2008 Toyota RAV4: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The 2008 Toyota RAV4 is unchanged this year. This compact crossover comes in Base, Sport, and Limited trims. Each is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with a locking center differential. RAV4 seats five, but an optional 3rd-row bench increases seating capacity to seven. Two engines are offered: a 166-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 269-hp 3.5-liter V6. Automatic transmission is standard. Maximum towing capacity is 3500 lb. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Hill ascent/descent control is standard on seven-seat 4-cylinder models and on all V6 RAV4s. All have a side-hinged cargo door. Sport models have firmer suspension tuning. Options exclusive to the Limited include leather upholstery, heated front seats, and DVD entertainment.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Among utility vehicles, Compact SUVs are typically the least costly and offer the best fuel economy. Most utilize a car-type chassis and are not designed for heavy-duty, off-road use. Nearly all are five-passenger vehicles; some offer seating for seven.

Our Best Buys are the Honda CR-V and Suzuki Grand Vitara. Our Recommended picks are the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Saturn Vue, and Toyota RAV4.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Jeep Liberty, Mazda Tribute, Nissan Rogue, and Saturn Vue.