What's New About the 2009 Toyota RAV4:Toyota’s smallest SUV has been restyled for the 2009 model year. This is Toyota’s most popular and highest volume vehicle in the SUV segment.
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Must Have Goodies:While the RAV4 can now be outfitted with such popular high-end options as power leather seats, a sunroof, a navigational system, a rear back-up camera, XM Satellite radio and Bluetooth, our sparsely equipped vehicle didn’t include any of those features. However, our RAV4 did come equipped with a gutsy 6-cylinder, which was capable of producing 269 horses and a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. In addition to the typical features found on most vehicles like a CD player, power windows, power door locks and cruise control, our RAV4 included an optional third-row seat, allowing the ability to carry small tikes in the back seat.
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What Rocked:For a compact SUV, the manually adjusted cloth front and second-row seats were extremely roomy and comfortable. As opposed to the typical SUV truck-like ride, the RAV4 had a smooth car-like ride with the 17-inch wheel package. In fact, the second-row seats fold flat and slides forward, allowing easier access to the optional third-row seat.Added to that, there’s a lot of storage and utility space, too, when the third-row seat aren’t occupied. And, with the rear full size tire being located on the outside rear door, it doesn’t impede cargo room. Furthermore, the outside location allows easy access to the tire in case of a flat.
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What We Hated:When driving the compact SUV, the bright Georgia sunlight made it extremely difficult to read the plastic gauges, which includes a speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge and several other warning and maintenance indicators. However, once the sun subsided we had no problems reading the gauges.
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Moreover, while the 3.5-liter 6-cyliner engine provides additional horsepower and juice, for a vehicle this size, the standard all-new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is adequate and more of a fuel saver. And the optional third-row seats aren’t practical for this tiny SUV. In fact, when the third-row seats are in use, it reduces the ability to carry cargo.
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Any Juice:Yes, surprisingly, this compact SUV does have some juice, when you order the 3.5-liter 6-cyliner engine, which puts out 269 horses.
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Verdict:It’s amazing to find a reliable and super functional compact SUV equipped with three rows of seats and a 6-cyliner engine for approximately $25,000 like our test vehicle. Toyota’s most popular SUV is a suitable candidate for consumers on a budget. You can opt for the base model, with a more fuel-efficient 2.5-liter4-cylinder, without the third-row seats, for $21,500 or a load Limited, with every option available, for $31, 845. Conversely, pricing on the fully equipped RAV4 Limited goes head-to-head with the brands Venza and Highlander, which are both larger.
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Other Competitors: (2010) Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, Saturn Astra, VW Tiguen
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