TOYOTA RAV4
As fast and roomy as any other, if a little less refined.
What's new for the 2006 Toyota RAV4: Redesigned; new model.
What's new for the 2007 Toyota RAV4: Side and side-curtain airbags are now standard.
What's new for the 2008 Toyota RAV4: No changes.
Even as competitors flood the already saturated "cute ute" SUV marketplace, the RAV4 remains the most popular of them all. Much credit goes to its most recent redesign, which abruptly transformed the RAV4 from a cute -- but small and slow -- SUV into the bigger, more powerful, seven-seater of today.
Some miss the fun of the old model, but there's no debate that the new RAV4 can serve more demanding lifestyles. There's Camry-size seating in the back row and a massive 73 cubic feet of maximum cargo room. There's even an optional third row that, while useless to adults, is a rare feature among compact SUVs. The RAV4 is also a little fun to drive -- either with the 166-horsepower 4-cylinder or the super-fast 269-horsepower V6 -- thanks to quick and communicative steering and a willing feel. And of course, there's optional all-wheel-drive if you need it.
Still, it seems like Toyota misfired on a number of details. Its quest to make the RAV4 sporty resulted in a touchy gas pedal and a transmission that too often jerks down into lower gears. The interior has certain controls and materials that feel as cheap as anything in the Yaris, and the RAV4's back seat is mounted unusually close to the floor. Not everyone favors the RAV4's side-opening back door, either: it's heavier to move and can be more of a daily hassle than a traditional upward-opening door.
There's definitely more good than bad here, and the RAV4's optional V6 and third seat (a rarity among compact SUVs) are important options to consider. Just remember that given all the RAV4's great company, its little annoyances can make all the difference.
