2010 Toyota Venza AWD

The Venza is a perfectly nice five-passenger tall wagon, as far as space, appointments, and utility are concerned. I just don't understand why Toyota is building it. The company already had an overfull quiver of hatchback crossover things, so why add the strange-looking Venza to the bunch? Well, it turns out that Toyota sold a very respectable 54,410 Venzas last year (nearly as many as Scion's 2009 brand total), so I guess there's the answer. It saddens me, though, that consumers apparently prefer the bulky Venza alongside competent RAV4s, Highlanders, Matrixes, 4Runners, et al. instead of a more carlike, more efficient, and no longer offered Camry station wagon.

Based on the mediocre fits all over the Venza's dashboard-not to mention the recent recall debacle-Toyota has apparently expended too much energy developing new niche models when the company should have been perfecting and polishing its existing vehicles.

A few other comments after driving the Venza:

-This cloth interior isn't nice enough for a family vehicle with a $35K price tag.

-Despite its two-ton weight, it accelerates surprisingly quickly.

-The styling of the front end really turns me off, but I do like the side profile, largely because of those cool twenty-inch (!) wheels. Unfortunately, they noticeably compromise the Venza's ride comfort.

I am happy to occasionally forgive awkward styling for highly functional interiors or to forgive a compromised interior for a stunning exterior design. The Porsche Panamera looks awkward in the metal but makes sense once you sit in the back seat. A more affordable Chevy Camaro looks great but has some functional downfalls. Somehow Toyota created a rather large vehicle that neither looks great nor offers any breakthrough interior comfort.

I was not easily able to get in or out of the Venza while wearing boots appropriate for the recent dumping of snow we received. Once I did manage to finagle myself into place, I could hardly reach the knob to tune the radio without leaning forward and towards the passenger seat. Why in the world does the radio slope up and away from the driver? Every other automaker seems to have figured out it makes more sense to tilt the radio in the direction of the driver. The Venza's rear seat appears much more functional than its competitors' offerings, though.

Unlike Rusty, I thought the Venza needed a considerable amount of input to gain any meaningful speed. If I wasn't flooring the accelerator, the car was very lackadaisical. Oddly enough the brake pedal offered almost no feel and seemed more sensitive to how hard it was pressed than how far it was depressed. The steering was also incredibly vague, but that's nothing unusual for a Toyota or a crossover in general.

Despite its shortcomings, I can see how the Venza would be a desirable vehicle for a trip with several other people and a reasonable amount of luggage. The empty nester set that receives no joy from driving will be very happy in a Venza.

I can't seem to generate any enthusiasm for this Toyota Venza. It's not ugly, but it's not especially attractive, either. It's interior is bland but acceptable, inspiring in me neither appreciation nor any special critical insights for its design. The driving experience is fine, if your objective is simply to get from point A to point B. If you're looking for a little driving excitement or even a token smidgen of luxury, you're in the wrong vehicle.

For the past several years, the main reasons for buying a Toyota were the brand's reputation for build quality, reliability, and resale value, all of which have been compromised in the wake of the recent massive recalls. That means that plain-vanilla cars like the Venza will have to appeal to buyers in more purely emotional terms, which may prove to be a hard sell.

Holy bad brakes, Batman! Excepting a few hybrids, the Venza's brake pedal is the most unnatural and least confidence inspiring of any I've experienced in a new vehicle. The first nine tenths of its travel seems to do nothing aside from switching on the rear brake light. This is true regardless of whether you're going 10 mph or 60 mph, meaning you always have to slam the brakes, no matter what the circumstances. It almost feels like a car that's spent too much time at the track and run down its pads, but who would be doing threshold-braking tests on a Venza in mid-February? Certainly not us.

Aside from that, Phil covered just about everything. The Venza doesn't offer any unique utility or features, which makes it hard to justify its unappealing exterior. Why anyone would walk into a Toyota showroom and pick this over a similarly-priced Highlander or Sienna minivan - both of which look better, drive better, and offer more utility - is completely beyond me.

I wasn't blown away by the Venza's exterior the first time I saw it, but I think it may have had something to do with color. Toyota first paraded the crossover around in various shades of brown and grey, but in this bright red-- to say nothing of the large 20-inch wheels -- I start to find it rather attractive.

I do wish, however, that the interior were nowhere as busy as the exterior. The angled radio is a little unusual, but nowhere as counterintuitive as the climate controls. Squeezed into the narrow space between the shifter and the radio, they're easy enough to read -- but it took me a few moments to realize their settings were displayed on a tiny LCD screen mounted just beneath the windshield (this same screen is also used for the rear-view camera, which, given the display size, is virtually worthless).

Unless you're bowled over by the styling or have always longed for a modern take on the Camry wagon, there's little about the Venza that's unique-and considering even the Toyota faithful are now eying other models in light of recent headlines, that may prove to be rather damning.




2010 Toyota Venza AWD

Base price (with destination): $30,300

Price as tested: $34,759

Standard Equipment:

3.5L V-6 engine

6-speed automatic transmission

20-inch alloy wheels

Vehicle stability control

Brake assist

Dual-zone automatic climate control

AM/FM CD with integrated satellite radio

USB port with iPod connectivity

Bluetooth connectivity

3.5-inch multi-information display

Options on this vehicle:

Rear seat DVD entertainment system -- $1680

- 9-inch display

- Two wireless headphones and remote

JBL synthesis surround sound -- $1080

- AM/FM/6-disc in-dash CD changer

- XM satellite radio

- MP3/WMA playback capability

- 13-speakers

Convenience package -- $860

- Smart key system with push button start

- Power rear liftgate

- Chrome accented door handles

Security package -- $570

- Back-up camera

- Anti-theft system

Floor mats & cargo mat -- $269

Key options not on vehicle:

Comfort package -- $3449

Fuel economy:

(city/hwy/combined)

18 / 25 / 21 mpg

Engine:

Size: 3.5L 24-valve V-6

Horsepower: 268 hp @ 6200 rpm

Torque: 246 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm

Drive:

All-wheel

Transmission:

6-speed automatic

Curb weight: 3945 lb

Wheels/tires:

20-inch 5-spoke aluminum wheels

P245/50R20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A all-season tires

Competitors: Ford Flex, Honda Accord Crosstour, Volvo XC60


The G??idhealtachd (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [k??????l????t????xk], English: Gaeldom), sometimes known as A' Gh??idhealtachd (Eng: the G??idhealtachd), usually refers to the Scottish highlands and islands, and especially the Scottish Gaelic culture of the area. The corresponding Irish word Gaeltacht however refers strictly to an Irish speaking area. The term is also used to apply to the Gaelic-speaking areas of Nova Scotia, Canada.

March 2010 Auto Sales Analysis

Attempting to put its recalls and unintended acceleration imbroglio into the rear-view mirror, Toyota called upon its deep reserves of cash, launching a bonanza of incentive spending in March which, naturally, obligated other carmakers to do the same. The subsidized leasing and zero-interest financing, combined with a hefty shot of fleet sales, juiced the market, driving new-car sales up 24% over the dismal March 2009 total. The March figures portend full-year new-car sales of 11.7 million, which is a lot better than last year, when industry watcher were speculating whether the year would end up below 10 million (it actually finished at 10.4 million). But step back a bit, and you realize that even 11.7 million is still a long way from the 16.8 million average annual sales the industry was enjoying in the decade ending in 2007. MARCH 2010 SALES VERSUS MARCH 2009

General Motors +21%, or +43% for New GM (Buick-Cadillac-Chevrolet-GMC)

Spurred by fleet sales and incentive spending, General Motors regained the top spot in the U.S. auto market in March - although, in a statistic that's ripe with foreshadowing, the company actually sold more cars and trucks in China than in the USA.

Buick +76%

The LaCrosse (+236%) was the big winner, while the Enclave (+42%) also gained, and the Lucerne stagnated.

Cadillac +42%

The SRX was just trickling onto the market last year, so its better-than-six-times March '09 total easily set the pace for Cadillac. The CTS was the brand's biggest disappointment, at -26%.

Chevrolet +41%

Equinox deliveries nearly tripled, while the Suburban (+83%), Aveo (+74%), and HHR (+55%) also posted big gains.

GMC +45%

The Sierra (+23%) and the Acadia (+37%) were aided by the addition of the Terrain.

Toyota Motor Sales +41%

Toyota's big incentive spending (big for Toyota, but still less than the domestics) had the desired effect in March, with significant gains for all the company's core models, sizeable gains for some other vehicles, and only a few cars doing worse than last year. In the latter camp are all three Scions.

Toyota +41%

Camry (+41%), Corolla (+33%), Highlander (+121%), and RAV4 (+117%, its best March ever) lead the charge volume-wise, but we also should acknowledge the Tundra (+84%), 4Runner (+149%), Venza (+41%), and Prius (+32%).

Lexus +42%

The RX (+30%) and the IS (+29%) did well, but the addition of the HS250h was also a factor.

Scion -25%

All three Scion models fell further in March.

Ford Motor Company +40%

After enjoying a brief moment as the country's number one automaker last month, Ford slipped back to third place behind GM and Toyota. Still, Ford's volume increase over last year easily outpaced the industry as a whole and so the company again picked up market share. Yes, incentive spending was high and fleet sales were a significant factor, but a 40% year-over-year gain is still good news. Factor out Volvo (-18%), and it's actually even better: +43%.

Ford +46%

With the exception of the Ranger and the Crown Victoria, every one of Ford's continuing nameplates did better than last March. Notable gainers included Fusion (+79%), Focus (+57%), Taurus (+86%), Mustang (+57%), Escape (+52%), Edge (+67%), and F-series (+30%).

Mercury +26%

After a big February, the Milan +71% had anther good month, and Mercury's other models were also in the black.

Lincoln +19%

Lincoln's biggest percentage gainers were its retrograde entries: Navigator (+96%) and Town Car (+56%). The MKS (-16%) and MKX (-14%) both slipped.

American Honda +18%

American Honda's sales increase couldn't quite keep pace with the overall market, probably a result of Toyota's aggressive dealing.

Honda +17%

The Insight (+179%) had a huge percentage increase, though it was only just coming into the market last March. More representative were gains for the Accord (+23%), the Pilot (+48%), and the Odyssey (+26%). But the Fit fell back a bit (-15%).

Acura +24%

Acura enjoyed mostly modest but consistent gains, led by the MDX (+42%), with assistance from the TL (+17%), the TSX (+16%), and the RDX (+18%). Nissan North America +43%

Nissan grabbed more market share in March, even in the face of a resurgent Toyota. Infiniti helped as well.

Nissan +44%

The Versa (+105%) continues to do well, although it had some rather unexpected company this month, with the Armada (+171%), the Frontier (+129%), and the Maxima (+93%) also making headlines. Only the sports cars disappointed, the 370Z (-33%) and the GTR (-37%).

Infiniti + 37%

The new M (+62%) did well, as did the G (+45%), while the EX (-20%) and the FX (-14%) declined, and the QX56 (+242%) confounded.

Chrysler Group -8%

After reporting the tiniest of year-over-year sales increases in February, Chrysler resumed its declining ways in March, with total sales 8% below March 2009. Chrysler is still putting lots of cars into fleets, but it has reduced incentive spending from the pay-anything year-ago levels.

Chrysler +1%

The Town & Country (+30%) and Sebring (+69%) offset the PT Cruiser (-70%) and the 300 (-20%).

Jeep +3%

The Compass (+27%), Patriot (+26%), Grand Cherokee (+32%), and Commander (+29%) overcame weakness in the Wrangler (-16%) and the Liberty (-11%).
Dodge -19%

Challenger (+36%) was the only bright spot among grim stats for the Avenger (-31%), Caravan (-32%), and Caliber (-12%).
Ram -11%

Hyundai/Kia +19%

Hyundai was not as hot as might have been expected, trailing the overall market. Like Honda, Hyundai likely suffered as a result of Toyota's incentive spending. Kia's year-over-year sales growth outpaced Hyundai's in March, a situation that is likely to continue this year, as Kia rolls out its new Sportage this summer and Optima this fall.

Hyundai +15%

The redesigned Tucson (+129%) and Sonata (+53%) led the charge for Hyundai; the company claimed that, counting only retail sales, the Sonata captured third place among mid-size sedans.

Kia +24%

Kia's surging models expressed their gains in multiples of year-prior sales: Optima (2x), Sorrento (3x), and Soul (4x). No surprise, then, that the brand had its best ever March.

VW Group +39%

The Volkswagen Group had another strong month in March, with VW leading the way but Audi close behind.

Volkswagen +41 %

The good news was everywhere at VW: Golf/GTI (+152%), Tiguan (+42%), Jetta (+24%), Passat (+73%), Touareg (+90%); everywhere except the CC (-15%).
Audi +34%

Audi looked strong across the board, but standout gains came from the A5 (+155%, thanks to the addition of the Cabriolet), the A3 (+100%, with half of those TDIs), and the A6 (+98%).

Subaru +46%

Of all the manufacturers who posted increased sales in March, Subaru's was most impressive, because it was just about the only nameplate that is actually coming off a good 2009. Its 2010 sales, in fact, are the company's best ever for the month of March.

The new Legacy (+124%) and Outback (+111%) lead the way, naturally, but the Forester (+24%) and Impreza (+7%) helped too. Only the Tribeca (-57%) continues to disappoint. BMW Group +3%

The BMW Group was just treading water in March. The BMW brand did better than Mini, which couldn't muster any increase at all.

BMW +3%

The X5 (+27%) and the 3-series (+11%) were the bright spots here.

Mini +0%

An increase in convertible sales was negated by declines in the other two models. Bring on the Crossman!

Mazda +6%

Mazda's increase over last year was modest. Once again sales growth came largely from Mazda3 (+16%) and the two crossovers, the CX9 (+65%) and the CX7 (+64%).

Daimler AG +19%

Mercedes-Benz sprinted ahead of last March's results (aided only slightly by its reclaimed Sprinter) easily outpacing the growth at BMW but Audi.

Mercedes-Benz +24%

The new E-class(+155%) provided the headline number, but the S-class (70%) and the C-class (+20%) did well, too. The coupes and convertibles were a mixed bag, with the CL (+32%) up but the SL (-20%), SLK (-27%), and CLS (-43%) all down. Among the SUVs, the M-class (+29%), GL-class (+68%), and G-wagen (+41%) were up, while the R-class (-58%) and GLK (-10%) dropped.

Smart

Despite the industry's fervor for small cars, the smallest of them all, the ForTwo (-61%), continues to sink.

Mitsubishi +18%

Mitsubishi's incentive spending was well rewarded in March, with widespread increases, some of them dramatic. Galant sales nearly tripled and those of the Endeavor nearly doubled. The higher-volume cars posted less dramatic increases: +31% for the Outlander and +47% for the Lancer.

Jaguar Land Rover +8%

Porsche +9%

Porsche managed a modest gain in March, as the addition of the Panamera and increases for the sports cars were able to offset sales for the Cayenne, which fell by half.

Suzuki -72%

Suzuki has another scary sales report, with March deliveries falling at an even faster rate than for the first quarter overall.

Maserati +59%

TOP 5 BESTSELLING NAMEPLATES (and rank last month)


  1. Ford F-series 42,514 (#1)

  2. Toyota Camry 36,251 (#6)

  3. Chevrolet Silverado 29,886 (#5)

  4. Toyota Corolla 29,623 (#7)

  5. Honda Accord 29,120 (#5)




Related Post:

2010 April Auto Sales

The headline number for April new-cars sales is +20%. That figure represents the increase over last April, which you'll remember was a disaster of historic proportions. Still, the increase is another hopeful sign that, for the auto industry, the worst is now behind us. The pace of the recovery, however, is plodding. Volumes actually slipped a bit versus March, but the 11.5-million-unit annual sales rate still looks pretty decent compared to a year ago, when we were staring at a 9.5-million-unit year. No one is expecting a sudden downturn in the months ahead, so cautious optimism rules the day.-Joe Lorio

APRIL 2010 SALES, AND PERCENTAGE INCREASE/DECREASE OVER APRIL 2009

GENERAL MOTORS +20% (that's New GM: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC)

It doesn't seem fair to include the results from GM's discontinued brands, whose sell-off is nearly complete, so we won't. Without them, GM was off slightly from March but still made a healthy gain over last year, staying ahead of Ford and Toyota to keeping number one spot.

Buick +36%

The LaCrosse continues to power ahead, passing the Enclave (which is up as well) to become Buick's biggest-volume seller. The Lucerne continues to sink.

Cadillac +36%

Cadillac exactly matched Buick's performance, and here too the credit goes almost entirely to the division's newest model. For Cadillac, it's the SRX, which is outselling its predecessor by nearly 6 to 1 and has eclipsed the CTS (which slipped at bit) to become the best-selling Caddy.

Chevrolet +18%

Here again, the newest entries - the Camaro and the Equinox - are enjoying banner sales. Of the other models, it was the Aveo and the Cobalt (both up 29%) that pitched in the most. The Malibu, the Traverse, and the Silverado had modest increases.

GMC +20%

The addition of the Terrain accounted for the entirety of GMC's increased volume over last year. Otherwise, things were fairly static, with the Yukon down but the Yukon XL up, the Sierra up but the Canyon down, and the Acadia flat.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY +25% (would have been +26% with Volvo, which eked out a tiny gain)

After the media darling announced a $2 billion profit for the first quarter, Ford's sales results were a bit of a letdown, falling slightly from last month although still posting another big increase over last year - and passing Toyota to move into second place. Like GM, though, fully 32% of Ford sales were to fleets.

Ford +26%

The Taurus and the Expedition both about doubled last year's figures. A better than 40% jump for the Escape, the Explorer, and the F-series (in particular) helped volumes as well. Only the Mustang (-33%) really disappointed; it got its clock cleaned by the Camaro.

Mercury +19%

Mercury looks pretty good until you notice that most of its increase comes from the aged Grand Marquis. At least the Milan and the Mariner were up, too.

Lincoln +22%

Like Mercury, Lincoln's growth came from its oldest models, the Town Car and the Navigator. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES +24%

Toyota's incentive spending lost some of its effectiveness in April, as sales slipped 16% from March totals, although it was still enough for a nice gain over last year.

Toyota +26%

The redesigned 4Runner tripled sales of the old version; otherwise the top increases were around 50% for the Corolla/Matrix, the Prius, and the FJ Cruiser (of all things). The new Sienna, the Tundra, the Avalon, and the RAV4 all were up by more than a third. The only real loser was the Yaris, which fell by half.

Lexus +29%

Lexus enjoyed a slightly better increase than the Toyota division, with the recall-maligned GX posting the brand's second-best gain after the LS.

Scion -20%

Scion continues to sink, with all three models down.

AMERICAN HONDA +13%

Honda's sales gain over last year was less than the industry average, but unlike its three larger competitors, Honda actually sold more cars in April than in March, so it is trending positive.

Honda +12%

The Accord was up a modest 9% versus last year, but that was enough to move up from fifth place to second among the bestselling nameplates (leapfrogging both the Camry and the Corolla/Matrix in the process). Unfortunately, the Civic was down as was the Insight, which continues to disappoint. Most of the good news was on the truck side, with the Pilot, the CR-V, and the Odyssey up significantly. Even the Element and the Ridgeline saw some growth.

Acura +22%

Like Honda, Acura's growth came from trucks: the RDX and the MDX both had better than 50% increases (the new ZDX is selling in tiny volume). Car sale actually went down despite a small gain for the TSX.

CHRYSLER GROUP +25%

Finally, some good news for Chrysler. Of course, April last year is when Chrysler declared bankruptcy, so that "+25%" is bouncing off some pretty grim numbers. The wild swings for many models suggest serious incentive money at play, but at least Chrysler passed Nissan to retake the number five spot.

Chrysler +61%

How'd that happen? Sebring sales tripled, the Town & Country nearly doubled, and the 300 increased 40%. Only the PT Cruiser dropped. That's how.

Dodge +61%

Like its Chrysler counterpart, Dodge's Avenger enjoyed a massive run-up this month (+340%), which looks a lot like a fleet-sales push. Aside from the Viper (down ten units) and the Journey (essentially flat), all other Dodges increased, but by more credible levels, ranging from 14% for the Nitro to 90% for the Charger.

Jeep +0%

Despite sales of the Compass doubling and a 21% increase for the Patriot, Jeep was flat due to offsetting declines for the Wrangler, the Commander, and the Grand Cherokee.

Ram -22%

The loss of the Sprinter wasn't much of a factor here. Instead, look to the 24% decline in Ram pickup sales. HYUNDAI-KIA +24%

The Koreans' increase is in line with the overall market, as is its slight fallback from March. With more new products, Hyundai was stronger than Kia.

Hyundai +30%

A massive increase for the new Tucson (+171%) and Sonata (+57%) is to be expected, but a doubling of Elantra sales was a surprise. The aging Accent was the biggest drag.

Kia +17%

Predictably, Kia's newest offering, the Sorento, sold like gangbusters (+254%), while another relative newcomer, the Soul, also did well (+62%). But the new Forte isn't selling as well as the old Spectra. A new Spectra and Optima should turbocharge Kia's results later this year.

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA +35%

At first glance, Nissan's sales increase looks great, but the company's April volume is actually a pretty big comedown from a huge March. Compared with last month, Nissan slipped by a third, falling behind Chrysler and Hyundai-Kia in the process.

Nissan +34%

Nissan's only products to sell worse than last year were its sports cars: the 370Z and the GT-R. Everything else improved, particularly the (relatively small-volume) SUVs, while the Versa fared the best on the car side.

Infiniti +46%

The new M was a big winner for Infiniti ,and the franchise G increased by half. On the truck side, a couple hundred more QX56 sales (marked down ahead of the new model?) couldn't offset declines for the EX and FX.

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP +39%

VW +42%

The new Golf/GTI set the pace for VW, more than doubling year-ago volumes, but every other VW also saw gains of 20% (Eos) or better. Every one, that is, except the Routan minivan, which was off by 43%

Audi +33%

The A3, the A5, and the A6 all enjoyed better than 100% increases over last year, and the Q5 was up 60%. The A4 fell back, however, as did the Q7 and the A8 (the latter ahead of a redesigned version coming this fall).

Bentley +13%

SUBARU +48%

Now here's a success story. Subaru's 48% increase over 2009 is a big number, but what's truly impressive is that, unlike every other carmaker, Subaru actually had a very good 2009. That has put Subaru in the passing lane, flying by the BMW Group, Mazda, and Daimler AG in the space of one year. The new Outback has more than doubled previous volume, while the new Legacy is up by half. The Forester and the Impreza posted lesser increases, while the Tribeca threatens to slip completely under the waves.

BMW GROUP +9%

BMW +10%

Volume-wise, good news for the 7-series (almost doubling last year's volume), the 3-series, and the X3 overcame a big drop for the 5-series, but the overall numbers were not so great.

Mini +5%

Rolls-Royce -4% DAIMLERAG +19%

Mercedes-Benz +25%

Mercedes-Benz outpaced the market overall by a slim margin, with an increase that was significantly better than BMW's but not as good as Audi's. The redesigned E-class continues to drive volume, this month with an assist from larger SUVs (yes, even the R-class!), while the GLK and the sports cars slipped.

Smart -49%

Sales of the Smart fell by half, from already low year-ago figures.

Maybach -49%

Three (3) Maybachs were sold in April. That almost makes Rolls-Royce, with 26 cars sold, look like a mass-market brand.

MAZDA +17%

Mazda just about kept pace with the market overall, thanks to a big month for its crossovers and a gain for the Mazda3. But the Mazda6 continues to languish and the Miata fell by half.

MITSUBISHI +0%

Mitsubishi couldn't make any headway in a rising market, as the Lancer's decline wiped out the gains for the Galant and the Outlander.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER +10%

Land Rover +35%

The refreshed big SUVs all saw gains, while the aging LR2 declined.

Jaguar -30%

All three Jags were down, even the XF. The new XJ can't get here soon enough.

SUZUKI -23%

The well-reviewed new Kizashi is selling no better than the old Forenza, while the SX4 treads water. Meanwhile the aging Grand Vitara is sinking and the XL-7 is being phased out. Add it all together and you have declining sales for Suzuki.

PORSCHE -6%

The new Panamera was the bestselling Porsche in April, but mostly because of a big drop for the Cayenne (just ahead of a new model) and a pretty big decline for the 911 as well.

TOP 5 BESTSELLING NAMEPLATES (and rank last month)

  1. Ford F-series 40,946 (#1)

  2. Honda Accord 31,766 (#5)

  3. Chevrolet Silverado 29,618 (#3)

  4. Toyota Corolla/Matrix 27,932 (#4)

  5. Toyota Camry 27,914 (#2)



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  • For nearly two decades, the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, and the Nissan Altima have been slugging it out atop the mid-size car segment. After so many years of close combat, it's only natural that the feud has spilled over into a new arena -- tall wagons.

    Nissan was to the first to explore this territory in 2003, when it essentially added a tall body and a lifted suspension to the Altima platform and christened it the Murano. It's been so successful over the past seven years that one has to wonder why it took so long for the other two big Japanese carmakers to follow suit. Well, they're here. The Murano, redesigned for 2009, now faces high-roofed versions of the Accord and Camry in the form of the Honda Accord Crosstour and the Toyota Venza.

    Like their sedan progenitors, these three light crossovers match up very closely, each seating five people and powering the front or all four wheels with a 3.5-liter V-6 (the Venza can be also be fitted with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder). However, the vehicles do differ quite significantly in shape and purpose, ranging in character from traditional crossover (Murano) to luxurious large hatchback (Crosstour). We gathered well-equipped versions of each vehicle to see which mutant mid-sizer best fulfills the needs of this fledgling segment. Third Place: Toyota Venza

    On paper, the Venza is the clear winner here. It strikes the best balance in this group between carlike driving dynamics and crossover-rivaling utility, which is, of course, the stated reason for this subsegment to exist. Although it has essentially the same size footprint as the Crosstour, it offers nearly twenty cubic feet more cargo room with the rear seats folded down and even edges out the taller Murano. Toyota engineers did a particularly good job packaging the rear struts so they only barely intrude into the cargo hold (take a good look, Honda).

    So, why the last-place finish? In a word, execution. The lack of attention to detail is most noticeable inside, where, despite the aforementioned packaging advantages, the Venza's interior ranks dead last. A mess of mismatched, shockingly ill-fitting plastic panels form the Venza's dash, and the controls for the air-conditioning and radio feel five years old. It's not what we'd expect from any Toyota, let alone one carrying a Lexus-like price tag of $34,759.

    The exterior also seems like it needed a bit more time to coalesce. It has the best basic profile among this bunch (which is, admittedly, not an attractive group of vehicles as a whole), but fussy lines in back and a toothy grille up front give the impression of a Lexus RX that melted in the sun.

    As noted, the Venza drives very much like a car -- an exceptionally boring car. Under most conditions, body control is decent and steering is reasonably precise. But push the Venza at all on a curvy road, and only the optional 268-hp V-6 feels up to the task, as the cushy brakes and Cool Whip suspension squirm in protest. The garish, twenty-inch wheels do nothing to help in this department, as the soft dampers seem to send them bouncing in four different directions through bumpy corners. Overall, it's not much better than a well-mannered crossover or minivan. Given that Toyota's lineup is chock full of just such vehicles, from the RAV4 to the Highlander and the Sienna, we must wonder what this new model actually brings to the table, aside from added sales volume on the cheap.

    There's nothing egregiously wrong with the Venza, and yet, there's nothing remotely appealing about it, either. Executed properly, the Toyota could easily be the best in this group, and yet right now, its styling, driving dynamics, and interior quality all scream mediocrity. Second place: Nissan Murano

    Whereas Toyota has overdosed on crossovers, Nissan finds itself filling the gap with only two. With the smaller Rogue battling the hotly contested compact segment, it's up to the Murano to offer the utility of a larger vehicle to anyone not interested in the brand's aging line of body-on-frame SUVs.

    That the Murano is attempting to fill larger crossover shoes is clear as soon as you see it parked next to the Honda and the Toyota. Its roof juts out several inches higher than the other two, and its masculine sheetmetal, revolutionary seven years ago, now comes off as almost traditionalist compared with the Venza's tough-wagon aesthetic and the Crosstour's downright weirdness. Not coincidentally, we find its angles and creases the most agreeable of this group, if still not quite attractive.

    Inside, the Murano made great strides in materials quality with its 2009 redesign, and its new plastics are much better than those in the Toyota. The overall dash layout is a bit drab but ergonomically sound, and the optional Bose radio uses the same driver-friendly interface found in most Infinitis. Our only complaint, from a comfort standpoint, is with our $33,000 test vehicle's foamy, flat seats. As noted, it loses to the Venza in terms of overall cargo room, but it still offers plenty of space for big, bulky items.

    The problem with the Murano's crossover leanings quite literally become apparentwhen you leave the confines of the city for slightly more challenging roads. It floats and sways unnervingly through turns, the inevitable result of having the group's highest roof and narrowest track. On stretches with more than one bend, it typically fell several car lengths behind the other two vehicles, which were hardly setting a bristling pace. Even the venerable VQ V-6 is outmatched here, as it equals the output of the other two but betrays its advancing age with a nonstop sound track of pained growls and vibrations.

    The Murano's spaciousness and interior refinement still make it a solid choice, but as other brands have fleshed out their lineups with a crossover for every taste and budget, the Murano feels like it's neither big and useful enough to play with other mid-size crossovers nor nimble enough to run with these tall wagons. First place: Honda Accord Crosstour

    As we took turns behind the steering wheels of the mind-numbing Venza and the ponderous Murano, we couldn't help but wonder why anyone would choose them over similarly mediocre-to-drive crossovers and minivans. The Crosstour, in contrast, would run rings around most of those big people movers. During most maneuvers, the big hatchback feels exactly like the Accord on which it's based, the distinctively small Honda steering wheel further disguising its girth through tight bends. Only when pushed beyond the norms of sane suburban driving does the Crosstour make clear that it's carrying 600 pounds more than a V-6 Accord, overwhelming its front tires with predictable, easy-to-correct understeer.

    The Accord connection is strong in the cabin, too, thanks to a familiar dash layout, but there's also a strain of Acura DNA in the nicely bolstered seats and the plush berber carpeting. Like most high-end Hondas and Acuras, the Crosstour's busy center stack suffers from button-itis, but they're nothing an owner couldn't fully decipher in a few weeks. Overall, the cabin feels fully fitting of a $37,000 vehicle, which is more than we could say about the Venza and even the Murano.

    The chink in the Honda's armor can be found aft of the rear seats, where struts and stereo speakers choke the rear cargo area. These obstacles, combined with the sloping rear liftgate, all but preclude the Crosstour from hauling big-ticket items. Considering Honda's well-earned reputation for excellent packaging, it's something of a disappointment that the Crosstour fails to use its size nearly as well as the other two vehicles in our test.

    And yet, we have no reservations about naming it the overall winner in this group. Ultimately, we don't it see as the job of these tall wagons to possess world-beating utility. Indeed, Honda's showroom alone offers two strong choices for those seeking maximum cargo space -- the Odyssey and the Pilot (not to mention the significantly less expensive and more compact CR-V and Element).What the Crosstour offers instead is more luxury and a better driving experience than the typical people mover. That's something we can stand behind.



    Video: Toyota Venza 2010



    Video:Cars.com's Kelsey Mays takes a look at the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour.


    Video:Nissan Murano
    In an attempt to tackle the growing mini-minivan segment in Europe, Toyota will introduce a new model based on a domestic-market favorite at the Paris Motor Show. The Verso-S is barely larger than the Yaris hatchback, but will feature space-utilizing techniques to make the most of its petite size.

    While details are still thin about the Verso S, the photos shown here indicate that Toyota has taken styling cues from some of the major European marques, such as Renault, in designing its MPV. The chunky exterior hides the fact that, at just four meters (about 157 inches) it's barely longer than a Yaris hatchback, and nearly two feet shorter than a Corolla sedan. The interior is a familiar Toyota design, with a high-mounted gearbox.

    We're not sure if the Verso-S will eventually make it to North America (unlike Ford's definite plan for its next Focus C-Max MPV). The Verso name is familiar to Japanese and European buyers who have had their choice of a Corolla Verso or a Yaris Verso, over several generations, for a little under a decade.

    2011 Toyota Avalon Limited

    After driving the Avalon, I returned away unusually nonplussed. Toyota's principal sedan could be neither heart-racingly exciting, nor a slouch during the pants. The 2011 refresh up of the Avalon is thus delicate which I failed to realize it absolutely used to be a revised model.

    Toyota had a robust pawn once it pitched the original generations of Avalons though Japanese Buick-fighters, taking a slice of market percentage away from General Motors in addition to Ford's large sedans. The sport possesses moved on. The most recent Buicks, such because the Regal, display a renewed specialise in the motive force, plus Ford's reinvented Taurus has a heap added style and sportiness in comparison to the Avalon does.

    As a 22-year-old, I am not in the Avalon's specialise in market, less than I did not care for the interior. The blistering white-on-white of our tester's interior reminded me of sitting during a dentist's chair, also though I've sat in dentist chairs allowing for better bolstering and lumbar support. I'm undecided concerning the redundant temperature controls on the guidance wheel, either, when the actual controls have a tendency to be a pinky-length away. The typophile in me likes and dislikes the oversize eighteen-point sort on the buttons and gauges -- a less-than-subtle hint at the Avalon's intended target market. The navigation screen is angled toward the keep center passenger, not to driving force or passenger, which brands it challenging to attain and operate buttons by feel alone. (Then once more, if the dimensions of the text hasn't screamed out the button's function FROM A MILE AWAY...)

    The Avalon behaved simply as I expected: sort of an enormous Camry. A really massive one, at that, with the added bonus of pinky-effort steering and a unusually high level of road noise in the cabin. The engine has more than just enough power and is sufficient to rev to redline if you push it, but why would you? About that sedan is the smooth operator, intended to be savored from the perch of the cavernous back seat, on a tedious highway trip. Skip the back roads with this one.

    It is a brilliant factor that no Avalon owner features a serious foot, because these front tires are awfully straightforward to squeal. It amused me, nonetheless, to imagine dozens of blue-haired ancient ladies or socks-and-sandals grandfathers obtaining pulled over for peeling out hither and yon up and down the Florida peninsula. Unfortunately, that is the legal most effective amusement I were given of the driving the Toyota brand's flagship sedan.

    The Avalon is a lot prefer its smaller sibling, the Camry: it has solely an appliance for individuals who care nada about vehicles. At the identical previous point, though, the Avalon is a really great, spacious, comfortable, and splendid automobile, especially in the Limited trim that we have a tendency to tested.

    Toyota's approach with this model is so conservative that it's troublesome to inform that this Avalon has been updated from the auto I wrote about five years ago for a comparison story for this net web site; one big clue, however, is that readily available is no more time a cassette-tape deck in the Avalon's center stack. Speaking of factors at last place out to pasture, the Avalon would possibly be a great taxi and airport-fleet replacement currently that Ford has stopped building its hoary Crown Victoria.

    Driving the Avalon was like a visit down memory lane, but I didn't feel like I utilized to be in an old-fashioned automobile, because ours was provided with one of Toyota's excellent navigation systems, a back-up camera, and even Bluetooth for the 660-watt, 12-speaker stereo. Wait, wait, shall we say that again: a 12-speaker, 660-watt stereo? In a car that is aimed squarely at the AARP set? Wow, what is the planet coming back to?

    When it projects to cars just like the Avalon, there is no sense in making an attempt to elucidate them to BMW drivers. There are solely a continue to several folks that simply need a big, comfortable, reliable, cushy sedan that does not ask yourself much of the driver. These are the folks who were served for decades by cars like the Ford Crown Victoria. So now they discover equivalent driving dynamics -- isolated ride, lazy steering, considerable body roll -- but combined with Toyota reliability and an on the market portfolio of up to date amenities like the aforementioned navigation and stereo. That said, if my mother or aunt were brooding about purchasing an Avalon, I might recommend that they also check out the Buick LaCrosse.




    2011 Toyota Avalon Limited

    Base price (with destination): $36,235

    Price as tested: $37,884

    Standard Equipment:

    3.5-liter V-6 engine

    6-speed automatic transmission

    17-inch alloy wheels

    Vehicle stability management

    4-wheel ABS

    Power moonroof with sliding sunshade

    Rain sensing wipers

    Dual heated outdoor mirrors

    Auto-dimming rearview reflect

    HID headlamps

    JBL synthesis AM/FM 6-disc CD changer

    USB port with iPod association

    Heated and ventilated front seats

    Power rear sunshade

    60/40 split rear seat

    Leather trimmed steering wheel and shift knob

    Dual zone automatic climate control

    Options on this vehicle:

    Navigation & premium audio -- $1450

    Voice-activated touch screen

    DVD navigation system

    Backup camera

    AM/FM 4-disc CD player

    MP3/WMA playback capability

    660-watt sound system with Twelve speakers

    XM satellite radio

    Auxiliary audio jack

    USB port with iPod connectivity

    Bluetooth connectivity

    Carpet floor mats/trunk mat -- $199

    Key features not on vehicle:

    Remote engine begin -- $499

    Fuel economy:

    (city/hwy/combined)

    20 / Twenty-nine / Twenty-three mpg

    Engine:

    Size: 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V-6

    Horsepower: 268 hp @ 6200 rpm

    Torque: 248 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm

    Drive:

    Front-wheel

    Transmission:

    6-speed automatic

    Curb weight: 3616 lb

    Wheels/tires: 17-inch aluminum wheels
    215/55R17 Michelin Energy all-season tires

    Competitors: Buick LaCrosse, Ford Taurus

    September 2010 Auto Sales

    Where auto sales stumbled in August, September brought a welcome resurgence. Even though fewer automobiles plus truck were sold in September in comparison to August, searching at situations during the legal context from the historic ebb and flow between months, the September sales figure out to an once a year rate of Twelve.2 1000000 units. Compare which to August's 10.8-million rate, and it could be the contented figure indeed. Of course, it has happier compared to the cautiously hopeful pace we tend to were seeing back in spring and early summer, after sales were in the 11-million-unit arena. The industry's performance in September is its the majority of powerful because the government-incentive-fueled Cash-for-Clunkers bonanza persist August.

    For about that month's run-down, we'll revert to year-ago comparisons. Less than note that during September '09, a lot of the industry was once in a very post-Clunkers lull, that the p.c will increase -- a median of 29% -- somewhat overstate the robustness of the current September.

    SUBARU OF AMERICA +47%

    After suffering its initial decline in a very long previous point in August, Subaru returned to its winning methods in September. Predictably, the Outback led the approach (+91%), whereas simply though predictably, the Tribeca (-58%) failed to participate in the joys.

    DAIMLER A.G. +18%

    Mercedes-Benz +22%

    The E-class (+47%) continues to drive Mercedes ahead but the S-class (+55%) installed a celebrity flip of its own this month. The brand's aging fashionistas -- the CL, CLS, and SL -- were each one in negative territory.

    Smart -48%

    Another down month for Smart.

    Maybach -50%

    The 3 Maybachs sold in September was half as a lot of as last year.

    MAZDA +31%

    Mazda just outpaced the overall market, thank you to brilliant performances by its crossovers and the final all-important Mazda3.

    MITSUBISHI +5%

    Mitsubishi managed a minor gain for September, but when compared to its August results, the increase basically appearance better (+16%). If you tend to be looking at year-over-year figures, the Outlander (+104%) was the large winner, but if you looking at the month-to-month comparison, the Lancer deserves the kudos.

    VOLVO -12%

    Despite the bettering overall picture, Volvo sales declined versus the brand's figures up of a year ago, when it absolutely was owned by Ford.

    JAGUAR LAND-ROVER +11%

    Jaguar +10%

    XJ sales were all but nonexistent at the finish of the previous model's run last September, so this month's appear great by comparison (+707%), but it's being concerned therefore the XJ declined by virtually a third from its August total.

    Land Rover +12%

    The LR4 doubled its year-ago pace, but solely the variability Rover is ahead of last month.

    PORSCHE +25%

    The non-traditional Porsches -- the Cayenne and the Panamera -- gave the complete its year-over-year increase.

    SUZUKI -12%

    Only the Equator pickup managed an increase over last year (+64%), but its 118 units -- and the Kizashi's 477 -- were now not enough to combat declines for the Grand Vitara and the SX4.

    SAAB +133%

    Saab was on a death keep a look last year, so perhaps this jump isn't always a brilliant comparison. Added heartening, perhaps, is the legal undeniable incontrovertible reality that sales more than only doubled compared to merely last month.

    TOP 5 BESTSELLING NAMEPLATES (and rank last month)

    1. Ford F-series Forty-seven,433 (#1)

    2. Chevrolet Silverado Thirty-two,185 (#2)

    3. Toyota Camry Thirty,769 (#3)

    4. Honda Accord Twenty-four,127 (#4)

    5. Toyota Corolla 21,060 (#6)

    2011 Toyota Sienna XLE

    Though a infant up of the legal minivan point in time, I've necessarily respected these vehicles for his or her or him excellent versatility. To wit, I utilized the Sienna to select up a recent dining table plus six chairs, continue to boxed, and the final Toyota swallowed every one contents moderately easily and whereas not having to fold the middle-row seats (which can not fold down back to the floor anyway). After i unloaded the furniture, I marveled at the simplest way a lot the process seats can slide forwards and backwards. Minivans have a tendency to be ideal for families allowing for youngsters, less than if four dads needed to become away for a tedious road trip, the Sienna would excel in which application, too. The blokes during the middle row can slide his or her seats all the long ago for really limousine-like legroom, still coming of the a large amount o room in the approach back for baggage. Additionally better, the middle captain's chairs suffer from La-Z-Boy-style footrests, therefore the guys in back (especially if they are definitely five-foot-six or shorter) can discover a bunch of forged business-class-style sleep while the 2nd one pair drives and navigates. The Sienna's occupants would possibly not feel awfully cool, but they had certainly be comfy.

    Rusty Blackwell I signed out Toyota's new swagger wagon to drive a handful of twenty-something friends all the way down to Detroit for a Tigers baseball game. It might not build a style statement, but the Sienna had them completely galvanized with the backseat comfort and entertainment features. I grew up riding in the back of minivans (my oldsters owned a minimum of four Mercury Villagers) and it had been smartly put in place that your parents' van was once not cool unless it had rear heat and/or audio controls. My Detroit-bound cadre was seriously wowed by the reclining second row and widescreen television. I need to note, though, that Toyota's lawyers have a warning that asserts you can still not make use of the ottomans after the automobile could be in motion. Yeah right.

    As far as driving is going, the powertrain is robust, the six-speed automatic is polished, the chassis is composed, and the direction is fine. My primary gripe is that you just cannot fold the seatbacks of the second row to for hauling. You either need to cope with them in place or take away them totally.

    Eric Tingwall Nada projects close to a genuine minivan for successfully combining individuals comfort and shipment carrying ability but, as evidenced by General Motors and Ford dropping their minivan offerings, nearly all American citizens assume therefore the uncoolness of minivans outweighs their utility. I suspect I am not most Americans for the reason that I'm not the smallest amount touch embarrassed or apologetic concerning my fondness for the minivan and after driving the Toyota Sienna for a weekend I will be in a very position to be told why it has got one of the segment leaders.

    Around city, the Sienna is swish, quiet, and comfy. To me, the three.5-liter V-6 appearance as if overkill, but I'm guessing it is the necessity after all the seats are full and the cargo space is loaded to capability. Unfortunately, the interior is a small bit little bit of a unhappiness during about that new Sienna. It looks great from a distance but get a little closer and most surfaces feel and appear plasticky, though most of the controls-radio, nav, and HVAC-feel nice and feature a smart weight to them.

    The rearmost seats are a cinch to flip down into the floor and the sliding second row seats move forward enough to form the cargo area cavernous. But I did notice a couple negatives. Because the headrests are fastened, the flipped down third row seats carry out not create a continuous, even surface. This constructed it challenging on behalf of me to slide large, heavy boxes across the cargo floor. A closer difficulty is what to perform with the shoulder belt for the 1/3 rear seat when it's stowed. I may gain not realize a location to secure it out of the way therefore I had to figure around it when loading.

    Jennifer Misaros Persist week, the employees of Automobile Magazine gathered up our current crop of take a appear at vehicles and spent an afternoon driving them on a back-road route from Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo. We tend to switched cars each and every Twenty-five miles or so, offering everybody a possibility to drive several cars in one twenty-four hour period. The Toyota Sienna was my ride for the first stint - one of my co-workers saw me climb in and discussed that it looked favor I might drawn the short straw, seeing because the remainder of the crowd were driving cars just like the Audi S4, the Mercedes E350 cabriolet, and the Acura TL SH-AWD.

    I have to claim, however, that it did not really feel like I'd been shortchanged. On winding Huron River Drive, the Sienna handled kind of well for a vehicle together with a high center of gravity. Body roll wasn't unnecessary, the suspension absorbed pavement irregularities, and the engine had brilliant enough power to keep abreast of the remainder of the cluster.

    In the cabin, the driving position is sweet and heavy, the gearshift lever on the instrument panel suggests that readily available is extra space in the heart console for storage, and the back seats are very passenger friendly, with a reclining option that features a stowable footrest. One unfortunate detail was the textured plastic on the dash, which both looked and felt downmarket for a vehicle in this value number.

    Amy Skogstrom A Sienna? Stylish? Contemplating Toyota's minivan has always erred on the side of dowdy, it's a fantastic feat. I do be acquainted with some consumers balk at the sight of sliding rear doors, but designers have done a brilliant job of injecting some pizzaz into this third-generation model. After all, I'd argue it's virtually added engaging in comparison to the Venza crossover, which appears to be forced encouraged a large number of features on this minivan (including the unfortunate dash texture Amy mentions).

    Granted, this full-tilt XLE trim does return with a number of accoutrements, but the Sienna itself seems sort of a solid decision among minivans. The 3.5-liter V-6 provides adequate muscle, and the throttle solution and transmission calibration supply a prompt downshift when you are really shopping for power.

    I adore the assumption of the sliding second-row bucket seats for after you carry adults - not children - in the second row, but as Eric notes, they are doing not flip, fold, or tumble to make way for cargo. Short of hunting down the seats altogether, your best choice is to move the seat backs as far forward as potential, until they virtually touch the front seats.

    Evan McCausland


    2011 Toyota Sienna XLE


    Base price (with destination): $35,315

    Price as tested: $42,211


    Standard Equipment:

    3.5-liter V-6

    6-speed automatic transmission

    Active torque management AWD system

    4-wheel disc brakes

    18-inch wheels

    VSC with TRAC, ABS and brake assist

    Dual power sliding side doors

    Power tilt/slide moonroof

    Cruise control

    Leather seats

    Heated front seats

    Tri-zone climate control

    Power windows/locks/mirrors

    AM/FM/MP3 CD player with 6 speakers


    Options on this vehicle:

    XLE premium package -- $6225

    Dual view entertainment center

    Wireless headphones

    Voice-activated touch screen

    Navigation system with backup camera

    JBL AM/FM/MP3 4-disc CD changer

    10 speakers

    XM satellite radio

    USB power with iPod connector

    Bluetooth connectivity

    Push button begin

    Carpet floor mats/door sill protector -- $324

    Roof rack cross bars -- $185

    Wireless headphones -- $82

    Cargo internet -- $51

    First aid kit -- $29


    Key options not on vehicle:

    Sienna Restricted -- $7755

    Rear seat entertainment -- $1999

    Remote engine start -- $529


    Fuel economy:

    (city/hwy/combined)

    16 / Twenty-two / 18 mpg


    Engine:

    Size: 3.5L DOHC VVT-i V-6

    Horsepower: 266 hp @ 6200 rpm

    Torque: 245 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm


    Drive:

    All-wheel


    Transmission:

    6-speed automatic


    Curb weight: 4735 lb


    Wheels/tires:

    18-inch aluminum wheels

    235/55R18 Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires

    2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser

    Additionally though the legal FJ Cruiser is the legal stale model in Toyota's lineup, it has got continue to amusing to slap on a recent package which appeals to the off-road enthusiast crowd. About that particular FJ is dressed during the trail Groups Special Edition package ($6695 mind you), which is composed mainly from exterior features like: distinctive Sandstorm paint, blacked-out hood, sideview mirrors, plus grille. Less than my favourite is the black, beadlock-look wheels allowing for beefy BFGoodrich all-terrain rubber. It really sets it apart from different FJs on the road-or trail added prefer it. The package additionally projects together with a locking rear differential, backup camera integrated back into the rearview reflect, and Bilstein shock absorbers.

    Where I might favor to detect improvement is beneath the hood; the 4.0-liter V-6 is ancient news. If nothing else, a minimum of a cold-air intake and free-flow exhaust system included in the Trail Teams package would remodel this FJ into a genuine player once the pavement ends.

    Mike Ofiara I haven't got access to a worthy rock trail to actually take a appear at the prowess of the present Trail Teams package, but on hand is not every one or any denying the decision cluster adjustments the visual character of the FJ from a cute retro-character to a badass off-road crawler. The ones beadlock-look rims tend to be lovely neat shopping, though are the powder-coated rock rails, the blacked-out grille trim and hood, and the overall shortcoming of the cheesy white roof.

    I'm told that production of the Trail Teams model is restricted, but if Toyota sells of the this batch, there is a bunch of excellent news for FJ enthusiasts:apart from the cosmetic touches, you are still ready to build a clone. Simply order an FJ Cruiser with the off-road package, and you immediately be afflicted by the Trail Team's locking rear diff, A-TRAC traction management, and enhanced suspension thrown into the combo. Dive into the TRD portions catalog, and you'll be ready to locate exactly the same wheels, rock rails, and myriad other off-road goodies.

    I'd caution against adding those features if you are planning on spending more previous point on-road compared to off, though. The increased ride height and bigger tires are great for four-wheeling, but the additional road noise and body roll are not enjoyable if you are relegating the FJ Cruiser to tarmac duty.

    Evan McCausland This particular paint aggregate is therefore, so cool. Really displays off the FJ at its better.

    This is a purpose-built approach to life vehicle and is still as cool because it had been when it came back out a couple of years ago. Take into account, also, that Toyota is simply not currently known for creating uncommon niche automobiles, and it is a miracle the FJ even exists. For somebody who really likes to off-road and carry out the entire out of doors adventure factor, the FJ is perfect, as long because you can measure with the back half of doors. But after you achieve in, grab the do something positive about, and swing it open, it is simple enough for three rear-seat passengers to climb aboard.

    The interior styling scheme -- all chunky, blocky, unfashionable shapes -- has aged rather smartly. I appreciated the small rearview camera screen that appears in a very corner of the heart rearview mirror.

    As for its on-road behavior, I had to changed into two individuals from my own home to the Detroit airport in a hurry, and the FJ easily speeded up to Ninety mph and cruised surprisingly well, with a reasonably comfortable ride.

    Joe DeMatio The FJ Cruiser isn't always almost as fun as a Jeep Wrangler, but it is still to be kind of enjoyable. On my commutes to and from the department, I took a gravel-road detour where I found some pretty massive dirt puddles. Yes, I enjoyed obtaining the FJ prepped for a potential photo shoot.

    Dirt and grime, nonetheless, can not canopy up the undeniable undeniable reality therefore the FJ has sloppy guidance, a coarse ride, poor body control, terrible outward visibility, and small usable shipment space. Worse nonetheless, you cannot comfortably drive with the windows open at speeds of more than purely Thirty mph or so, lest you buy blasted in the ear with wind. Whereas all Jeep Wranglers supply multiple features for open-roof driving, the new-age FJ offers none. This holds a travesty, as we have a tendency to pointed out once we told the overall story of our Four Seasons FJ Cruiser.

    Bead-lock wheels?! I utilized to be excited once i first saw these on the FJ, but of course they are definitely fakes, and Toyota decisions them "beadlock-style." You would suppose they had be real for the $6700 price of the Trail Teams option package.

    Rusty Blackwell Yes, the FJ Cruiser is kind of old, but it's a unprecedented gem as one of the couple of Toyota product with passion infused in the planning and engineering. With the Trail Teams package, this FJ Cruiser appearance the phase even more by ditching the roof rack, white roof, and Crayola paint colour for an extraordinarily military-like monotone tan paint job. And even though those beadlocker wheels are frauds, they give the impression of being a lot more at home on this off-roader than the customary seventeen-inch wheels.

    I disagree with Rusty's assessment that the FJ Cruiser delivers a rough ride. Whereas it's no Porsche Cayman, the line manners are appropriate for an everyday driven vehicle. That Toyota has allowed the sizeable quantity of travel between the wheels and body comes by artwork. Keep of installing active dampers or air is derived, you're doubtless not journeying to notice something more confident on the road and more capable on the trail. Rumors (strongly) counsel that the FJ Cruiser are so going to be dead soon. I is enough to imagine Toyota has little incentive to back it around as it sells in so few markets and fewer than 7000 have been sold in the first five months of 2010. For off-road enthusiasts who do not own one yet, though, a fashionable FJ would be a brilliant vehicle to possess. Not only is it something cool to park within your driveway these days, I be expecting it will only become more fascinating once production ends.

    Eric Tingwall


    2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser

    Base price (with destination): $26,070

    2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser $33,363

    Standard Equipment:

    4.0-liter DOHC V-6 engine

    5-speed automatic transmission

    Tire pressure monitoring system

    Water resistant seats

    AM/FM/MP3 CD with 6-speakers

    Auxiliary input jack

    Power windows/locks

    Tilt steering wheel

    Options on this vehicle:

    Trail Teams Special Edition Package -- $6695

    Sandstorm paint

    Hood, mirrors, grille blackout

    Beadlock style alloy wheels

    BFGoodrich all-terrain tires

    Bilstein shocks

    Active traction control

    Locking rear differential

    AM/FM/MP3 6-disc CD changer

    9-speakers and subwoofer

    Auxiliary audio input jack

    Cruise control

    Backup camera

    Towing hitch and wire harness -- $349

    Armrest/passenger facet -- $125

    Stainless steel exhaust tip -- $75

    Cargo internet -- $49

    Fuel economy:

    (city/hwy/combined)

    17 / Twenty-one / Eighteen mpg

    Engine:

    Size: 4.0L DOHC V-6

    Horsepower: 260 hp @ 5600 rpm

    Torque: 271 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm

    Drive:

    4-wheel

    Transmission:

    5-speed automatic

    Curb weight: 4343 lb

    Wheels/tires: 16-inch Beadlock aluminum wheels
    265/75R16 BFGoodrich all-terrain tires

    2010 April Auto Sales

    The headline number for April new-cars sales could be +20%. Which figure represents the building up over persist April, which you will don't forget was once a disaster up of historic proportions. Continue to, the increase is the added in-depth hopeful sign that, for the auto industry, the worst is currently during the dirt united states. The pace of the recovery, nevertheless, is plodding. Volumes basically slipped a little versus March, less than the 11.5-million-unit once a year sales rate still appearance lovely decent in comparison to a year ago, once we have a tendency to were staring at a 9.5-million-unit year. No one is expecting a unexpected downturn in the months ahead, so cautious optimism rules the solar day.-Joe Lorio

    APRIL 2010 SALES, Plus Proportion INCREASE/DECREASE OVER APRIL 2009

    GENERAL MOTORS +20% (that's New GM: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC)

    It does no longer seem honest to incorporate the consequences from GM's discontinued brands, whose sell-off is sort of whole, so we will not. Whereas not them, GM was off slightly from March but still constructed a healthy gain over last year, staying ahead of Ford and Toyota to keeping no 1 spot.

    Buick +36%

    The LaCrosse continues to power ahead, passing the Enclave (which is up as well) to changed back to Buick's biggest-volume seller. The Lucerne continues to sink.

    Cadillac +36%

    Cadillac precisely matched Buick's performance, and these too the credit is going almost entirely to the division's newest model. For Cadillac, it looks the SRX, which explains outselling its predecessor by almost 6 to one and has got eclipsed the CTS (which slipped at bit) to become the best-selling Caddy.

    Chevrolet +18%

    Here once more, the the majority of recent entries - the Camaro and the ultimate Equinox - have a tendency to be taking section in banner sales. Of the second one models, it had been the Aveo and the Cobalt (both up 29%) that pitched in the the majority of. The Malibu, the Traverse, and the Silverado had modest will increase.

    GMC +20%

    The addition of the Terrain accounted for the entirety of GMC's increased volume over last year. Otherwise, situations were reasonably static, allowing for the Yukon down but the Yukon XL up, the Sierra up but the Canyon down, and the Acadia flat.

    FORD MOTOR Corporate +25% (would suffer from been +26% with Volvo, which eked out a small gain)

    Once the media darling announced a $2 one thousand 1000000 profit for the first quarter, Ford's sales results were a little little touch of a letdown, falling slightly from last month also though still posting another massive increase over last year - and spending Toyota to move into second place. Favor GM, though, fully 32% of Ford sales were to fleets.

    Ford +26%

    The Taurus and the Expedition both concerning doubled last year's figures. A better in comparison to 40% jump for the Escape, the Explorer, and the F-series (in particular) helped volumes as smartly. Solely the Mustang (-33%) really disappointed; it were given its clock wiped blank by the Camaro.

    Mercury +19%

    Mercury looks pretty sensible until you realize that the majority of its increase projects from the aged Grand Marquis. A minimum of the Milan and the Mariner were up, too.

    Lincoln +22%

    Like Mercury, Lincoln's enlargement returned from its oldest models, the city Automobile and the Navigator. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES +24%

    Toyota's incentive spending lost a number of its effectiveness in April, as sales slipped 16% from March totals, although it was still enough for a pleasant gain over last year.

    Toyota +26%

    The redesigned 4Runner tripled sales of the ancient version; otherwise the head increases were around 50% for the Corolla/Matrix, the Prius, and the FJ Cruiser (of each one things). The recent Sienna, the Tundra, the Avalon, and the RAV4 all were up by more than only a third. The most effective genuine loser was the Yaris, which fell by half.

    Lexus +29%

    Lexus enjoyed a marginally better increase than the Toyota division, with the recall-maligned GX posting the brand's second-best gain after the LS.

    Scion -20%

    Scion continues to sink, with all three models down.

    AMERICAN HONDA +13%

    Honda's sales gain over last year was fewer than the industry average, but not like its three bigger competitors, Honda actually sold more vehicles in April than in March, so it is trending positive.

    Honda +12%

    The Accord was up a modest 9% versus last year, but that was enough to move up from fifth place to second among the bestselling nameplates (leapfrogging both the Camry and the Corolla/Matrix in the process). Unfortunately, the Civic was down as was the Insight, which continues to disappoint. Most of the excellent news was on the truck aspect, with the Pilot, the CR-V, and the Odyssey up significantly. Even the Component and the Ridgeline saw a handful of growth.

    Acura +22%

    Like Honda, Acura's growth came from trucks: the RDX and the MDX both had better than 50% increases (the new ZDX is promoting in little volume). Car sale actually went down regardless of a small gain for the TSX.

    CHRYSLER Cluster +25%

    Ultimately, some excellent news for Chrysler. After all, April last year is once Chrysler declared bankruptcy, so that "+25%" is bouncing off some pretty grim numbers. The wild swings for plenty of models advocate serious incentive money at play, but at least Chrysler passed Nissan to retake the amount five spot.

    Chrysler +61%

    How'd that happen? Sebring sales tripled, the City & Country nearly doubled, and the Three hundred increased 40%. Only the PT Cruiser dropped. That can gain be the way.

    Dodge +61%

    Like its Chrysler counterpart, Dodge's Avenger enjoyed a vast run-up about that month (+340%), which looks a heap sort of a fleet-sales push. Apart from the Viper (down ten units) and the adventure (essentially flat), all different Dodges increased, but by more credible levels, starting from 14% for the Nitro to 90% for the Charger.

    Jeep +0%

    Despite sales of the Compass doubling and a 21% increase for the Patriot, Jeep was flat because of offsetting declines for the Wrangler, the Commander, and the Grand Cherokee.

    Ram -22%

    The loss of the Sprinter was not much of an element here. Instead, appear to the 24% decline in Ram pickup sales. HYUNDAI-KIA +24%

    The Koreans' increase is in line with the general market, as is its slight fallback from March. With more new products, Hyundai was stronger than Kia.

    Hyundai +30%

    A massive increase for the new Tucson (+171%) and Sonata (+57%) is to be expected, but a doubling of Elantra sales was a surprise. The aging Accessory was the biggest drag.

    Kia +17%

    Predictably, Kia's newest providing, the Sorento, sold like gangbusters (+254%), while another relative newcomer, the Soul, also did well (+62%). But the new Forte is not all or any longer selling in addition to the old Spectra. A recent Spectra and Optima ought to turbocharge Kia's results later this year.

    NISSAN NORTH AMERICA +35%

    Initially glance, Nissan's sales increase looks great, but the company's April volume is actually a fairly enormous comedown from a vast March. When place next with last month, Nissan slipped by a third, falling behind Chrysler and Hyundai-Kia in the process.

    Nissan +34%

    Nissan's only products to sell worse than last year were its sports cars: the 370Z and the GT-R. Everything else improved, particularly the (relatively small-volume) SUVs, while the Versa fared the ideal on the auto side.

    Infiniti +46%

    The new M was an enormous winner for Infiniti ,and the franchise G increased by half. On the truck side, a pair hundred more QX56 sales (marked down ahead of the new model?) could not offset declines for the EX and FX.

    VOLKSWAGEN GROUP +39%

    VW +42%

    The new Golf/GTI decided the pace for VW, more than doubling year-ago volumes, but each and every other VW also saw gains of 20% (Eos) or better. Each one, that is, except the Routan minivan, which was off by 43%

    Audi +33%

    The A3, the A5, and the A6 all enjoyed better than 100 percent increases over last year, and the Q5 was up 60%. The A4 fell back, however, as did the Q7 and the A8 (the latter ahead of a redesigned version coming back this fall).

    Bentley +13%

    SUBARU +48%

    Now the reason is successful story. Subaru's 48% increase over 2009 is a gigantic number, but what is really spectacular is that, unlike every other carmaker, Subaru actually had a particularly good 2009. That features put Subaru in the passing lane, flying by the BMW Group, Mazda, and Daimler AG in the space of one year. The new Outback has more than doubled previous volume, while the new Legacy is up by half. The Forester and the Impreza posted lesser increases, while the Tribeca threatens to slide totally beneath the waves.

    BMW GROUP +9%

    BMW +10%

    Volume-wise, good news for the 7-series (almost doubling last year's volume), the 3-series, and the X3 overcame a big drop for the 5-series, but the overall numbers were not so great.

    Mini +5%

    Rolls-Royce -4% DAIMLERAG +19%

    Mercedes-Benz +25%

    Mercedes-Benz outpaced the market overall by a narrow margin, with an increase that was significantly better than BMW's but not nearly as good as Audi's. The redesigned E-class continues to drive volume, this month with an assist from larger SUVs (yes, even the R-class!), while the GLK and the sports cars slipped.

    Smart -49%

    Sales of the Smart fell by half, from already coffee year-ago figures.

    Maybach -49%

    Three (3) Maybachs were sold in April. That nearly brands Rolls-Royce, with 26 cars sold, appear to be a mass-market complete.

    MAZDA +17%

    Mazda pretty much kept pace with the market overall, thank you to an enormous month for its crossovers and a gain for the Mazda3. But the Mazda6 continues to languish and the Miata fell by half.

    MITSUBISHI +0%

    Mitsubishi couldn't build any headway during a emerging market, because the Lancer's decline wiped out the gains for the Galant and the Outlander.

    JAGUAR LAND ROVER +10%

    Land Rover +35%

    The refreshed big SUVs all saw gains, while the aging LR2 declined.

    Jaguar -30%

    All three Jags were down, even the XF. The new XJ can not obtain here soon enough.

    SUZUKI -23%

    The well-reviewed new Kizashi is selling no better than the old Forenza, while the SX4 treads water. Meanwhile the aging Grand Vitara is sinking and the XL-7 is ending up as phased out. Add it all together and you've got declining sales for Suzuki.

    PORSCHE -6%

    The new Panamera was the bestselling Porsche in April, but mostly for the reason that of a giant drop for the Cayenne (just ahead of a new model) and a lovely big decline for the 911 as well.

    TOP 5 BESTSELLING NAMEPLATES (and rank last month)

    1. Ford F-series 40,946 (#1)

    2. Honda Accord 31,766 (#5)

    3. Chevrolet Silverado Twenty-nine,618 (#3)

    4. Toyota Corolla/Matrix 27,932 (#4)

    5. Toyota Camry 27,914 (#2)

    March 2010 Auto Sales Analysis

    Attempting to put its recalls and unintended acceleration imbroglio into the rear-view mirror, Toyota called upon its deep reserves of cash, launching a bonanza of incentive spending in March which, naturally, obligated other carmakers to do the same. The subsidized leasing and zero-interest financing, combined with a hefty shot of fleet sales, juiced the market, driving new-car sales up 24% over the dismal March 2009 total. The March figures portend full-year new-car sales of 11.7 million, which is a lot better than last year, when industry watcher were speculating whether the year would end up below 10 million (it actually finished at 10.4 million). But step back a bit, and you realize that even 11.7 million is still a long way from the 16.8 million average annual sales the industry was enjoying in the decade ending in 2007. MARCH 2010 SALES VERSUS MARCH 2009

    General Motors +21%, or +43% for New GM (Buick-Cadillac-Chevrolet-GMC)
    Spurred by fleet sales and incentive spending, General Motors regained the top spot in the U.S. auto market in March - although, in a statistic that's ripe with foreshadowing, the company actually sold more cars and trucks in China than in the USA.
    Buick +76%
    The LaCrosse (+236%) was the big winner, while the Enclave (+42%) also gained, and the Lucerne stagnated.
    Cadillac +42%
    The SRX was just trickling onto the market last year, so its better-than-six-times March '09 total easily set the pace for Cadillac. The CTS was the brand's biggest disappointment, at -26%.
    Chevrolet +41%
    Equinox deliveries nearly tripled, while the Suburban (+83%), Aveo (+74%), and HHR (+55%) also posted big gains.
    GMC +45%
    The Sierra (+23%) and the Acadia (+37%) were aided by the addition of the Terrain.

    Toyota Motor Sales +41%
    Toyota's big incentive spending (big for Toyota, but still less than the domestics) had the desired effect in March, with significant gains for all the company's core models, sizeable gains for some other vehicles, and only a few cars doing worse than last year. In the latter camp are all three Scions.
    Toyota +41%
    Camry (+41%), Corolla (+33%), Highlander (+121%), and RAV4 (+117%, its best March ever) lead the charge volume-wise, but we also should acknowledge the Tundra (+84%), 4Runner (+149%), Venza (+41%), and Prius (+32%).
    Lexus +42%
    The RX (+30%) and the IS (+29%) did well, but the addition of the HS250h was also a factor.
    Scion -25%
    All three Scion models fell further in March.

    Ford Motor Company +40%
    After enjoying a brief moment as the country's number one automaker last month, Ford slipped back to third place behind GM and Toyota. Still, Ford's volume increase over last year easily outpaced the industry as a whole and so the company again picked up market share. Yes, incentive spending was high and fleet sales were a significant factor, but a 40% year-over-year gain is still good news. Factor out Volvo (-18%), and it's actually even better: +43%.
    Ford +46%
    With the exception of the Ranger and the Crown Victoria, every one of Ford's continuing nameplates did better than last March. Notable gainers included Fusion (+79%), Focus (+57%), Taurus (+86%), Mustang (+57%), Escape (+52%), Edge (+67%), and F-series (+30%).
    Mercury +26%
    After a big February, the Milan +71% had anther good month, and Mercury's other models were also in the black.
    Lincoln +19%
    Lincoln's biggest percentage gainers were its retrograde entries: Navigator (+96%) and Town Car (+56%). The MKS (-16%) and MKX (-14%) both slipped.

    American Honda +18%
    American Honda's sales increase couldn't quite keep pace with the overall market, probably a result of Toyota's aggressive dealing.
    Honda +17%
    The Insight (+179%) had a huge percentage increase, though it was only just coming into the market last March. More representative were gains for the Accord (+23%), the Pilot (+48%), and the Odyssey (+26%). But the Fit fell back a bit (-15%).
    Acura +24%
    Acura enjoyed mostly modest but consistent gains, led by the MDX (+42%), with assistance from the TL (+17%), the TSX (+16%), and the RDX (+18%). Nissan North America +43%
    Nissan grabbed more market share in March, even in the face of a resurgent Toyota. Infiniti helped as well.
    Nissan +44%
    The Versa (+105%) continues to do well, although it had some rather unexpected company this month, with the Armada (+171%), the Frontier (+129%), and the Maxima (+93%) also making headlines. Only the sports cars disappointed, the 370Z (-33%) and the GTR (-37%).
    Infiniti + 37%
    The new M (+62%) did well, as did the G (+45%), while the EX (-20%) and the FX (-14%) declined, and the QX56 (+242%) confounded.

    Chrysler Group -8%
    After reporting the tiniest of year-over-year sales increases in February, Chrysler resumed its declining ways in March, with total sales 8% below March 2009. Chrysler is still putting lots of cars into fleets, but it has reduced incentive spending from the pay-anything year-ago levels.
    Chrysler +1%
    The Town & Country (+30%) and Sebring (+69%) offset the PT Cruiser (-70%) and the 300 (-20%).
    Jeep +3%
    The Compass (+27%), Patriot (+26%), Grand Cherokee (+32%), and Commander (+29%) overcame weakness in the Wrangler (-16%) and the Liberty (-11%). Dodge -19%
    Challenger (+36%) was the only bright spot among grim stats for the Avenger (-31%), Caravan (-32%), and Caliber (-12%). Ram -11%

    Hyundai/Kia +19%
    Hyundai was not as hot as might have been expected, trailing the overall market. Like Honda, Hyundai likely suffered as a result of Toyota's incentive spending. Kia's year-over-year sales growth outpaced Hyundai's in March, a situation that is likely to continue this year, as Kia rolls out its new Sportage this summer and Optima this fall.
    Hyundai +15%
    The redesigned Tucson (+129%) and Sonata (+53%) led the charge for Hyundai; the company claimed that, counting only retail sales, the Sonata captured third place among mid-size sedans.
    Kia +24%
    Kia's surging models expressed their gains in multiples of year-prior sales: Optima (2x), Sorrento (3x), and Soul (4x). No surprise, then, that the brand had its best ever March.

    VW Group +39%
    The Volkswagen Group had another strong month in March, with VW leading the way but Audi close behind.
    Volkswagen +41 %
    The good news was everywhere at VW: Golf/GTI (+152%), Tiguan (+42%), Jetta (+24%), Passat (+73%), Touareg (+90%); everywhere except the CC (-15%). Audi +34%
    Audi looked strong across the board, but standout gains came from the A5 (+155%, thanks to the addition of the Cabriolet), the A3 (+100%, with half of those TDIs), and the A6 (+98%).

    Subaru +46%
    Of all the manufacturers who posted increased sales in March, Subaru's was most impressive, because it was just about the only nameplate that is actually coming off a good 2009. Its 2010 sales, in fact, are the company's best ever for the month of March.
    The new Legacy (+124%) and Outback (+111%) lead the way, naturally, but the Forester (+24%) and Impreza (+7%) helped too. Only the Tribeca (-57%) continues to disappoint. BMW Group +3%
    The BMW Group was just treading water in March. The BMW brand did better than Mini, which couldn't muster any increase at all.
    BMW +3%
    The X5 (+27%) and the 3-series (+11%) were the bright spots here.
    Mini +0%
    An increase in convertible sales was negated by declines in the other two models. Bring on the Crossman!

    Mazda +6%
    Mazda's increase over last year was modest. Once again sales growth came largely from Mazda3 (+16%) and the two crossovers, the CX9 (+65%) and the CX7 (+64%).

    Daimler AG +19%
    Mercedes-Benz sprinted ahead of last March's results (aided only slightly by its reclaimed Sprinter) easily outpacing the growth at BMW but Audi.
    Mercedes-Benz +24%
    The new E-class(+155%) provided the headline number, but the S-class (70%) and the C-class (+20%) did well, too. The coupes and convertibles were a mixed bag, with the CL (+32%) up but the SL (-20%), SLK (-27%), and CLS (-43%) all down. Among the SUVs, the M-class (+29%), GL-class (+68%), and G-wagen (+41%) were up, while the R-class (-58%) and GLK (-10%) dropped.
    Smart
    Despite the industry's fervor for small cars, the smallest of them all, the ForTwo (-61%), continues to sink.

    Mitsubishi +18%
    Mitsubishi's incentive spending was well rewarded in March, with widespread increases, some of them dramatic. Galant sales nearly tripled and those of the Endeavor nearly doubled. The higher-volume cars posted less dramatic increases: +31% for the Outlander and +47% for the Lancer.

    Jaguar Land Rover +8%

    Porsche +9%
    Porsche managed a modest gain in March, as the addition of the Panamera and increases for the sports cars were able to offset sales for the Cayenne, which fell by half.

    Suzuki -72%
    Suzuki has another scary sales report, with March deliveries falling at an even faster rate than for the first quarter overall.

    Maserati +59%

    TOP 5 BESTSELLING NAMEPLATES (and rank last month)


    1. Ford F-series 42,514 (#1)

    2. Toyota Camry 36,251 (#6)

    3. Chevrolet Silverado 29,886 (#5)

    4. Toyota Corolla 29,623 (#7)

    5. Honda Accord 29,120 (#5)

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