Consumer Reports rates cars considering all aspects of the consumer. From fuel economy and safety to road noise and accessibility, Consumer Reports Judge our cars from every angle. This is not to say that CR is the last word by any means. It’s a good place to start, though, which is why the 2023 Toyota Venza and 2023 Subaru Outback are so close to the rankings, meaning it can be hard to choose between these two SUVs. Don’t worry, friends; that’s why we’re here. Here are the top three reasons to choose the 2023 Subaru Outback over the 2023 Toyota Venza.
Consumer Reports rated the 2023 Subaru Outback and 2023 Toyota Venza the same
Although both of these popular crossover SUVs scored very well and about the same overall, there’s still a better choice between them. While the overall score turned out to be the same, some minor scores differed wildly.
The Toyota Venza is a perfectly safe SUV, but the 2023 Subaru Outback earned the highest possible safety score. The IIHS gave the Outback its highest rating of “Top Safety Pick +”. The NHTSA also gave it a glowing series of crash ratings with five stars everywhere except its four-star rollover rating. The Venza earned a maximum-safety selection and a handful of four-star crash tests from the same agencies.
Outback comes with a suite of standard safety features in a proprietary system called EyeSight. This safety suite has a long list of features, including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and reverse automatic braking are also available, making the 2023 Outback one of the safest cars on the road, not only for surviving a crash, but for driving as well. help avoid a possible collision.
How much does the 2023 Subaru Outback cost?
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The 2023 Subaru Outback starts at $28,395 and goes up to $42,295. Meanwhile, the 2023 Toyota Venza starts at $33,595 but tops out at $41,740.
These days, car prices matter more than ever. Although it is starting to improve, the car market is still suffering from a shortage that is driving the prices of new and used cars to ridiculous levels. The result is that customers are excited about only pay sticker prices if you are lucky. In this age of stupid overcharges, every penny counts.
Is the Subaru Outback cooler than the Toyota Venza?
This is clearly not a provable or objective factor, but it still counts. As I mentioned, car prices are insane. If you’re going through the pain and heartache of buying a new car right now, why not buy something you love? The 2023 Toyota Venza is a great SUV but it’s not very good.
I’m not exactly arguing that the ghost of James Dean would haunt a Subaru, but the 2023 Subaru Outback is way cooler than the Venza. The AWD system with Hill Descent Control and X-Mode, a specialized traction setup available on Wilderness models, is great.
The 2023 Toyota Venza Is Still a Great SUV
Despite our opinion that the 2023 Subaru Outback is the best SUV overall, the Venza is a very solid choice. In fact, if fuel economy is your top priority, the Venza dominates the Outback, getting 37 mpg to the Outback’s 27.
Whether you choose the cooler, safer, more economical Subaru Outback or the more efficient Toyota Venza, you’re sure to get a great SUV.