Whichever label you want to give it, the new Toyota Venza appears like a winner.

Think of the Venza as a station wagon and you’ll probably get the point. Of course, it does not look precisely like any station wagon we’ve seen before. Unveiled at Detroit’s North American International automobile show in Jan, Venza drew heaps of attention. Among vehicles currently available, it reminds us most of the Ford Edge crossover.

There’s plenty of the Lexus RX350 in this Toyota, too, though the Venza is pressed down nearer to the ground, and sleeker. Its front end is taller, but definitely molded in the theme of Toyota’s current Camry sedan. The Venza’s rear glass has a nice, long rake, and its taillights wrap around the rear fenders onto the hatch. Its standard wheels measure 19 inches in diameter, whilst 20-inch spoked alloys are optional. In sum, the Venza is an example of the more hunky, engaging cars Toyota has launched in a little time.

A look at its dimensions brings the crossover label into proportion. At 109.3 inches and 189 inches, respectively, the Venza’s wheelbase and overall length match both Bell Road Toyota’s Camry sedan and Highlander sport-utility inside fragments of an in. Put simply, the Venza’s footprint on the pavement matches both Camry and Highlander closely. Yet with an overall height of 63.4 inches, the Venza slots right in the middle of the Camry and Highlander. It’s ride height falls somewhere in the middle, too.

The 2009 Venza seats 5, like the Camry, instead of 7 like the Highlander. Its rocker height, or the lip around the base of its passenger doorways, is low, making it simple to lift feet within, yet the hip point for seated occupants is higher than the typical sedan’s. The mix should deliver a mix many buyers seek : straightforward ingress and egress, with a higher seating position for an enhanced view around tall cars on the road.

The 2009 Venza should reach showrooms with the traditional model year changeover in early fall 2008. It’ll be built at Toyota’s assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.