Even as crossover sales are taking off in the US, Toyota has decided to end production of their two-row Venza this year.
OK, calling the Venza a crossover might actually rub some Toyota people the wrong way. The car, based off of the last-generation Camry, was launched in 2008 to marry the qualities of an SUV, minivan and wagon – just not called a crossover.
Whatever this quasi-Camry wagon was called, it never really caught on. U.S. sales peaked in 2009, the car’s first full year, at 54,410, and slid to just under 30,000 in 2014. The Subaru Outback, which was roughly as popular as the Venza was in 2009, jumped to more than 138,000 units sold in 2014.
In an email to Carscoops, Toyota spokesman Sam Butto confirmed the Venza’s end, saying, “After careful consideration, Toyota has decided to wind down production of the Venza at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK).”
No jobs are being affected at the plant, Butto said, and it’s also unknown how long supplies of the Venza will last. Afterwards, Toyota will direct shoppers towards the compact RAV4 and three-row Highlander.
But considering the midsize crossover segment is heating up again with a new Nissan Murano, Ford Edge and the ever-popular Outback, expect Toyota to re-enter it sooner rather than later.
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