Venza and Crosstour Comparison

MichiganMike · 11-21-2009, 08:07 AM

I own a Venza and yesterday test drove a Honda Crosstour for comparison. I would still pick the Venza, but the Honda had some advantages.

The Honda seemed to ride and handle better than the Venza. The smaller tires and suspension differences likely account for this. Given a choice, I likely would have opted for 18" wheels on the Venza like those on the Honda. The Honda had Michelin Latitude tires like some Venzas. I do prefer the appearance of the Venza wheels however.

The view out the back of the Crosstour seemed more obstructed than the Venza and the split glass does not help. The long sloping rear glass in the Crosstour is also prone to collect road grime, but it does have a larger wiper than the Venza. The back-up camera on the Crosstour with the guidelines on the screen was a plus, but you only get this camera with the navigation system. The Crosstour also offers the tilt down side mirror in reverse that the Venza lacks.

The Crosstour does look better in person than in the photos. However, in my opinion the Venza still wins in exterior looks. The grill on the Crosstour is ugly and looks cheap compared to the Venza. The embossed metal pattern in the rocker area of the Crosstour looks odd. The Venza is distinctive whereas the Crosstour looks like an Accord Hatchback with some updates.

The Venza has much more room in the cargo area and in the rear seat than the Crosstour. This alone would motivate me to pick the Venza. The removable bin on the Crosstour and reversible panels were well done. The interior finish on the Crosstour in some respects seemed to be done to a higher standard than the Venza. There was a nice chrome strip at the edge of the luggage compartment and on first impression slightly better fit and finishes on the plastic surfaces. I preferred the leather on the Crosstour by a small margin over the Venza.

Front seats were nice and comfortable in the Crosstour with good adjustments. The front seats seemed slightly more supportive than in the Venza and have available memory for the driver's seat. However, I felt the Venza had a more upright seating position in the front, easier access to all seats and the rear seat was clearly better in the Venza. The Crosstour interior and instrumentation appeared to be largely lifted from the Accord. I preferred the Optitron gauges and instrument panel on the Venza which seemed more modern.

The Venza has more storage comparments than the Crosstour due largely to the center console. The Crosstour is similar to a standard Accord in storage other than the cargo area. The Venza offers the power rear gate which the Crosstour does not, but the Crosstour hatch seemed easier to open manually. The Crosstour hood had self supporting struts rather than the manual prop in the Venza.

The panoramic sunroof offered on the Venza provided a brighter interior than in the Crosstour with a coventional sunroof over the front seats. The Crosstour offers a black interior which some have requested in the Venza, but this and the lower seating position made me a little claustrophobic compared to the Venza. The carpet in the Crosstour was not as plush and seemed cheaper to the touch.

The acceleration in the Crosstour seemed comparable to the V6 Venza that I own based on a seat of the pants first impression. Road and engine noise seemed slightly lower in the Crosstour. I did not get a chance to compare audio or navigation systems. I did like how the Crosstour Navigation was in a covered area and may be easier to view in bright sunlight. The Crosstour navigation screen was not a touch screen which should reduce smudges and need to clean it.

The Crosstour does not offer HID headlamps with halogen lights standard. In my opinion this is a plus for the Venza, as both my wife and I find this enhances visibility at night.

The Crosstour also has only a conventional key with remote controls on the fob. The Smartkey on our Venza is not a feature we wanted initially, but my wife has grown to enjoy the convenience of being able to open the door or rear hatch when her hands are full without searching for the key.

Overall in my opinion the Venza offers a few more modern features and options than the Crosstour, like the 20" wheels, Optitron gauges, power liftgate, Smartkey, large, versatile center storage and HID headlamps. The Crosstour is well executed, but seems more conventional.

MichiganMike · 11-21-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

According to early Edmunds' data, buyers seem to think the Crosstour competes most closely with the Toyota Venza, with ToMoCo's wagon-on-stilts being cross-shopping against the Crosstour more than any other vehicle. Other Honda models are also heavily considered against the Crosstour, according to Edmunds Auto Observer, as are a panoply of other cars. Luxury rides like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series wind up in the comparison column, as do more traditional crossovers like the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV-4.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/e...-know-what-it/

hiljoball · 11-21-2009, 05:00 PM

To me, there is no comparison between the Crosstour and the Venza.

The Crosstour is a slope backed hatch. The Venza has a squared off cabin.

The rear suspension pillars in the Crosstour intrude on the cargo deck.

These two factors reduce significantly rear cargo capacity. Not even close for my needs.

Venza wins hands down on interior space.

John

AXMACD · 11-21-2009, 06:43 PM

The Venza is unique from any other vehicle Toyota makes, the Crosstour is more like an Accord wagon.. it's almost identical to the Accord on the inside. I know it's called the Accord Crosstour, but Toyota doesn't call the Venza, the Camry Venza..

I think the Crosstour is something Honda pulled out of their ass, like the found out about the Venza and felt like they had to compete with it by making something similar with a 4x4 drivetrain. I was/still am a big fan of Honda. I would pick the Odyssey over the Sienna anyday, the 2003-2005 Accord over any Camry but the Venza is a CLEAR winner in the choice over Crosstour or Venza.

Venza has features I want, such as panaramic roof, HID's, TOUCH SCREEN NAVIGATION and it's just a better looking vehicle. The Venza is also much more configurable than the Crosstour and it has a choice of 2 engines!

***nhcycle*** · 11-25-2009, 08:25 AM

IMHO...... it's a hatchback..... which is not an altogether bad thing....I've had several in ears past... positioning it against the Venza would not be a good move by Honda..... diffeent markets comletely.....

agray56 · 11-25-2009, 06:25 PM

I saw a Crosstour in person today, and one word comes to mind for the styling.....YUCK! Looks like an overgrown Accord, but not even that nice. The Accord has a bit of style ( I drive one daily for work) but the Crosstour I would not even have considered when shopping for the Venza based solely on styling. Each to their own I guess!

Rosko97 · 11-26-2009, 09:01 AM

The crosstour's body really doesn't look like it should be sitting on four wheels and an accord powertrain...

MichiganMike · 11-27-2009, 06:49 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...ive27_ST_N.htm

The review in USA Today liked the Honda Crosstour much more than I did and characterized it as "Just Right".

mitigator · 12-03-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiganMike

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...ive27_ST_N.htm

The review in USA Today liked the Honda Crosstour much more than I did and characterized it as "Just Right".

MichiganMike, I saw the Review of the Crosstour on Motorweek last Friday, and as you noted Cargo Space is much less than in the Venza - ie approx 50 cubic ft volume versus the Venzas' 70 cubic ft. In my opinion the Venza is a bit better looking, and that complicated looking centre guage setup on the Crosstour like in the Accord was criticized.

I wonder if the Crosstour's interior quality is as bad as I have experienced though in my Venza. Ie my Front Seat on my V6 AWD Venza is creaking and groaning again everytime I come to and exit a stopsign or traffic light - despite 5 trips back to the Dealer!! I am wondering if this poor interior quality problem can be fixed on my Venza.

MichiganMike · 12-04-2009, 05:05 AM

Quote:

I am wondering if this poor interior quality problem can be fixed on my Venza.

Sorry to hear about the interior quality problems on your Venza. I appreciate the frustration in repeated unsuccessful visits to the dealer to resolve your problems. It may be small comfort to you, but the creaking and groaning in the front seat does not appear to be a common problem. This should be fixable if your dealer can identify the cause.

My daughter had a 2001 Honda Civic in which the front seat would rock noticeably and annoyingly. A technical bulletin came out and the dealer was then able to fix the problem following the directions in the bulletin. You may want to elevate your problem within Toyota's regional or national service organization to see if this expedites a solution.

l3th4L · 12-06-2009, 06:48 AM

WoW! Cant believe that they would steal the ivory on bottom + black on top interior

its funny how toyota makes this nice vehicle and you gotta have your biters which make their vehicles look close to the Venza but at the same time the outcome is one garbage vehicle... Crosstour --->

samej · 12-06-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l3th4L

WoW! Cant believe that they would steal the ivory on bottom + black on top interior

its funny how toyota makes this nice vehicle and you gotta have your biters which make their vehicles look close to the Venza but at the same time the outcome is one garbage vehicle... Crosstour --->

Man, I think Toyota stole the two tone theme it from the Germans (Audi and BMW)

The Crosstours just butt ugly - the cargo space is too small for a garbage truck

But seriously, it's on Accord mechanicals so it's a decent car if you can live with the looks. FRankly the Crosstour, ZDX, X6 etc. all give me flash backs to the AMC cars of the 70s and 80s - the Eagle, etc. Waiting for one of them to put a round butt on a model like the old Pacer...

***nhcycle*** · 12-06-2009, 08:55 AM

AMC Pacer...... talk about a blast from the past

crosstour is definitely an Accord hatchback.....just cuz the mfr puts a CUV label on it is - doesn't make it so...... the market will define it.....

agray56 · 12-06-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhcycle

AMC Pacer...... talk about a blast from the past

crosstour is definitely an Accord hatchback.....just cuz the mfr puts a CUV label on it is - doesn't make it so...... the market will define it.....

Yep, that's what it puts me in mind of....the Pacer!