Toyota Venza test drive since 2009
Comparative crossover test: Ford Edge against Nissan Murano and Toyota Venza
Choose between sedan and SUV? Maybe a crossover? An ordinary sedan, proven and boring, is most often the best choice for every day. A large family is easily placed in it, including pets, a weekly supply of products or your suitcases. It is convenient to sit in it, it is convenient to get out of it, it provides a low landing, which is good on the highway, and, importantly, it is much more economical than large SUV. But sometimes, when the stroller does not fit into the trunk, or you need to take the old kitchen table to the cottage, or the whole family languishes in anticipation of a weekly vacation in a forest tent camp, a bulky and gluttonous SUV suddenly becomes an ideal means of movement, and not an economical, not economical, leading out of itself in itself Such moments of the sedan. Let's take a chance to admit to ourselves: it is on such days that the majority of SUV buyers realize that a huge flagship on wheels is not only preferable, it is necessary even for everyday movement. But is it really so? Is there a compromise solution in this situation, or, perhaps, the middle ground in the form of a crossover? A car that combines the handling, comfort and economy of the sedan with spaciousness (baggage and passengers) SUV?
And it is true, there are such, and we have collected three, the newest and magnificent Ford Edge Sport, Nissan Murano SL and Toyota Venza to find out which of them is the best choice. All of them are built on the basis of cars, with two rows of seats, vigorous V6 with a drive to the front axle, fuel consumption of about 12 liters per 100 km in mixed mode and very roomy, not a couple of your family sedan.
In the 2009 model year, Ford Edge, launched in 2007, looks like its predecessor in the Sport Trim configuration for $ 35,530, which means the presence of body kit (8 parts) in the color of the body, the most noticeable and remarkable, and 22-inch forged polished wheelset discs. The tested copy was also equipped with a chic audio system for $ 385. Large discs, low -profile rubber, the airrosphere made it aggressive, slightly formidable and, with your permission, almost toy, a huge plastic box and a sticked hot wheelbarrow would make it a sales hit in any toy store. Considering that this is 2009 debut, which Ford presented in Los Angeles as Edge Sport for $ 35,915, we gladly undertook to find out whether EDGE could make a more positive impression on us with a new body kit and a sports suspension than the previous Ford Edge.
Nissan Murano, updated just in 2009, arrived for a fresh bright design test, with the VQ of the VQ series popular and, as we managed to find out during our contest, the best SUV 2009, with a solid suspension. The copy we test costs $ 30 010, the equipment is called SL. Plus, he has a double hatch for $ 1,170 and a set of options with a total value of $ 4,500, including, among other things, the rear view camera, the BOSE audio system, xenon headlights, Bluetooth, the automatic opening system of the fifth door and the leather salon, which ultimately increased it The cost is up to $ 35 805.
Toyota in our special account. If you remember, Venza did not participate in our competition the best SUV 2009 (Sport/Utility of the Year). You see, Toyota positions this model as an ordinary car. The scenarios where this car makes his way through the gravel among other SUV raises dust clubs, as if it were Land Cruiser, are extremely undesirable. Why? Imagine her victory: Toyota Venza: a passenger car, or rather, not quite a passenger, receives a prize of the best SUV 2009 according to Motor Trend magazine. Perhaps the whole thing is in us, but we cannot understand how exactly Toyota wants to position his model. To be honest, the concern simply rejected our invitation to the SUV'S contest. Yes, you could also notice that Toyota Venza did not participate and in our ranking the best car 2009 (Car of the Year). But how is it? After all, Toyota calls this model precisely a car! But we believe that Venza is still a crossover, since it can have a four-wheel drive, there is a road clearance of 20.5 cm, which Honda Pilot will envy, it is able to pull a trailer weighing 1.5 tons, as Volkswagen Tiguan can, And Venza is outrageously spacious as Porsche Cayenne 974 liters. Still a passenger car? Then Tundra is a small sedan with an open trunk.
For our party, Toyota sent Venza with V6 for $ 28 520, equipped with a Premium Package 2 option for $ 4,345 (leather interior, xenon headlights, Smart Key system, Automatic opening system, rear-view audio system) and an improved JBL audio system with 13 The speakers for $ 1,090. All this ended in the result by $ 33,955.
Our path ran along the picturesque rural roads curled around the Santa Ynez valley and the ranch, which previously belonged to Kifer Suserland. Just imagine what parties there were, our editor -in -chief Arthur St. Antoine sighs. We begin our acquaintance with three crossovers, quickly mastering the shape and style of Edge. St. Antoine noted that he considers EDGE the most beautiful in this group. Great proportions, clean lines, aggressive posture. We also like Murano's appearance, but rather in terms of novelty than classical aesthetics. There is something frightening and unusual at the same time in Murano's appearance: a predatory chrome-mocked false radiator-deck and resembling the eyes of some insecti headlights, ED LO, our senior editor noted. Interestingly, the low and slightly elongated body of Venza has not been awarded a single comment. Like? I do not like? Some kind of stool.
The interior of Venza was awarded a wide variety of remarks. I liked the controls of the audio system and a very interesting central console, which easily lends itself to numerous configurations and neatly accommodates the iPhone, St. Antoine believes. LO notes that Venza has the most successful interior in the group. In the interior decoration, materials are used an order of magnitude better than in Edge and Murano. Some elements trimmed with wood are a little strange, but in general it is felt that the Toyota design separation is trying not to hit the mud in the dirt. In principle, we also liked the interior of Edge and Murano, although our taste is gloomy and even irritably dark, especially against the backdrop of a simple and light Venza salon. In addition, Toyota has the most comfortable rear seat that does not interfere with landing and landing, as well as the most spacious trunk, no matter what position the backs of the rear seats are located.
For 56 km of our route, most of which the road surface was an uneven asphalt, murano, with its light, responsive steering wheel and a harsh suspension, the absorption of road irregularities, although at the same time did not lose the intelligence of reactions and confidence Coardflastic renunciation. The most sporty of the group, according to St. Antoine. It feels lightness, the steering wheel is well balanced and responsive, stability and clutch are also at the proper level. The CVT variator holds all 265 horses in good shape, not mistaken either at the entrance to a sharp turn, or when overtaking on the highway. Without the liveliness of the character and the acuteness of Murano management, Venza was impressed by the fact that she went faster than everyone in the rise and descent, all thanks to the 3.5-liter 268-horsepower V6, an intuitive 6-speed gearbox and tenacious michelin tires. It accelerates the faster to 96 km/h and overcomes the quoter of 6.5 seconds and 15 seconds at a speed of 150 km/h at the finish, respectively, exceeding not only Edge and Murano, but even the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0t Track. Even her lateral acceleration, like a 0.81G sedan. An exceptionally smooth transmission and an acceptable engine. Press the accelerator pedal, and you will receive excellent and constant acceleration, says Luo. But, according to St. Antoine, the steering wheel is a little dull, 20-inch wheels spoil the impression of, in general, a pleasant ride, and the suspension is too soft when it comes to really high speeds. For example, Edge against this background is more sporty, but heavier and more brutal than Nissan and Toyota.
If you weigh them all (Ford pulled out 1,918 kg, Nissan by 1,825 kg and Toyota for 1,774 kg) everything immediately falls into place. Moreover, the 3.5-liter EDGE engine is no longer noise, and with aggressive acceleration it seems the most overloaded. Pigzonsky discs with tires, ensuring an increase in unwanted non-resorving masses, complicate the situation even more, which dulls the entry into corners and makes the riding unnecessarily stiff, to such a limit that we began to dream of equipping SEL on 18-inch discs. The Ford board should brutally punish the manager who decided to equip the set of the setting with 22-inch discs. He wanted to hit visitors to a tuning show? Asks St. Antoine. Nevertheless, tenacious Pirelli provide Ford optimal stain of contact with the road surface, as a result of which it stops faster than all 37.49 m from 96 km/h and demonstrates the best lateral acceleration of 0.83 G. But this is not enough, and late.
It is impossible not to evaluate the advantages of Toyota: a quick, smooth, spacious, solid, economical car at an affordable price, says St. Antoine. Lo agrees with him: despite the fact that I like the appearance of Edge and handling Murano, Toyota cannot be defeated by configuration, dynamics and cost. Venza is not only the most inexpensive car in our test, and not due to the scarcity of the configuration, but also the most economical (12.84 liters per 100 km in mixed mode according to ERA estimates, 14.2 liters according to our observations), fast and roomy. It doesn’t matter what it is called a car or a Venza crossover wins in our test.
1st place: Toyota Venza
The most car -like crossover. Venza does not need to be sacrificed either by sports or practicality.
2nd place: Nissan Murano SL
Browth and bright, but does not reach the speed and quality of the winner.
3rd place: Ford Edge Sport
Giant wheels and great weight spoil a good offer.
Some technical characteristics of compared machines
Toyota Venza Nissan Murano Ford Edge
Engine 3 456 cubic meters. cm, V6 3 498 cubic meters. cm, v6 3 496 cubic meters. cm, v6
Power 268 hp at 6,200 rpm 265 hp At 6,000 rpm 265 hp at 6 250 rpm
Torque 333 Nm at 4,700 rpm 336 nm at 4,400 rpm 339 nm at 4,500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic transmission variator 6-speed automatic transmission
Acceleration from 0 to 96 km/h 6.5 s 7.2 s 7.3 s
402 meters 15.0 s at 150 km/h 15.6 s at 146 km/h 15.8 s at 142 km/h/h
Source: Motor Trend
