Review: 2015 Toyota RAV4 proves popular doesn’t always mean better

Full Car Details More Reviews Subaru can lay claim to building the original crossover SUV*, but Toyota had a big hand in popularizing the concept when the first RAV4 debuted for the 1996 model year. Wearing an acronym for Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-Wheel Drive, the RAV4 was small, affordable, practical, and as it turned out, damn near bulletproof. Plus, its polarizing looks likely helped more than hurt. That first RAV4 stood out in a market that was still brand new. FOLLOW DAILY NEWS AUTOS ON FACEBOOK. ‘LIKE’ US HERE. Toyota has redesigned the RAV4 three times in the past two decades, with the latest edition debuting for the 2013 model year. It is a hugely popular small crossover SUV, thanks to a reputation for dependability, a roomy and practical interior, impressive fuel economy ratings, and affordable prices. Having now spent a week using one to shuttle my own family around the ‘burbs of Los Angeles, the question is whether the RAV4 deserves so much adoration? Painted silver and equipped with a black cloth interior, my RAV4 XLE was about as average as it gets. At least it had the optional all-wheel-drive system, lending accuracy to its nameplate. At $27,625,… Read full this story

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