A quick look at the new Toyota Venza

Whatever label you want to put on it, the new Toyota Venza comes across as a winner.

Think of the Venza as a station wagon and you’ll probably get the point. Mind you, it doesn’t exactly look like any truck we’ve seen before. Unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, the Venza attracted a lot of attention. Among the currently available vehicles, it reminds us most of the Ford Edge crossover.

There’s also a lot of the Lexus RX350 in this Toyota, though the Venza is lower 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 slope, and its taillights wrap around the rear fenders toward the hatch. Its standard wheels measure 19 inches in diameter, while 20-inch spoked alloy wheels are optional. In short, the Venza is an example of the most attractive and attractive cars that Toyota has released in a short time.

A look at its dimensions puts the cross label in proportion. 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 within fractions of an inch. Simply put, the Venza’s footprint on the pavement matches both the Camry and the Highlander. However, with a total height of 63.4 inches, the Venza falls right in the middle of the Camry and Highlander. Its ride height also falls somewhere in the middle.

The 2009 Venza seats 5, like the Camry, instead of 7 like the Highlander. Its rocker height, or the lip around the base of the passenger doors, is low, making it easy to get your feet up inside, but the hip point for seated occupants is higher than that of the typical sedan. The combination should offer a combination many buyers are looking for: easy entry and exit, with a higher seating position for a better view around tall cars on the road.

The 2009 Venza should hit showrooms with the traditional model year changeover in early fall 2008. It will be built at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky assembly plant.