Originally Posted by superchan7

It's a crossover "SUV" with all of the off-road capability removed, yielding a more car-like weight and fuel economy. It's no Highlander or RAV4, so it's not really an SUV. It has a decidedly upscale interior that places it above the Camry, long the gold standard of sedans sold in the US. Its cargo-carrying ability far surpasses that of the Camry and all other sedans. Its height allows entry and exit comfort again far surpassing that of sedans, without the excessive entry height of SUVs.

That's why it appeals to me and that's why I feel it's different from the original "Crossover" term, which referred to SUVs built on modified versions of unibody sedan architecture in an effort to replicate the comfort of a car while maintaining enough ground clearance and off-road toughness of traditional ladder-frame SUVs.

The Venza was actually my idea of an ideal "Crossover" since I and most others don't care for off-roading. I'm 6'1" and do not like bending down to enter a sedan. The problem is worse for newer cars since style demands faster rooflines, resulting in less headroom. Who knows, maybe this is what people have been looking for, and all the RAV4 and Highlander-types might face surprising competition in the coming future.

Originally Posted by superchan7

It's a crossover "SUV" with all of the off-road capability removed, yielding a more car-like weight and fuel economy. It's no Highlander or RAV4, so it's not really an SUV. It has a decidedly upscale interior that places it above the Camry, long the gold standard of sedans sold in the US.