2009 Toyota Venza By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net I recently was invited to the press preview of the 2009 Venza.  Then, shortly after, had a Venza for a full week’s test drive.  This new vehicle is a little bit different.  It is not a truck.  It is not an SUV.  I’m not sure I would really call it a crossover.  What is a crossover, anyway?  The Venza by Toyota is more of a sporty station wagon.

There is an entire group of vehicles that have come to be known as Crossovers.  They are essentially classified in that manner because they have a car-type chassis, but look and act like an SUV.  It has become a gray area in the minds of many consumers, and the public is making up their own rules as to what to call these vehicles.  A lot of people are basing their categorization more on looks and feel than on size and power.

The Venza has the Toyota logo on the rear tailgate, but for the first time, Toyota did not put their name on the exterior of the vehicle.  This is a test by the company to see how identifiable their logo is to the public.  The Venza is actually a fresh looking design that has a look of a small station wagon.  The large 20-inch alloy wheels and 20-inch tires to match give it an attractive silhouette.  There is a slow, sloping roof that makes it appear to be a fastback for those who want a youthful, racing look.  The front fenders are arched and there is some flaring over the rear wheels.  Both of these accents set off those large wheels and tires.

Inside the Venza, the passenger room is spacious.  I heard another journalist call the interior room as “generous.”  My wife Judy said simply, “Wow, there is a lot of room in here.”  Overall, the Venza has an attractive appearance that is appealing to the eye.  During our test drive, we often had adult passengers in the rear seat area and almost all of them commented on the amount of legroom, seat room, and headroom.  I liked the number cubicles and storage compartments.  They were molded and shaped for efficiency and ease of use.  Even the center console was cleverly designed for maximum space efficiency.  There were two storage bins in the console, which slide backwards or forwards to accommodate the driver’s choice of locating the armrest.  There were cupholders galore, including several spaces in the doors to accommodate a number of cans, bottles, or other beverage containers.  I was surprised that, with all the premium options on my test vehicle, that it did not have a power-adjustable steering column. 

Cargo room is better than most other vehicles of similar size and nature.  There is over 34 cubic feet of space behind the back seat.  The back seats fold down easily, allowing a flat surface that expands the carrying capacity to over 70 cubic feet.

The Venza is powered by a 3.5 liter V-6 gasoline engine.  There is a 2.7 liter, in-line, and four-cylinder engine available.  There was plenty of power for whatever driving my wife or I needed or wanted.  Most importantly, gas mileage is very good.  The six-cylinder model was EPA rated at 19-mpg city and 26 mpg highway.  During my test drive, I averaged about 22 –23 mpg overall, and that was without watching the gauges and attempting to maximize efficiency.

My test model had a long list of standard equipment as well as a lot of options.  I liked the leather seats, the pushbutton start and smart key, the voice-activated navigation system, and the thirteen-speaker surround sound.  If you like sunroofs, the Venza has a dual system that is power operated and very large.  The sunroof actually opens in two sections over the front seats, rear seats, or both.

My test model had a base MSRP of $27,800, but a lot of add-on options bumped the bottom sticker price up to $36,774.  The Toyota Venza is practical, roomy, appealing, versatile, and attractive.  Look for that unique design without the Toyota name on it – only the little logo, or check out the Venza at a Toyota dealership yourself.