Whichever label you would like to give it, the new Toyota Venza is like a winner.
Think of the Venza as a station truck and you'll potentially get the point. Of course, it does not look exactly like any station truck we have seen before. Showcased at Detroit's North American International automobile show in Jan , Venza drew tons of attention. Among autos now available, it reminds us most of the Ford Edge crossover.
There's a lot of the Lexus RX350 in this Toyota, too, though the Venza is pressed down nearer to the ground, and sleeker. Its front end is taller, but definitely molded in the theme of Toyota's current Camry sedan. The Venza's rear glass has a nice, long rake, and its taillights wrap around the rear fenders onto the hatch. Its standard wheels measure nineteen inches in diameter, while 20-inch spoked alloys are optional. In sum, the Venza is an example of the more handsome, interesting vehicles Toyota has launched in some time.
A look at its dimensions brings the crossover label into perspective. At 109.3 inches and 189 inches, respectively, the Venza's wheelbase and overall length match both
Bell Road Toyota's Camry sedan and Highlander sport-utility inside fragments of an inch. In other words, the Venza's footprint on the pavement matches both Camry and Highlander closely. Yet with an overall height of 63.4 inches, the Venza slots right in the middle of the Camry and Highlander. It's ride height falls somewhere in the middle, too.
The 2009 Venza seats five, like the Camry, instead of 7 like the Highlander. Its rocker height, or the lip around the bottom of its passenger doors, is low, making it simple to lift feet within, yet the hip point for seated occupants is higher than the everyday sedan's. The mix should deliver a mix many buyers seek : straightforward ingress and egress, with a higher seating position for a better view around tall vehicles on the road.
The 2009 Venza should reach showrooms with the traditional model year changeover in early fall 2008. It'll be built at Toyota's assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.
