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. |