Vehicles crossing over

Last month, Toyota unveiled a new model to add to its lineup, the Venza, at the 2008 Detroit auto show. Toyota describes it as a “crossover sedan,” although “crossover wagon” would probably be more accurate. Toyota hopes the Venza will launch a new segment and claims that it will provide the comfort of a Camry, the functionality of a 4Runner, and the luxury of the Avalon. Wow. That really covers a lot, doesn’t it? Yet I highly doubt the Venza could scale our rock hill with anywhere near the proficiency of a four-wheel-drive 4Runner. Besides, Subaru could arguably claim owning the sedan/crossover segment this decade with the recently retired Outback sedan.

This so-called “new category” got me thinking as to what exactly is a crossover. The original Subaru Outback wagon and Toyota RAV4, for example, sparked this revolution, using car components to create a soft-roader SUV. The Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and others soon followed, with car-based vehicles with SUV looks dominating the compact and mid-sized SUV segments from 1996 on.

Likewise, when the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix appeared early in the decade, these twins were termed crossovers, combing a small hatchback package and soft-roader pretense, like the RAV4. Although, with their puny ground clearance (only 5 inches in our last tested model) meant that dirt roads were as far off-road as they went. Today, we’re seeing more crossovers with car-like unibody structures (rather than body-on-frame construction) and increased versatility. This approach has lead to the development of vehicles that tend to be more fuel efficient and ride better than traditional, truck-based SUVs like the Ford Explorer.

The crossover category continues to grow and become broader, now with large vehicles like the Saturn Outlook offering a milder alternative to the Chevrolet Tahoe. Both offer three-row seating, but the new Outlook (and similar Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia ) are easier to drive and get better fuel economy. Americans are known for wanting everything and more in their purchases, and this is reflected in the popularity of crossover vehicles today.

The Venza is splitting hairs to find its place, being a cross between the original Highlander (itself Camry based) and a Camry. Will this truly be a new segment, or just another means to challenge our staff in establishing ratings categories? Marketing messages aside, it will be the car shoppers that define the segments. What will be cross-shopped with the Venza? A Mazda CX-7, Subaru Outback, or Volvo XC70?

Regardless of what you call it, can the automotive buying public really accept another SUV-like vehicle? Probably so. Models like the Venza can be smart alternatives to larger, rougher, less efficient vehicles. Even if you don’t know how to classify it, crossover whatchamacallits may be worth a drive.

If this trend continues, we may be seeing crossovers establish, or re-establish, more categories soon—a crossover pickup anyone? Remember the Chevrolet El Camino? Well, cue the GMC Denali X/T concept from Chicago…

Liza Barth

Comments

[Ed]

What is a crossover? I can sure as hell tell you what it is not. It is not a Toyota Matrix or Vibe. Those are economy cars/wagons with plastic trim stapled on the bottom to make them "look tough." I am really really sick and tired of hearing about crossovers. Who the hell is buying these stupid, ugly, monstrous vehicles anyways? Could it be that MAtrix buyers just don't want to tell their friends that they bought... a wagon! *scary music plays* Could it be that highlander buys just don't want to admit that they got snagged by the SUV trend! Crossovers don't exist, they are not a category. There are cars, there are wagons, and there are SUV's (unfortunately) of a myriad of different sizes, shapes, and towing capacities. No one uses there SUV's for what they are made for.... which is nothing. They are entirely for image. When I have kids I will face facts like a man and buy a Mini Van like every other reasonable person. What does an SUV offer that a Van can not do? Higher ground clearance? No one uses it, unless running over a curb or small child while trying to park their 6,000 pound status symbol counts? Towing capacity? Any vehicle that can tow something of good size should not be used as a daily driver, ever. Ok you have a boat, we get it. You do not have to drive a 13mpg SUV too and from the office everyday and justify it with "I have a boat." Americans are destroying the environment everyday, and all the while we keep talking about "green machines." However, awful cars like the Venza are being pumped out by the minute. Also, since when is it Ok for an Accord to have almost 300hp! Is it not obvious to everyone at this point there is absolutely no need whatsoever for that amount of horsepower to pick up their kids from school, and buy a bag of groceries? I live in San Diego and everyday I see miles and miles of cars at a dead stop on the freeway. Each one of these 4,000-6,000 thousand pounds of metal and plastic being used to haul one 150-200 pound person to and from work. Why? Do we really need 10x out weight in machinery to carry us four or five miles to places? People need to realize that we are beyond the age of the car being a "status symbol." Huge cars cause too many problems. How many times have you heard someone say, "Oh I would buy a smaller more efficient car, but what if an SUV hit me?" Thats exactly the problem. People keep buying bigger and bigger until there is nowhere left to go and no one feels safe without driving a bulldozer everyday.

[Anon]

>Americans are destroying the environment everyday, and all the while we keep talking about "green machines."

Wow. Still touchy about Dennis Kucinich dropping out, huh?

When gas prices go high enough, people will vote with their wallets. At that point, those with large families will need to balance safety with cost of ownership. (You wanna cram your four kids into a Smart and speed on down the highway? Good luck with that.)

Besides, it's not for you to decide what people need.

[Charles]

Both previous bloggers offer food for thought. I would just add that the car companies make what they think will sell, bottom line. Bean counters have too much influence in the auto industry (and unfortunately elsewhere), so we end up with some gawdawful crap coming out of Detroit. But every now and then a really great design makes it to production.
My favorite gripe is why we don't have the modern turbodiesels available here that are offered in Europe. Well the diesel "revolution", haha yeah right has finally lurched into gear with our gas prices over $3 and sure to stay there. When it hits $4 a gallon we'll see people get real and leave the big guzzlers for small and sensible cars, as happened in the 70's. At least this time we won't have to settle for Pinto's and Vega's.
But it all comes down to vanity and image. We dumb Americans just love our cars, the status symbol of success, individuality, and the American Dream.

[Bill]

The Venza is pretty much a Camry station wagon.

As for "crossover" you can make the argument that AMC was way ahead of their time with the Eagle wagon.

[Ed]

Who the hell is Dennis Kucinish? Stop watching so much TV and read a book or something. You ask me if I wanna cram my four kids in a smart, I don't want to have four kids at all! Yes you have a right to protect your family, but the lowly college student (myself) in debt up to his ears from school also has the right to share the road (and the polluted air) with you and your monstrosity of a vehicle. Guess what, I never "decided" what anyones needs. I put a blog on a web page, that you chose to read. I do not want to choose what you need to drive. However, your choice of vehicle should not pose a threat to my life and my right to pursue happiness (its in the constitution you should read it some time). Thats why people are NOT allowed to drive tanks too and from work, though some do. You are correct, when gas prices go high enough people will chose with their wallets. The problem is that there exist such a large gap between the rich and the poor, that many people can not afford the horrific gas guzzlers that you seem to be so fond of, even if we felt the urge to be so selfish as to buy one. Your no better or more important that anyone else, what give you the right to ruin my air and create unsafe driving conditions because of your raised bumper and massive weight? Stupid Useless Vehicles. Buy a mini van and get over yourself. Don't destroy the earth because you are having a midlife crisis.

[John]

Wow, great post Liza. You know who else's job is getting tougher with the segment-defying Venza? The Toyota salesmen. Poor fellows. Toyota is up to so many models now, it must make their heads spin. They obviously know what they're doing, but I worry that they simply have too many models.

[Peanuts]

Hey ED, here's a little reading info and its right under your nose.....For the far left
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/first-drives/smart-for-two-first-drive/overview/smart-fortwo-first-drive.htm

Smart for Two