I don't get steelies. Sure if you have an old POS,whatever, but I don't know how many people I saw who just blew 40-50-60 grand on a car and are rolling around on POS looking steelies for half the year. Christ, pony up the extra hundred bucks and get something that looks half decent FFS.
I do not want alloys in winter. Out here, the finish might hold up a bit longer, but they are much more prone to leak when the temperature dips. On cold nights before Christmas, when the mall parking lots are full, I'm pretty much guaranteed to see at least one flat just walking to the car and back. Back home, it only took a couple of winters before the clearcoat finish started to peal and the aluminum corroded. I've tried it when money was tight, it sucks. With steelies, wire brush the rust and rattle can the black back to life.
Hit a steel wheel and it'll bend. You may or may not be able to bring it back to true. Hit an aluminum wheel and it's much more likely to fracture, especially with tire sections under 50. The local tire shop back home had a room that they'd dump broken wheels in for recycling. It was never empty for long according to one of the shop guys.
I guess it depends where you live. I hate buying winter tires, but I do, because I know they offer better performance, and safety, but never have enough money to get steelies and snow tires. So after 4 cars and going, still have never had steelies, nor have I ever had to leak in the alloy rim, just the odd scuff from parallel parking with the Mazda5, not used to sitting higher, I miss cars..
BTW, I agree that you can't compare the VW Golf wagon to the Venza, because it's not a mid size. But it does offer decent room, for 4 people. It blows the Matrix out of the water, not sure what Toyota is waiting for, that car needs an interior update, and some sound insulation would be nice!
I was considering the Venza with 4 cylinder FWD in mind, but decided it was too heavy and slow for a 4 cylinder. My Mazda5 out handles it, and is faster (not a major reason), but it has sliding doors, :-(
Also, the price, and cost of tires was another detterent.