With the introduction of the 2009 Venza, Toyota launches a new auto segment, which it calls the "crossover sedan." The Venza combines the fuel economy, sleek styling, and smooth driving experience of a sedan with the roominess, cargo capacity, and improved visibility of an SUV, according to Toyota, which believes that many drivers are moving away from SUVs to more sedan-like vehicles. The Venza "crossover sedan" has been designed exclusively for the North American market to fill that need.
While the Venza resembles many of the crossover vehicles currently rolling off assembly lines worldwide, overall it's sleeker and more sedan-like, with a low stance, a wing-shaped chrome grille, a tapered roof line, and a darkened B-pillar that gives the Venza an open side profile. The back end, however, resembles a typical SUV or station wagon.
The Venza offers a roomy, uncluttered interior, with the shift lever on the center console below the dashboard instead of between the front seats. This frees up the floor console to be used solely for storage, according to Toyota.
The driver and passenger sit higher than they would in a typical sedan, providing better visibility, while the rear has a lower cargo floor and split rear seats. In addition, the Venza comes with seven airbags, and it's the first Toyota car to come equipped with the Star Safety System, a stability control system found in Toyota's SUVs and in the Tundra pickup truck.
The Venza comes with a choice of two engines - an all-new, fuel-efficient 2.7-liter four-cylinder or a 268-horsepower V6, which gives the Venza a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The V6 links to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift.
Standard features for the 2009 Venza include remote keyless entry, dual-zone air conditioning, privacy glass, and 19-inch alloy wheels, which are upgraded to 20-inch wheels for the V6 trim. Options include a JBL sound system, a backup camera, and a power rear door.
