Toyota Venza

[grumpy]

Anyone have comments about the soon to be released Toyota Venza? I wonder if it will take any potential Pilot buyers. Unless Honda comes out with another purchase incentive in the next month or two, I plan to give the Venza a good look.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by grumpy
Anyone have comments about the soon to be released Toyota Venza? I wonder if it will take any potential Pilot buyers. Unless Honda comes out with another purchase incentive in the next month or two, I plan to give the Venza a good look.

I was in a market focus group for it.

It is a Camery Wagon. Anyone who would be happy with that size does not need a Pilot.

Very different class car.

[rocky]

Originally posted by N_Jay


Very different class car.

But both are incredibly ugly.

[Shindig78]

Originally posted by grumpy
I wonder if it will take any potential Pilot buyers. Unless Honda comes out with another purchase incentive in the next month or two, I plan to give the Venza a good look.

I've read a couple of glowing reviews for it, and it looks like Toyota did a great job with the details. I love the styling around the rear taillights, and the interior is impressive.

The Venza is not a direct competitor for the Pilot. It was designed to go head-to-head with the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano. One article I read mentioned that Toyota determined that 10,000 buyers per year were leaving Toyota because they needed a vehicle that was bigger than a Camry, but smaller than a Highlander. The Venza fits the bill.

I agree with N_Jay -- it is a Camry Wagon without a doubt.

Here's the post on Autoblog. I especially like the last two pictures in the gallery that compare the profile of the Venza with the Camry and the Highlander.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/f...-toyota-venza/

[Mainer]

Nice looking car - except the grill

why can't designers do better with grills? Acura and Honda's are ugly too.

[tangotango99]

Originally posted by N_Jay


I was in a market focus group for it.

It is a Camery Wagon. Anyone who would be happy with that size does not need a Pilot.

Very different class car.

But I believe Toyota have it classified as an SUV.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by tangotango99
But I believe Toyota have it classified as an SUV.

What is an "SUV"

Before you answer, make sure you can also define what is NOT an "SUV".

[tangotango99]

Originally posted by N_Jay


What is an "SUV"

Before you answer, make sure you can also define what is NOT an "SUV".

A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a generic marketing description for a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis.[1] Usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on or off road ability, some SUVs include the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan~Wiki...You got me there the lines of divide between suv,crossover and wagon have merge.

[N_Jay]

A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a generic marketing description for a . . . automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon (or formerly called a Utility Wagon).

IMHO

[bigdadi]

I think Venza does not have 3rd row seats. Higlander is the sole competitor with Pilot while Highlander 3rd row is a bench, non-splittable.

[Shindig78]

Originally posted by bigdadi
I think Venza does not have 3rd row seats. Higlander is the sole competitor with Pilot while Highlander 3rd row is a bench, non-splittable.

Correct, the Venza does not have a third row. However, the Pilot does have competition from the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse quadruplets. Also, let's not forget the Mazda CX-9, Mercedes-Benz GL-class, Hyundai Veracruz, Audi Q7, Subaru Tribeca, and Ford Flex, which also have three rows.

As for the SUV/CUV/Station wagon, the lines are definitely blurred. I generally look at SUVs as truck-based wagons (such as the Ford Explorer or Chevrolet Trailblazer), CUVs as car/unibody-based wagons (like the Honda Pilot), and station wagons as sedan-based wagons (like the Mercedes E350 wagon). It's not a perfect way to split them up, but it works for me.