Spy Shots: LHD Toyota Mark X Zio for the U.S. market?
by Damon Lavrinc on Jul 22nd 2008 at 1:52PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota Mark X Zio.
Toyota's JDM Mark X Zio has been caught testing in the arid climes of Death Valley, and while a Japanese-only vehicle running on U.S. soil is nothing new this time of year, the pseudo-crossover has made the switch from right-hand to left-hand-drive.
Despite its size, the Mark X Zio is actually capable of seating four, six or seven passengers by using a flexible seating layout that can accommodate either a 2-2-2 or a 2-3-2 arrangement. Essentially, it's a glorified minivan/crossover wearing wagon sheetmetal, and has the potential to slot in between the Toyota Venza and the tanking Highlander.
For consumers downsizing their SUVs, the Mark X Zio has the potential to fill a niche between niches, and with a LHD arrangement, we could see the Zio on U.S. shores before the close of the decade.
Gallery: Spy Shots: Toyota Mark X Zio LHD
[Source: KGP Photography]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
BlackCanary 1:58PM (7/22/2008)
Looks like a big Prius. Maybe it is?
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Ligor 2:45PM (7/22/2008)
yeahm
liek a big fat UGLY prius (althought the prius is just as UGLY)
Nick 3:17PM (7/22/2008)
reminds me more of a Mazda 3 hatch only slightly longer...
boneheadotto 3:52PM (7/22/2008)
its like a stretch matrix with looks and an actual modern interior. They should play up its sportiness and offer it with a manual. Autoblog should have linked to their own article for this car.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/27/japan-toyota-reveals-mark-x-zio/
Johari 2:04PM (7/22/2008)
So much better looking than the Matrix.
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Kumail 2:05PM (7/22/2008)
seriously, you can get that close and not even snag one interior shot!? i am really starting to get pissed of at these spy photographers...
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cowbell 2:08PM (7/22/2008)
Isn't the RAV4 supposed to slot between the Venza and highlander?
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Tyler 2:39PM (7/22/2008)
In response to how Toyota's SUVs are lined up it goes (smallest to largest):
RAV4, Venza, Highlander, 4Runner, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser
G-Meister 3:30PM (7/22/2008)
Tyler- but the Rav can be had with 3 rows and the Sequoia is bigger than the 'Cruiser.
djSyndrome 2:10PM (7/22/2008)
I don't know about slotting in between the Venza and the Highlander - the Zio is over four inches *shorter* than the Venza. It's barely larger than the Matrix.
Out-of-left-field guess: we'll see this as a Scion, not a Toyota.
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Kotse 2:10PM (7/22/2008)
Toyota finally answers the calls of the Mazda 5 and Kia Carens/Rondo...
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TJ 2:13PM (7/22/2008)
yeah... and how are US sales of either of those models doing?
Rick 3:40PM (7/22/2008)
The Mazda5 has sliding doors, so you can not compare that to any car without a sliding door. The entire point of the Mazda5 is that you get a small vehicle with sliding doors for easy access.
Crackberry Addict 2:30PM (7/22/2008)
remarkably good their sales are up! Sales up 29 Percent mazda
Kotse 2:32PM (7/22/2008)
"Mazda likes to portray itself as a company that specializes in sporty, fun-to-drive cars, which is why its advertising slogan is "zoom-zoom." So, it must be a little embarrassing that lately the Ford (F) subsidiary's hottest offering is arguably the 2008 Mazda5, a fuel-efficient little minivan that saw its sales rise 29.2% in June and 44.1% (to nearly 12,000 units) in the first half of this year. What's "zoom-zoom" about the Mazda5, other than its sales?"
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/jul2008/bw20080711_125369.htm
Kia Announces Best June and Best Quarter Ever (see Rondo '08 Sales Chart)
http://www.autonews24h.com/Auto-Industry/Kia/2816.html
Rick 3:40PM (7/22/2008)
The Mazda5 has sliding doors, so you can not compare that to any car without a sliding door. The entire point of the Mazda5 is that you get a small vehicle with sliding doors for easy access.
G-Meister 3:34PM (7/22/2008)
They have an exact counterpart to the Mazda5 in the Corolla Verso, sliding doors and all.
Kotse 5:03PM (7/22/2008)
These vehicles are categorized as "microvans"...and narrowly grouping these based on how doors are opened is irrelevant...
You both just pitted the Aveo 5dr hatchback to the Hummer H2 SUV as in the same category...what can I say, you both are...brilliant (!).
john riley 9:17AM (7/23/2008)
I WISH that were true. I wish this was the WISH. I think the WISH is the size of the Mazda5.
I don't think Toyota gets it about how hard Americans are being hit by gas prices. They should be adding cars that are smaller than this thing.
Torrent 2:10PM (7/22/2008)
WHAT DO WE HAVE THE VENZA FOR!??!!?!?
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