2009 Toyota Venza Preview

The Toyota Highlander has grown up, leaving the Japanese mega-brand with

Because of the way the Highlander has grown, there's room in the Toyota Crossover lineup for the Venza. (Photo: Toyota)

a bit of a hole to fill, a gap to bridge, and a niche to cater to - a niche that also happens to make up a fair chunk of the crossover segment. The Ford Edge and the recently redesigned Nissan Murano don't necessarily make a "new" breed, but they're proof that there's plenty of activity going on at the slightly smaller end of the crossover field. So, with many midsize crossovers still offered with two rows of seats in base form, such as the new Dodge Journey, Hyundai's Santa Fe, Subaru's Tribeca, and Toyota's RAV4 for that matter, plus some that only seat five, like Chevy's Equinox and Mazda's CX-7, there's wiggle room for Toyota to slot in a new vehicle below the Highlander and more car-like than the RAV4. At the Detroit auto show earlier this year they showed just such a car, called the Venza.

Compared to just about every other utility that Toyota has ever made, the Venza presents itself as something different. There's not a hint of boxiness or aggressive muscularity to its design, but rather it's swoopy and very curvaceous. Prior to its Detroit debut, the Venza was being described as a “crossover sedan”, and while here in production form it lacks a trunk, the distinct component of a sedan, there's certainly a lot of the new Camry, Toyota's biggish midsize sedan, in its design.

Curvy, sleek, aerodynamic... bet you wouldn't have pegged this crossover as a Toyota. (Photo: Toyota)

Penned by Toyota's CALTY studio in California, the first thing that strikes most people about the Venza is its nose, which appears sleek from most angles, but for the side profile, where it rises up to the hood quickly and has a very short overhang. Not to say that it's been copied, but this is very similar to the Edge. Underneath the hood line, which dips down just like the Camry and the new Corolla, the Venza features an ornate triple-tier grille, a particular styling trait that is unique to North American-market Toyotas. Right from the beginning, Toyota's classified the Venza as a car, rather than a sport utility vehicle, which means that there isn't the need for a toughened up appearance in the form of mock (or real) skid plates or matte fender flares. Therefore, the Venza's body shows a nice, clean finish. It still has ample ground clearance at 8.1 inches, giving drivers the confidence to tackle snow-covered roads or gravel paths. Just as unique as the front end is the tail which features taillights that are rather Lexus-like, plus a highly angled tailgate. From the rear three-quarters, the Venza could be mistaken for the next-generation RX. Say Toyota, is this a hint?

Organic, flowing, but it's still very much a Toyota, although considerably more high-end in appearance. (Photo: Toyota)

Though the Venza was designed by Toyota's US division for strict sale in North America, the link to the RX is quite strong. Considering that the current RX is derived from the same platform as the previous Highlander creates a bit of a genetic link, while the new Venza's upscale interior shares a similarly luxurious atmosphere as the current RX. From the piped leather seats to the matte wood trim that adorns the waterfall center console and high-mounted gearshift lever, the Venza looks different from most Toyota interiors and should appeal to a younger, less conservative audience. And while this new crossover is likely to slot in at a lower starting price point than the Highlander, it can still be had with high-end goodies like a reverse camera, a panoramic sunroof, push-button start and more. And although the Venza's wheelbase is slightly shorter than the Highlander, the fact that it is only a two-row vehicle should equate to more rear-seat legroom, not to mention its flat floor and reclining seatback should keep those in back comfy over the long haul.

Given the relation between the Camry and the Highlander, it's a no-brainer

With only two rows of seats, there's a lot of rear legroom and lots of cargo space. (Photo: Toyota)

to figure out that the Venza will have V6 power. If you guessed the 3.5-liter V6, you would of course be right. It makes 268 horsepower and 246 lb-ft of torque in the Venza, and comes joined to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Since the Venza is a bit lighter and will only have two rows of seats, it will be offered standard with a four. However, if you guessed the 2.4-liter inline-four from the Camry or RAV4, try again. Instead, the Venza will get a brand new 2.7-liter four of undisclosed output (it's predicted to make between 190 and 200 horsepower). Don't confuse this with the engine of identical displacement found in the Tacoma, as it's not set up to work in a front wheel drive-based vehicle, and would not be competitive in terms of power or refinement, particularly if it's to go up against more luxurious-minded rivals. Instead, expect this newly configured engine to have plenty of torque for easy acceleration and passing performance, with dual VVT-i and a stellar emissions rating. After appearing in the Venza, the engine is likely to go on to be featured in base Camry models, whose 158-hp 2.4-liter four is starting to pale in the horsepower race against newer rivals like the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata). What's nice is that Toyota is pairing the four-cylinder model to a six-speed automatic, a big step forward when compared to the four-speed auto currently in use. This should boost performance while

New series of engines including the yet-to-be-finalized 2.7L I-4 are on the bill. (Photo: Toyota)

compensating for any gains the larger displacement engine creates in fuel consumption.

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