The RAV4 of the late nineties was one of the earliest of the new generation of compact SUVs, its cutesy looks and frugal powertrain striking a popular chord with sorority girls and single moms everywhere, and within months challenging the VW Cabriolet for its "chick-car" tiara.

Now before you write us hate mail, know that we here at RTM value a vehicle's merit in part for its ability to appeal to both men and women. As if to acknowledge the RAV4's Y-chromosome deficit, Toyota introduced a reworked RAV4 last year in a package that was edgier, bulkier, and well, more butch.

So although Arnold Schwarzenegger probably won't be trading in his Hummer for one of these anytime soon, it does finally appeal at least somewhat to the men in your life, too. Cool metal textures and exposed chrome bolts inside, aggressive headlights and chunky surface development outside. It boasts removable rear seats and a very low cargo area liftover. It's a sharp design overall that says, "I'm an SUV," not "Ohmigod! How cute do we look in this car?"

And while its passenger car roots (it's built on a Corolla platform) may relegate it to the back of the pack once the road gets rocky, the on-road benefits of such architecture are clear and present in the form of a smooth, comfortable ride. Even though it doesn't offer a V-6, even as an option, the four-cylinder is a gem, sipping fuel while delivering spunky response. It has a reasonably smooth ride, as well as advanced brakes with electronic brake force distribution, a feature quite rare at this price point.