First Drive: 2009 Toyota Venza

The base price is near $26,695 for the front-drive four, but that includes a lot of features that come standard: stability control, traction control, ABS, a six-disc CD changer with XM antenna; all four side windows auto up/down; 19-inch wheels (20s with the V-6); foglamps; reclining rear seats; dual-zone climate control with rear-seat vents, seven airbags; and Hill-Start Assist. There are no specific trim levels to associate the Venza with the car or the SUV lineup. Instead of XLE/SE/LE or SR5/Limited, buyers can choose the engine and FWD/AWD, then can select from eight accessory packages, including tow-prep that ups max towing from 1000 pounds to 3500 with the V-6 or 2500 with the four, two premium packages, a security package with backup camera and anti-theft, and more. Stand-alone options include navigation, rear-seat entertainment, panoramic glass roof, and upgraded stereo with six-disc in-dash CD.

This is no performance vehicle; it's highly functional and could be a logical purchase for someone who's outgrown the sedan yet doesn't want an SUV. (If station wagons were hot, the Venza could've been called the Camry wagon.) It's a sensible one for Toyota to build. It's mostly made from components that already exist, keeping costs down, and it may fill the space between the Camry and the Highlander in a package that's larger than the RAV4. But time will tell whether the Venza can separate itself from the sea of carlike crossovers that are already on the market.