Toyota Venza falls short

[GMIntheblood]

Toyota Venza leaves a lot to be desired
Toyota may be making many of the mistakes that GM made

By Dan Carney

It frequently has been observed that it is easier to stalk the leader than it is to preserve that position once it is achieved.

A case in point: The struggles Toyota has endured since overtaking General Motors as the leader in worldwide car sales last year.

The Venza, a new, hard-to-define crossover-wagon thing, may well be Toyota’s predicament embodied in steel, rubber and glass. And plastic. Loads of cheap, shiny, sloppily installed plastic. Having apparently concluded that six Toyota-brand SUVs and a minivan were not enough to target every potential customer for hauling families, Toyota introduced the Venza as a 2009 model.

It's unknown whether this was the result of a genuine belief that the company should offer a product in every imaginable category, or because hubris led Toyota to believe that the Venza would find buyers who eluded the very similar (and discontinued due to lack of interest) Chrysler Pacifica and Ford Taurus X crossovers.

Toyota reached the top of the industry by use of its “kaizen” system of continuous improvement, key attributes of which have been widely adopted industry-wide. But somewhere along the line “continuous improvement” became “continuous cost reduction” and it shows in all the company’s recent products.

The interiors in particular are awash in cheap-looking, shiny plastic. Likening the Venza’s apparently ready-to-hose-clean, plastic door panels to something from the toy aisle would insult Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

Worse yet, the plastic bits in the test model weren’t installed correctly, so the cut lines between pieces were misaligned in places and the dashboard air vents had shockingly large, irregular gaps around them. These are the things that killed GM’s image. Now Toyota is making the same inexcusable mistakes.

Even the big doors have a tinny, cheap sound when opened and closed, another unexpected trait in a Toyota. With these astounding failings, can unreliability be far behind? Is it here already but we don’t know it yet?

The cabin looks good in photos, and the designers surely had high hopes for the final result. But it seems the continuously cost-cutting accountants whacked the budget for decent materials, so the plastic fake wood paneling fell to the level seen on televisions in the late ‘70s, when TVs still tried to look like furniture.

Toyota says it uses real leather for the Venza’s seats, but the material was so hard and shiny it was indistinguishable from the perforated vinyl that Volkswagen and BMW are offering in their entry models.

Toyota extends its poor track record with its calibration of the Venza’s electric power steering. Electric power steering offers benefits to car makers because it is cheaper, cleaner and simpler: No hydraulic pump drains power from the engine and there are none of the attendant hoses, plumbing or fluid.

But six decades or so of development have left hydraulic power steering assist finely honed to provide superb steering feel and feedback, which are critical attributes for engaged drivers. Electric power steering can be calibrated to perform almost as well, but many car makers, Toyota included, don’t even seem to try. Either the company discounts the importance of this or it figures that its car-as-an-appliance customers can’t tell the difference.

More...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33605151/ns/business-autos/

[GMIntheblood]

Have been lurking around here for some time but figured Id finally post something. I know most people here it when the big media doggs Toyota so here you go!

[ne_one]

Ouch.

Although I'm not convinced that this:

Toyota may be making many of the mistakes that GM made

Will always be read as a historical reference for some people.

[WishIhadatruck]

Wow, it felt like I was reading an old GM review.

[ByTheLake]

Wow ... harsh review. I actually think the Venza is a rather nice looking vehicle, at least when looking at the pictures. I've never seen one in person, and can't comment on the interior or handling.

I wonder how much bad press has to occur before the American public actually begins to perceive Toyota in a lesser light? In spite of the negative coverage over the floor mat/acceleration thing, and many articles regarding inferior durability or quality, it seems that the buying public still hold Toyota high on a pedestal.

[megeebee]

.

Welcome to the HIVE.


And thank you for posting this.

I am not one to heap scorn on Toyota as a matter of course. They have achieved their great success using many tools and high quality, high value product is one of them. It's the competition from Asian makers that is largely responsible for the great strides US companies have made in leveling the playing field.

That being said, the sooner they are regarded by the public at large as just as apt to fail, miscalculate, and fumble for answers to the indefesible things they do from time to time as any other automaker the better I'll like it.

Here in Seattle, Toyota (and indeed ALL Asian automakers) represent a small, local religion. Anything they offer for sale is lapped up without question.

[megeebee]

The cabin looks good in photos, and the designers surely had high hopes for the final result. But it seems the continuously cost-cutting accountants whacked the budget for decent materials, so the plastic fake wood paneling fell to the level seen on televisions in the late ‘70s, when TVs still tried to look like furniture.

Wow. This is taken verbatim from reviews of American cars in the 70's and 80's.

(I'm thrilled.)

But I admit that I actually like the looks of the Venza better than the rest of Toyota's offerings. But I've never been closer than 20 feet from one and have never sat in one. (Looks like I needn't bother.)

[mbukukanyau]

I have sat in this toad. I was not impressed.

[DBeaSSt]

Well I guess I changed my mind. I like the venza after all. Though that grill still makes me nauseous.

One has to wonder just how long the import lovers will continue to buy these just because of the badge on the hood, regardless how poorly they are made.

[jzchev28]

ahhhhh now thats what i call a nice refreshing review, toyoda keep up the good work

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by jzchev28

ahhhhh now thats what i call a nice refreshing review, toyoda keep up the good work

It is nice to see GM not being the only whipping boy anymore.

[Mr. Burns]

I actually quite liked the Venza when I checked it out, the interior in particular. The design was great and pretty well built too. They had decent plastics up front, but the rear passenger compartment had noticeably crappier harder plastics, obvious evidence of cost cutting. I do agree though it's a needless awkward looking car, but it seemed to easily outclass the Honda Pilot (a real big turd).

[ne_one]

Originally Posted by DBeaSSt

Though that grill still makes me nauseous.

It looks to me like someone melted the braces from the new Lincoln front ends.

[cbennie2]

I haven't been in a Venza, but I wonder how the leather compares to the Chevy Malibu. I was in a Chevy Malibu when I went to Boston and I liked how it rode and found it comfortable, I thought the leather wasn't as nice as the leather in my Astra. I do realize my Astra is supposed to be more upscale than the Malibu. However, I do wonder if its similar to the Malibu or God forbid...even cheaper feeling!

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

I'm confused, as I see plenty of Venzas around. But this review, man it's true, Toyo has become GM! This is the EXACT same mess they used to plum always write about the General!