Will Venza be the car that banishes the "B" word forever from discussions of Toyota styling?

Could be. The stylish new crossover is the latest of continuing efforts by Toyota to vanquish that dreaded word -- boring -- that seems to come up whenever car folk talk about styling and design for that Japanese behemoth.

Truth be told, Toyotas have been getting prettier for several years now. No, the designs couldn't be called daring in any sense, but they are contemporary and fresher looking. That's something you couldn't necessarily say 10 years ago.

But the Venza is something else again. It doesn't look like any other Toyota, and it looks a lot more expensive than it actually is, selling for about $23,000 at the low end of the price scale to about $29,000 at the top end.

The Venza will be available in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, and Toyota officials say it will "deliver the quiet, comfortable ride expected from a full sized car, along with the peace of mind that comes with all-wheel drive."

It will be powered by an all new 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V-6.

The Venza has muscled, flowing lines; taillights that are nicely integrated into the rear; and powerful-looking rounded wheel wells with the hint of "blisters" over them. It's easily the most stylish member of the Toyota family.

The Venza seats five and comes with a full complement of safety and convenience features. The car is expected to go on sale late this year, and I predict it will be a huge seller for Toyota.