By FRANK A. AUKOFER
Scripps Howard News Service
2008-12-18 14:15:00One of the more pervasive modern trends in vehicles is niche marketing, where manufacturers no longer seek big sales. They look for clutches of fewer customers among fragmented affinity groups.
Now we're starting to see niches within niches. A prime example is the 2009 Toyota Venza, an all-new vehicle with a concocted name, a combination of the words "venture" and "Monza." The latter is a famed race track in Italy.
Toyota already has a decent mid-sized sport utility vehicle in the 4Runner, as well as a full-size SUV, the Sequoia, and a couple of car-based crossover utility vehicles: the compact RAV4 and the mid-sized Highlander.
The new Venza, in size and price, slots between the RAV4 and the Highlander, and has enough appeal to develop its own loyal cadre of followers.
To the unpracticed eye -- and even to some practiced ones -- the Venza looks like a CUV or a slightly taller station wagon. There likely will be some who will regard it as little more than the return of the Camry station wagon.
But the Toyota folks have a different outlook. Bob Carter, the Toyota Division's group vice president and general manager, insists that the Venza has its own identity -- 70 percent automobile and 30 percent SUV.
"We call it a passenger car optimized," he says. "It's for buyers who want something more than a car but less than an SUV."
Whatever.
It's a classy-looking piece of work, with sculpted styling, a nicely designed, spacious and crafted interior, and what aficionados call road presence. Based on its passenger volume of 108 cubic feet and its 34 cubic feet of cargo space, it qualifies as a large car -- if you consider it a car.
That's more space than in some compact SUVs and crossovers like the Jeep Liberty and Mercury Mariner, and similar to that of mid-size crossover utility vehicles (CUV) like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge.
The Venza distinguishes itself from SUVs and CUVs by its stature. At 15 feet 9 inches, it's about the same length as the Toyota Camry and Highlander. But it's about five inches taller than the Camry and five inches shorter than the Highlander.
It has just over eight inches of ground clearance, the same as the Highlander and almost three inches more than the Camry. It makes sense because the Venza is available with all-wheel drive as well as the standard front-wheel drive.
Yet getting into and out of the Venza is easier than with either of its siblings. You don't have to stoop a bit, as with the Camry, and you don't have to step up, as with the Highlander. The floor lines up with the lower door sill, so there's nothing to step over. You also sit higher than you do in the Camry, though lower than in the Highlander.
It's not suited for serious off-road duty, though it could easily handle logging trails and unpaved backwoods roads, especially in the all-wheel drive version.
The lineup is simple, with no trim levels. All Venzas get full safety equipment, a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode and either a four-cylinder or V6 engine, each of which is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Prices start at $26,695 and, with options that include a navigation system, leather upholstery and rear-seat entertainment, can stretch to more than $38,000.
The 3.5-liter V6, also used in the Camry and Highlander, delivers 268 horsepower and, Toyota says, can propel the Venza to 60 miles an hour in less than seven seconds. On the front-drive version, the six is rated at 19/26 miles per gallon on the EPA's city/highway cycle, only slightly less than the 2008 Camry, which weighs about 400 pounds less. The all-wheel drive model has an 18/25 rating.
But the all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine is up to the task as well. It delivers 182 horsepower and is rated at 21/29 miles per gallon with front-wheel drive and 20/28 with all-wheel drive.
The $30,735 test Venza had all-wheel drive with the four, and likely would satisfy the vast majority of customers unless they want to do some towing. The 2.7-liter four can tow up to 2,500 pounds with a tow package, but the V6 can handle up to 3,500 pounds.
On the road, the first thing you notice about the Venza is how quiet it is with either engine. Road, wind and mechanical noises are muted. The front bucket seats are big and comfortable, and the outboard back seats are nearly as good. As usual in most vehicles, the center-rear passenger is shortchanged.
The tested four-cylinder Venza had plenty of power in most driving situations. About the only time it might falter some would be on a steep hill with a full load of passengers and luggage.
Handling is competent, with little body roll or side-to-side jiggle. The power steering is electric rather than hydraulic, but provides a good feel of the road and holds the Venza on center in extended straight freeway driving. The ride is neither cushy nor choppy, and ride motions are controlled.
Specifications for the 2009 Toyota VenzaSpecifications for the 2009 Toyota Venza AWD four-door crossover wagon.
Engine: 2.7-liter four-cylinder, 182 horsepower.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode and full-time all-wheel drive.
Overall length: 15 feet 9 inches.
EPA passenger/cargo volume: 108/34 cubic feet.
Weight: 3,945 pounds.
EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 20/28 miles per gallon.
Base price, including destination charge: $28,145.
Base dealer cost: $25,125.
Price as tested: $30,735.
Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com
