 2017. Unlike many SUVs from 2008 that are slowly fading away, the Toyota Venza has not aged and has proven to still be a good choice for an SUV even in 2025. One may ask, what features have helped the Toyota Venza stay relevant for all these years? You are in luck, because that is the essence of this blogpost. Let’s dive in!
It's Never Aging Design
I want you to cast your mind back to 2008, up until 2017. You will realize that the common SUV’s at that time were the Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, all of which had bulky non-sporty design languages. When you compare the Toyota Venza to the three aforementioned SUVs, you realize that it truly looks way ahead of its time. This is one of the secrets to the ever-young looks of the Venza. I believe the Engineers at Toyota have a time machine with which they took a peep into the future of SUVs, before outlining the sketch for the Venza.
The Venza has a compact coupe-like design that just looks sleek. It's sleek body is paired with 18 or 19 inch tires that gives it a wide body look. The Venza always looked good, but in 2013 it received a face-lift that made it look even better. Today, there are even better facelift upgrades for the Venza. So in the looks department, the Venza gets a 9.5/10.
Good Enough Power
With all the talk about physical attributes, one might think that the Venza is all about looks, but do not be deceived. The first generation Toyota Venza came with a 3.5 litre V6 engine that made 182 horsepower (hp). The Venza weighs just about 4,000 pounds and has a low centre of gravity, hence it harnesses its 182hp very well. This same engine is used in some Sienna cars used for interstate transport and if you know, those things move!
Interior and Driving Experience
As for the interior, even the earlier models do not have outdated infotainment systems. Unfortunately the first generation Venza did not come with third row seating, which means it can only sit 5 comfortably. Nonetheless, the Venza has a wide interior design that is very spacious. I had the opportunity of driving a Venza sometime in 2023 and hopping into the car, I was shocked at how spacious it was on the inside. I was also amazed by the view from the driver’s seat as I could see directly in front of my hood. It was like a birds eye view and I absolutely enjoyed driving the Venza.
More so, the steering was so soft and easy to manoeuvre. The throttle response was also superb and the general feel of the ride was exquisite. I kind of felt the Toyota Venza was overhyped, but after that drive, I was won over.
Downsides of the Venza
I have had nothing but praises for the Venza so far, but nothing is perfect. For me, there are only two major downsides to the Vanza. The first being that not all Venzas are All Wheel Drive (AWD). Some of the older generation Venzas came in front wheel drive which is not ideal for Nigerian terrain. The second flaw of the Venza is that it has a low ground clearance and cannot really handle off-road conditions A.K.A Nigerian bad roads.
Second Generation Venza
Despite the Venzas obvious success in places other than North America like Nigeria, for some reason Toyota slept on making a new generation, at least not until 2020. More so, the second generation Venza is basically a rebadged XU80 series Harrier sold in the Japanese-market. Unfortunately, the second generation Venza was not much of a success just like the first in North America. So, it ultimately got discontinued in 2024 due to low sales. The second generation looked really good, but I feel it came at a wrong time when the hype of the Venza had already died down.
Overall, the first generation Toyota Venza has been around for close to two decades and unlike its peers that have succumbed to old age, the Venza is yet to put in its retirement papers. It is a very versatile vehicle for both the young and old alike. The Toyota Venza is a wonderful choice for any family man looking to upgrade from his Mercedes C300 when a child comes into the picture (wink). What are your thoughts on the Venza? If you have driven one, what would you rate it on a scale of 1 to 10?
If you are interested in buying a Toyota Venza or any other cars, do hit me up on 08140266662 to get your dream ride! Until next time, always remember Turbo that engine!!!
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