2009 Toyota Venza

Unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, the 2009 Toyota Venza will combine "the styling, comfort, and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan with the surprising utility of an SUV." The Venza's wheelbase is just a half-inch shorter than that of Toyota Highlander, another crossover that delivers sedan drivability. Overall length—189 inches—exceeds that of the Highlander by a half-inch, and at 75.0 inches, the Venza's width is just 0.2 inch slimmer. The Venza's base engine will be a new 2.7-liter four of unspecified output, sending its power through a six-speed automatic transmission. Also, there was no mention of plans for a hybrid version at launch, although given Toyota's hybrid track record, this seems a likely option in the future.