
With easy entry and exit, big gauges, and a comfy ride, the Toyota Venza seems tailor-made for older drivers and empty nesters looking at crossover vehicles.
The Nissan Murano and Mazda CX-9 are quite the opposite; they're both racier and have sportier tuning, but the Murano has less space, while the CX-9 still manages a very roomy interior.
Even though it was introduced just three years ago, the Ford Edge is the oldest of this group.
It's quite heavy, yet has a simple, upright design that still looks good.
The Subaru Tribeca makes great functional sense but won't resonate with some buyers—it's a little weird in terms of design.
Relative to these other rivals, the Venza does offer a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
Also worth consideration is a model arriving later this year and much like the Venza: the Honda Accord Crosstour.
At the time of publication, TheCarConnection.com still hadn't driven the Crosstour, but the Honda promises to be even more like a fastback sedan than the Venza.
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Quick Specs | ||||
You won’t find much excitement or flair in the 2011 Toyota Venza, but it makes a lot of sense as an alternative to either a large sedan or a mid-size SUV. |
Provided you don't need a third-row seat, the 2011 Ford Edge is at last, at the leading edge of mid-size crossovers, with one of the best driver interfaces in the business. |
The 2011 Mazda CX-9 can carry seven in comfort, but it loves curves more than almost any other roomy crossover. |
The 2011 Nissan Murano isn't the most practical choice among crossovers, but it's a gem for style and refinement. |
With the 2011 Subaru Tribeca, first-class safety credentials and excellent all-weather handling ensure your precious ones are looked after, but if you need more than five seats, we suggest going with a bigger vehicle. |
MSRP From | ||||
$27,125 | $27,640 | $29,135 | $29,290 | $30,495 |
Gas Mileage | ||||
18 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 23 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy |
Engine | ||||
Gas I4 | Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas Flat 6 |
EPA Class | ||||
Sport Utility | FWD Sport Utility Vehicle | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicle | AWD Sport Utility | Sport Utility Vehicle |
Style Name | ||||
4-Door Wagon I4 FWD (GS) | 4-Door SE FWD | FWD 4-Door Sport | AWD 4-Door S | 4-Door 3.6R Premium |
Drivetrain | ||||
Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | ||||
5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
Passenger Doors | ||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | ||||
4 Door Wagon | 4 Door SUV | 4 Door Sport Utility Vehicle | Sport Utility | 4 Door Sport Utility |
Transmission | ||||
Automatic | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Continuously Variable Ratio | Automatic |
Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
2011 Toyota Venza vs. 2011 Ford Edge | 2011 Toyota Venza vs. 2011 Mazda CX-9 | 2011 Toyota Venza vs. 2011 Nissan Murano | 2011 Toyota Venza vs. 2011 Subaru Tribeca |