Toyota has been a leader in the automotive industry for a long time. When I bought my first car over twenty years ago, I researched consumer reviews only to find Toyota in the top five of most lists. From safety to longevity, Toyota was the right choice. That is why my first car was a 1988 Toyota Tercel.
I wasn’t a good car owner. I was young and didn’t put a lot of thought into regular oil changes or routine maintenance. Still, I drove that car until it was twelve years old and had nearly 400,000 kilometers on it. I remember my uncle saying I was going to have to shoot it because it wasn’t going to die on its own. He was right. It was still running when I traded it in. Since then I have gone on to own a Toyota Corolla that we traded in for a Toyota Sienna. They are all great vehicles.
My love for Toyota made it easy for me to agree to test drive a Toyota Venza. 
I was given a 2016 Redwood Edition Venza. It felt like a cross between a sedan and n SUV. The leather interior gave it that luxury look and feel. As someone who has a height disadvantage, I appreciate the power driver’s seat that I was able to raise up enough for a perfect view. The double sun/moon roof could be operated separately and made the vehicle feel even bigger. The hatch was button operated and it provided a huge amount of space for groceries, school bags and sport equipment.
The Toyota Venza comes equipped with a backup camera. As a mother I value this standard feature because it is an extra assurance I’m not hitting any pets or kids who may sprint behind the vehicle. Other standard features include air conditioning, cruise control and keyless entry.
I liked the little extras, like a place to put my phone that also featured a space for the charging cord to go right through to the USB port. When you combine that with the bluetooth in the vehicle, you can stay connected without putting anyone’s safety at risk.
The 6.1” Touchscreen Display Audio with AM/FM/CD and MP3 with USB Input and Bluetooth® Capability is also standard. The GPS got me where I needed to go, and was fairly easy to use.
Safety is top priority for this mother though, and the Venza comes with Toyota’s Star Safety System. This includes seven airbags and six advanced accident avoidance safety technologies, including ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control and Smart Stop Technology. I didn’t need to use any of it, but I’m glad it’s there.
This is another superior vehicle from Toyota, and one that I think would fit a family of four quite comfortably.
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