Remember the station wagon? Moms and Dads bought ‘em in droves to haul the brood around suburbia, and they became instantly passé with the introduction of the minivan in the 1980s. A decade after that, American parents fell in love with the SUV. Then the economy crashed, gasoline prices started wildly fluctuating based on the whims of oil speculators and random OPEC oil production cuts, and families realized it made no sense to have a low-range transfer case to deal with six inches of fresh snowfall. Nowadays, people prefer crossover vehicles like the 2009 Toyota Venza.

According to Toyota, the new-for-2009 Venza blends the desirable characteristics of an SUV with the styling flair and driving experience of a traditional sedan. The Venza is available with all-wheel drive, seating for five passengers, a tall driving position, and a large cargo area accessed through a rear hatch. Sounds a lot like a crossover SUV to us, but Toyota lists the Venza with its car lineup on its website and the Venza’s window sticker says it is a five-door sedan. For the purposes of classification, J.D. Power and Associates calls the Venza a midsize multi-activity vehicle.

Highlights of the 2009 Toyota Venza include:

• Five-passenger vehicle blending elements of an SUV and sedan
• Sold in a single level of trim with several options and option packages
• Choice between four-cylinder or V-6 engine
• Choice between front- or all-wheel drive
• Generous list of standard equipment
• Available Bluetooth
• Available navigation system
• Available JBL Synthesis premium audio system
• Available panoramic glass sunroof
• Available leather interior
• Available reversing camera system
• Available Smart Key keyless ignition and locking
• Available automatic high-beam headlights

The 2009 Toyota Venza is available in a single level of specification with front- or all-wheel drive and a four- or six-cylinder engine. Standard amenities include alloy wheels, fog lights, privacy glass, power heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-disc CD changer with satellite radio and auxiliary input jack, a trip computer, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, cruise control, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, an 8-way power driver’s seat, Homelink, and numerous convenience features.

Toyota offers eight different option packages on the Venza, in addition to a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system, a rear DVD entertainment system, and a JBL Synthesis audio system. Highlights of the Venza’s option packages include a reversing camera, a Smart Key keyless ignition and locking system, leather upholstery, multi-stage seat heaters, a windshield wiper de-icer, an automatic high-beam headlight feature, and towing preparation equipment. Our well-equipped sample Venza, a V-6 model with front-wheel drive, came to $37,109.

The 2009 Toyota Venza is equipped with a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine rated to develop 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 182 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm operating on regular unleaded fuel, or a 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated to develop 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 246 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm operating on regular unleaded fuel. A six-speed automatic transmission delivers power to the front or all four wheels. The EPA says the Venza gets anywhere between 18 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, depending on powertrain choice.

Our review vehicle, a Venza V-6 with front-wheel drive, averaged 19.8 mpg in mixed driving with a highway emphasis. Combined with the Venza’s standard 17.7-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 350-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

Standard safety equipment on every 2009 Toyota Venza includes dual front airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seat occupants, side curtain airbags for both rows of seats, and a driver’s knee airbag. Additionally, the Toyota Venza comes with four-wheel-disc ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, a stability control system, and traction control. Standard hydraulic brake compensation instantly provides maximum braking power during a panic stop, and the Venza can also be equipped with a reversing camera and automatic high-beam headlights.

JDPower.com says the 2009 Toyota Venza competes against other midsize multi-activity vehicles such as the Buick Enclave, Dodge Journey, Ford Edge, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Murano, and Subaru Tribeca.