Getting in and out of the Toyota RAV4 is easy thanks to the low floor. Once in, you'll find a roomy cabin.
Legroom is ample, and the driver's footrest allows even more stretch. The front bucket seats fit nicely, and the gray leather with dimpled black trim in our test vehicle was classy. The seats are narrow at the hips, but we didn't feel squeezed. The seating position feels confidently high and offers excellent visibility forward, although the spare tire intrudes into the view out the rear. The tidy three-spoke leather-wrapped energy-absorbing urethane steering wheel tilted perfectly into place for drivers 4'-10" and 5'-10".
Instruments are easy to read and the instrument panel is handsome, trimmed as ours was in titanium. By day, the gauges are a sort of metallic off-white, and by night they glow sort of orange. Admittedly, these aren't quite as legible as boring old white-on-black gauges. Directly ahead are three circles: speedo on left, temp/fuel/warning lights and gear indicator on the right, and nicely balanced between and above them in a smaller circle is the neat-looking tach.
Climate controls are mercifully simple. You got on, you got off, you got fan speed, you got blue for cold, red for hot; what else do you need? There's a stubby stalk for the cruise control on the steering wheel, under the wiper stalk on the left side of the steering column. There are two big cup holders forward of the natty leather-wrapped E-brake lever between the seats, an accessory power outlet, and a small space near the console that's intended for change but big enough for cell phones. In the rear as in the front are two cup holders and one power outlet.
Storage compartments are provided on both sides of the cargo bay as well as under its floor. There's a net pocket on the rear door, pockets in all four doors, and a sunglasses holder under the steering wheel. Visors are fitted with extensions and illuminated vanity mirrors.
With the 50/50 split bench rear seats removed, there's 68.3 cubic feet of cargo volume available. The low load floor means it's easy to load groceries or gear without excessive effort or back strain. We found the cargo cover constantly in the way. But it features a nice two-piece pullout design that makes it easy to remove.
Toyota RAV4 is not the quickest vehicle on the planet, but its engine is a winner. Made of aluminum, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is modern and lightweight. It's powerful and efficient, delivering an EPA-estimated 25/31 mpg City/Highway.
RAV4 feels responsive and pleasant around town. The engine makes 148 horsepower and 142 foot-pounds of torque. It revs relatively high, but offers good torque at low rpm. Acceleration in the 4WD model with automatic transmission is lively and feels almost effortless, as if this 2976-pound vehicle were a featherweight. It could use more power at higher elevations, however, as we found while driving one near Yellowstone National Park.
The water-cooled, electronically controlled, four-speed automatic transmission fully complements the smoothness of the engine. Every shift felt seamless.
Around-town handling and parking lot maneuvering is wonderfully nimble. The RAV feels even lighter than its 2976 pounds. On the highway, the power rack-and-pinion steering is precise, with no dodginess. In gusty winds, however, the it wanders quite a bit.
The chassis and suspension take bumps with equanimity, and offer a ride as good or better than many larger SUVs. Maybe even more impressively, there's no detectable pitching or tipping, which is no mean feat for any SUV. There's little that's truck-like about the suspension. The independent front end uses MacPherson struts with L-shaped lower control arms, while the rear suspension is a double wishbone layout with coil springs and nitrogen-filled shock absorbers.
The brakes are plenty big enough for the RAV4's weight, with 10.7-inch front ventilated discs and 9.0-inch rear drums. With a vehicle this good, it would be a shame not to include the optional anti-lock brakes, a good value ($300), especially since the ABS comes with EBD. Electronic brake force distribution adjusts the braking force on the rear wheels according to how the vehicle is loaded, and also modulates the rear brakes as the vehicle's weight shifts forward while stopping. EBD can help reduce stopping distances and improve stability, while ABS helps the driver maintain control in an emergency stopping situation.
Toyota RAV4 looks aggressively cool. When popular options are added, it isn't the cheapest small utility. But it's a pleasant companion and comes with Toyota's legendary levels of quality, durability and reliability.
