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Not sure where you get that from. The Venza never had three-row seats, at least in the American market.
I'm just talking about in terms of looks, not rows of seats. The RX350L looks more wagon-like, like the Venza was, and less SUV. Just my opinion, though.
I'm just talking about in terms of looks, not rows of seats. The RX350L looks more wagon-like, like the Venza was, and less SUV. Just my opinion, though.
OK..I understand. The regular RX350, Venza, Highlander, ES350, and Camry, of course, all come from the same FWD platform....perhaps slightly stretched to accommodate the new RX350L's third-seat.
I'm just talking about in terms of looks, not rows of seats. The RX350L looks more wagon-like, like the Venza was, and less SUV. Just my opinion, though.
rx350l looks absolutely nothing like a venza, and with its height and bulbous front certainly doesn't look 'wagon-like'
There usually isn't with 3rd-row seats in a mid-sized SUV of this type.
I was hoping that one day, they could stretch SUV's wheelbase by 8 to 10" to match the Toyota Sienna MPV, such that the 7 seater SUV's could replace the 6/7/8 seater MPV's.
However, when I think hard, there is more to MPV's than just the longer wheelbase.
7 Seater SUV's are more sedan-derived, with big rolling diameter tires raising the ground clearance, while the third row of seats sits between the rear wheel arches to provide only two seats, but more importantly, the sedan-derived SUV third row floor is much higher with not much room for the legs to drop down.
Meanwhile, the MPV's are more minivan-derived with a "raised" & flat floor from front to rear, and because the tires are only standard size & the ground clearance low, the MPV's third row of seats mostly sits on top of the rear wheel arches to seat three across the third row.
Thanks to smaller rolling diameter tires, MPV's are able to provide a deeper third floor than 7 seater SUV's, for extra vertical leg room in MPV's third row.
Most importantly, MPV's combined with a wheelbase that is some 10" longer than the SUV RX, the MPV's are able to give more genuine third row space than 7 seater SUV's - which only seem to provide third row space for children at the cost of sliding the 2nd row forwards for compromized 2nd row legroom.
The downside to the MPV's seems to be limited ground clearance, and a higher center of gravity due to the raised flat floor.
Another downside to MPV's is perhaps the long wheelbase puts pressure on using FWD with the engine transversely mounted in front of the front axle, as opposed to the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 which can use the extra wheelbase length to mount the engine longitudinally behind the front axle for a near 50/50 weight distribution.
I was hoping that one day, they could stretch SUV's wheelbase by 8 to 10" to match the Toyota Sienna MPV, such that the 7 seater SUV's could replace the 6/7/8 seater MPV's.
However, when I think hard, there is more to MPV's than just the longer wheelbase.
7 Seater SUV's are more sedan-derived, with big rolling diameter tires raising the ground clearance, while the third row of seats sits between the rear wheel arches to provide only two seats, but more importantly, the sedan-derived SUV third row floor is much higher with not much room for the legs to drop down.
Meanwhile, the MPV's are more minivan-derived with a "raised" & flat floor from front to rear, and because the tires are only standard size & the ground clearance low, the MPV's third row of seats mostly sits on top of the rear wheel arches to seat three across the third row.
Thanks to smaller rolling diameter tires, MPV's are able to provide a deeper third floor than 7 seater SUV's, for extra vertical leg room in MPV's third row.
Most importantly, MPV's combined with a wheelbase that is some 10" longer than the SUV RX, the MPV's are able to give more genuine third row space than 7 seater SUV's - which only seem to provide third row space for children at the cost of sliding the 2nd row forwards for compromized 2nd row legroom.
The downside to the MPV's seems to be limited ground clearance, and a higher center of gravity due to the raised flat floor.
Another downside to MPV's is perhaps the long wheelbase puts pressure on using FWD with the engine transversely mounted in front of the front axle, as opposed to the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 which can use the extra wheelbase length to mount the engine longitudinally behind the front axle for a near 50/50 weight distribution.
So why not just offer a Lexus minivan. I think if Lexus did, they would set a trend and be the first to the market with it.
I think the Benz V Class has an attractive front, and an attractive dash, however the rear end is as unattractive as always - giving underrated MPV/minivans a bad reputation.
Meanwhile the RX-L 7 seater SUV is impractical and only for children, but is a much sexier alround vehicle - overrating the true value of 7 seater SUV's.
LOL nobody buys the Metris for personal use. I see them as work fans with unpainted bumpers. It has a nice front end, but the rear is ugly. The MB R class failed miserably too. Lexus should not waste resources into making a passenger van and should instead be building a smaller cute ute, new hatch, 4 door coupe. All Im saying is that there are other products they should be looking at first. With a 7 passenger RX, they already have enough vehicles to fit 7-8 passengers.
11-30-17, 04:08 PM
The Venza never had three-row seats, at least in the American market.
The regular RX350, Venza, Highlander, ES350, and Camry, of course, all come from the same FWD platform....perhaps slightly stretched to accommodate the new RX350L's third-seat.
