The Toyota RAV4 has all the power and space you could want for a family or even an active couple that often hauls sports equipment, luggage and other bulky items.

I test drove a model with a robust V6 engine that easily powers the five passenger compact SUV (which can be expanded to seven passengers with an optional third row) that has a spacious 73 cubic feet of cargo space and still gets a respectable 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway economy rating.

If there’s one downside to this SUV, it’s the blind spots. The SUV does come with a rear-view camera, but be sure to take a test drive on the highway before you commit to this car. The side views when changing lanes are less than optimal. If that doesn’t bother you, though, the RAV4 has plenty of value to offer in three models – the standard, Sport (which I test drove), and Limited.

2009 Toyota RAV4 Exterior

Although many SUVs look a bit like slimmed down minivans, the RAV4 has a muscular, sporty look thanks to a restyled grille and rear bumper and redesigned tail lamps. The RAV4 with the Sport package, which I test drove, has even more including a rear-step bumper with black protective molding. The fog lights and rear-tinted windows add to the sporty look.

What really sets the RAV4 apart, though, is the curved, aerodynamic body. The curves around the side are just subtle enough to give the car a sophisticated enough yet still seem muscular. Consider its ...

muscles more like Brad Pitt’s than Arnold Schwarzenegger in his weight lifting heyday. Plenty strong but not overdone.

Some car reviews have given the RAV4 demerits for the rear door that holds the car’s spare. That didn’t bother me as much as the way the door swings to the right, which makes loading from a curb a challenge. There’s also no way to access the cargo area by just lifting the glass. These aren’t deal killers but those considering the car will want to take note.

2009 Toyota RAV4 Interior

There’s not an inch of wasted space in the RAV4 interior. The 12V power outlets, steering wheels adjustment bar, and even the knob that puts the car into 4WD are all convenient yet well hidden.
As you’d expect, the SUV has full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, and a top-of-the-line six-speaker stereo with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio jack. While some might find the placements of controls intuitive, I didn’t. Plan to spend a bit of time with the owner’s manual the first few times you are in the car.

The car’s seating, bi-level glove box and lighting all seem high quality but not top-of-the-line. But appearances aren’t everything. The RAV4’s dashboard design is handy – keeping everything within reasonable reach – and the seats are plenty comfy for long trips. Plus the steering wheel has tilt telescoping which is handy for the shorter-than-average driver but does take some getting used to for others.

Although the back seat isn’t as comfortable as one might expect, it’s fine for short trips and kids. The plentiful cup holders throughout the SUV and the easy-to-configure 60/40 split for the second row seats are a breeze to use. No tugging, lugging and sweating needed.

2009 Toyota RAV4 Performance

The RAV4 is a fun SUV to drive with none of the worry about sluggish steering or an unbalanced feel during turns. That might seem minor, but when you’ve drive SUVs that feel as if they’ll tip over during lane changes, you truly appreciate the stability control in this SUV.

Although the RAV4 can handle some light off-roading, it’s clearly built for the highways and handles them well. The ride is smooth and comfortable, even when it encounters the occasional nasty pothole.
Another giant plus is the steering radius. Although it’s not the tightest I’ve ever experienced it is plenty capable of easing into those ultra tight spots or through that narrow bank drive in.

Some gripe that road noise in the RAV4 is annoying but I didn’t find that. The ride was quiet; I didn’t hear much road or wind noise during any of the rides.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the RAV4 top scores for protecting the driver and passengers during crashes.

The SUV I drove had a Manufactured Suggested Retail Price of $30,165 – a base of $26,530 with the rest of the cost for extras and a $745 delivery charge. You can buy a base RAV4 for an MSRP of just $21,500. At those prices, the RAV4 is a great buy especially for the urbanite that seeks space, power and reliability.