Growing up, I was told that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, I shouldn’t say anything at all. Luckily, I’ve never abided by that rule because if I did, this would’ve been a blank review. The 2009 Toyota RAV4 is nothing to rave about.
It’s not all bad, but I’m having a hard time understanding why I see so many RAV4s cruising around town. People seem to really like this sporty SUV – heck, even other automotive journalists really like this car – and I just don’t get it. My new theory is that everyone is suffering from a bad case of groupthink; I’m here to inoculate against that disease.
For starters, the RAV4 and I got off on the wrong foot. It took me a good 30 minutes to install my son’s child-safety seat, which is unacceptable. Although the Latch connectors were fine, Toyota has put the top tether anchor on the back of the second-row seats; it’s way down where the seat folds, making it almost impossible to reach.
It’s not all sour grapes with the RAV4, though. The powerful 269-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine with all-wheel drive made for a powerful driving experience that was able to handle a variety of weather and road conditions with ease. The RAV4 also comes in front-wheel drive and a four-cylinder engine is available. Its small size makes it easy to maneuver in parking lots and on the highway.
Making that V-6 even more attractive is its 19/26 mpg city/highway with all-wheel drive. A powerful engine and decent fuel efficiency is a swell but rare combo, so I have to hand it to the RAV4 here.
Exterior
The RAV4’s exterior is quite attractive. It’s not too big, has nice lines and a perkiness that I liked. With the exception of the rear swing gate, it looks like a smaller version of the Toyota Highlander. You’ll like what you see, particularly compared to older RAV4s, which were hideous.
The RAV4 comes with 16-, 17- or 18-inch wheels. The black-colored, power side mirrors and black grille complement each other nicely. The bumpers, door handles and spoiler all match the body color, making for a smooth, uniform look. Standard halogen headlights illuminate everything nicely.
However, I wasn’t thrilled by the swing gate. It has a bulbous spare tire mounted to it and opens to the side. The theory goes that it’s easier to open from the side. I say, it’s only easy if you permanently stay on the left side of your car and don’t need to move around the door at all. Furthermore, I wouldn’t say it’s exactly “easy” to open a door that has a big, heavy tire mounted to it while holding a baby and a bag of kid gear. When the rear door was open, it often blocked me in or out, and I certainly couldn’t load and unload things with my garage door down, which is a bummer when it’s snowing or raining. Give me a liftgate with no tire any day over this thing.
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): None/Some
Interior
At 36.4 cubic feet, the cargo space in the rear is good – dare I say great; it’s the largest in its class and can easily swallow a serious grocery store run. Moreover, you can fold the second row flat and bump your cargo space up to whopping 73 cubic feet.
There’s a storage cubby between the front seats with upper and lower trays that is ample enough for snacks, sunglasses or anything else you need to stash. A convenient cell phone pocket between the seats might be my favorite feature about this car.
While my test car wasn’t equipped with the option, the RAV4 does have an optional third row ($700), which is an interesting proposal. Barring that option, the vehicle seats five, though don’t expect to sit between your children’s car seats in the second row as space is tight back there. The second row seems unnecessarily close to the front seats, close enough that my son had a heyday kicking the driver’s chair every time we got in the car. This lack of legroom meant that my daughter’s rear-facing infant-safety seat was wedged into the backseat, and the front passenger’s knees were slammed into the glove box.
Although the interior design and trim is a little lackluster, everything is laid out in an easy-to-use fashion and served its purpose. The RAV4 comes with automatic dual-zone air conditioning, remote keyless entry, illuminated entry system, MP3 jack, six-speaker stereo system and a handy, push-button-access dual glove box.
My test vehicle came equipped with the Premium Package that includes leather-trimmed seats as well as eight-way adjustable, heated front seats. It also had the touch-screen navigation system and the Towing Prep Package.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
Safety
One area where the RAV4 gets it right is safety. The 2009 RAV4 was named a 2009 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. To earn this award, a car must receive a rating of Good, the highest score, in frontal, side-impact and rear crash tests. It also must have stability control; it’s standard on the RAV4.
The RAV4 also has six airbags, including side-impact and side curtain airbags for both rows, antilock brakes and traction control, which I tested during an early snow in lovely Denver and all systems performed beautifully.
An optional backup camera is available for $475; my test car wasn’t equipped with this.
FAMILY LIFESTAGE
In Diapers: It took me 30 minutes to install a child-safety seat. Enough said.
In School: Once the kids are out of car seats, there’s plenty of room for kids and their gear.
Teens: It’s 2009 Top Safety Pick status makes this a safe car for teen drivers.
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