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Toyota brought us the Venza last year, now Honda has the Crosstour. At first blush the two seem like rivals in the spirit of Camry and Accord, the popular sedans that form the basis for the new pair. Both further blur lines already crisscrossed by sedans, coupes, sport utilities etc.

But Venza is more of a wagon than a sport utility, kind of the opposite of most crossovers. Crosstour comes across as more of an oddity, a high-riding midsize hatchback rather than a wagon or SUV.

And that iteration of one of the market's best midsize sedans left me a little disappointed. First, the swoopy hatchback design cuts into rear vision, especially with the big spoiler crossing the rear window. And it didn't draw the compliments like the Venza — shades of Pontiak Aztek. Second, although cargo room may be more versatile than the sedan's trunk, the design limits a major gain.

Beyond those complaints, the Crosstour is another shining example of Honda finesse. The powertrain combines a five-speed automatic transmission with a 3.5-liter, 271-horsepower V-6 engine for a smooth, responsive ride. Gas mileage tops out at 27 miles per gallon on the highway with front-drive models. That's a leap over traditional crossovers such as Honda Pilot, but lags Venza, which gets up to 29, but only when outfitted with its 4-cylincer plant.

Crosstour EX starts at $30,450 and includes more than just the basics, including a power moonroof, remote entry, rear wiper, dual climate control, power seats, cruise control, CD changer, MP3 jack, and compass.

Side airbags and curtains, stability and traction control, fog lamps, antilock brakes with assist feature, and tire-pressure monitor make a nice safety package along with perfect fives in government crash tests.

Leather seats and navigation (which includes needed help in the form of a backup camera) are among extras. It costs at least $34,800 to get into an all-wheel Crosstour, but that also includes an upgrade to the EX-L trim payday advance lender.

That long list of features along with Honda's knack for fit and finish provide for an upscale interior. Front buckets are ultra comfy and rear seats are thick and supportive, but do not recline. Legroom is super front and back. As with Venza, there is no third-row seating option.

Despite its size limitations, the cargo bay offers some thoughtful touches. Rear seats easily flip down, not only from flip-switches in the back seat, but also at the touch of a handle in the cargo bay itself. There also are tie downs and three storage bins under the carpeted floor. The floor also can be flipped over with the plastic side up in case you need to haul a bunch of muddy gear.

Both Honda and Toyota have a full range of choices that make sense for family hauling - from the utilitarian compact Fit and Element to SUVs CR-V and Pilot in Honda's case. Both carmakers are skilled at hitting buyer sweetspots amid a growing and evolving field of competitors. Crosstour is likely to appeal to buyers wanting something a little meatier than the Accord sedan, without going for the full-fledged SUV.

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