Toyota Venza

Introduced in 2008 for the 2009 model year, the Venza represents Toyota's continuing efforts to stay ahead of the pack by offering vehicles that appeal to the varying tastes and needs of drivers. Toyota, of course, has become a leader in hybrid vehicles, and with the Venza the automaker saw another opportunity, and has offered a solution.

Sensing that many drivers have been turning away from SUVs for a number of reasons - fuel economy and stability/safety being the two main ones - Toyota responded by creating a whole new auto segment, which it calls the "crossover sedan," exclusively for the North American market. As the first crossover sedan offered by the automaker, 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. In that sense, the Venza represents another type of hybrid vehicle for Toyota.

While the Venza resembles many of the crossover vehicles currently rolling off assembly lines worldwide, it has a sleeker, more sedan-like design, with a low stance, a wing-shaped chrome grille, a tapered roof line, and a darkened B-pillar that gives the Venza a clean side profile. The back end, however, resembles a typical SUV or station wagon.

Inside, 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.

For its first year, 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.

Whether the Venza really does establish a new automotive segment remains to be seen, but itâ??s obvious that Toyota is continuing to design vehicles that appeal to a wide range of drivers who are seeking something just a little bit different.