Pro: 1. Pricing, currently you can get a very good deal at Toyota for 2011 model. 2. Spacious interior. 3. Good Safety Rating. 4. Powerful V6, much quiter than I4 engine. 5. Seating is higher than normal sedan, heavier (safer) than sedan.
Con: 1. althougt V6 is powerful, the handling of Venza is so so, typical Toyota, less fun-to-drive than some other model. 2. Interior finihs is OK, not great, plastic looking and feel. Some joint of interior component is large, lack of refinment. 3. Exterior shape is bulky, lack of refinment. 4.Backup camera too small.
BTW, I just bought Venza 4 weeks ago.
Cars were in consideration: Santa Fe V6 (lost in interior finish and dated dashboard design, good performance, warranty of 5 year bumper to bumper, nice handling), Subaru Forester I4 (hardly find 2011 model, 2012 is more expensive. like the interior finish, handling is nice, boxer engine is low center of gravity, full-time 4WD would be more confident in snow and ice)