Sep 28, 2017, 00:00 AM by Paul Immediato

When Toyota launched its compact SUV, the RAV4, in 1994, the baby-ute was named for its mission as a “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive”. Now, in the sixth year of its 4th generation, the 2017 RAV 4 adds two new trim grades, an upgraded standard safety system Toyota Safety Sense™ P and a true sense of sportiness.

The former “new-concept” SUV may be sporty and fun, but it is all about safety with the new Toyota Safety Sense™ P system that combines the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection , Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. TSS-P’s comprehensive features create in-the-moment safety designed to support a driver’s awareness and decision-making on the road. And it is a standard add-in.

The RAV4 family also gains a new luxurious Platinum grade to its gas-powered variant, while its hybrid-powered model welcomes a sportier SE grade, and a redesigned front bumper cover gives the SE – gas and hybrid – a more rugged look.

Playing off its rep for being packed with amenities, my LE trim came standard with Halogen projector‐beam headlights with auto on-off feature; Halogen Daytime Running Lights; color‐keyed rear spoiler; roof rails; roof-mounted sharkfin antenna; 17‐inch wide vent steel wheels with wheel covers and P225/65R17 tires; color-‐keyed outside door handles; power outside mirrors with folding feature and blind spot mirror; washer‐linked intermittent windshield wiper and intermittent rear window wiper; rear window defogger with timer; privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows; acoustic noise‐reducing front windshield and front and rear skid plate.

Inside, the RAV4 LE comes standard with air conditioning with airfilter; backup camera with projected path and a 4.2‐in. TFT Multi‐Information Display with integrated backup camera display, customizable settings, odometer, outside temperature, clock, climate control settings, fuel economy, trip information, and many safety and performance warning messages. You also get a tilt/telescopic urethane steering wheel with audio, multi‐information display, voice recognition and Bluetooth ® hands‐free telephone controls.

RAV4 has been the “cool” SUV for 23 years. Its sleek and dynamic stance includes a bold front fascia that excites when equipped with the available LED combo of headlights, daytime running lights and Hi-Lo Headlights. Its flowing profile and sporty attitude are enhanced by its raked front windshield, rear rood spoiler and sculpted side panels.

RAV4 keeps remains compact with a 104.7-inch wheelbase and 183.5-inch length. Height is low enough for relative stability at 65.9 inches, while width is 72.6 inches. Curbweight remains at about 3550 pounds and ground clearance comes in at 6.1-inches.

For power, RAV4 utilizes a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed ECT-i automatic transmission. The set-up provides 176hp and 172 lbs.-ft. of torque for a 22mpg/city, 28mpg/highway EPA rating for AWD in my LE trim. My mixed-use tests achieved an average of 25.9mpg.

Fun to drive and cozy behind the wheel, RAV4 is a steady, but not speedy drive. Acceleration is good for passing at speed and for taking on uphill highway grades. In tests, my 2017 RAV4 finished off a zero-to-60mph dashing 8.6 seconds, and polished off the quarter-mile in a slow, but entertaining 16.2-second quarter-mile.

RAV4’s electric power assisted rack and pinion steering was responsive, with some entertaining understeer. In quick auto-cross S-curves, I experienced some body roll, but but on the highway at speed, RAV4 is predictable and confident. MacPherson strut front suspension with stabilizer bar and hydraulic shocks, working with a double wishbone multi-link rear with coil spring, stabilizer bar and hydraulic shocks are attentive and road-softening for the niche. The power-assisted ventilated disc brakes provided sure stopping power.

The RAV4 cabin is sporty and accommodating and filled with infotainment including a 6-speaker Entune™ Audio system with 6.1-inch touchscreen. Comfort items include six-way adjustable driver’s seat. Special attention was directed toward improving cabin quietness with the addition of sound insulation materials in the rear cargo area, floor pan, and side and rear doors to help reduce road noise and create a premium feel.

Front headroom is niche-roomy at 39.8 inches, with 38.9 inches in row two. Legroom is accommodating at 42.6 inches in row one with 37.2 inches for second-seat passengers and there is a wide-body 57.3 inches of shoulder room in front with 55.4 inches for the back row.

The RAV4 Star Safety System™ is a cornucopia of enhanced occupant protection and crash avoidance systems from eight standard airbags to vehicle control systems to energy-absorbing crumple zone construction.

The base RAV4 starts $24,410 for the LE trim in FWD, The XLE starts at $25,500; the XLE Hybrid starts at $29,030; SE trim starts at $30,190; the Limited trim begins at $30,905; the SE Hybrid starts at $32,185; the Limited Hybrid bases at $34,030 and the new Platinum trim starts at $34,030. My test LE added AWD for $1400; Entune® Audio Plus with Navigation App and roof rails (for some reason), added $865. All-weather floor liners added $149; bodyside moldings added $209; fog lights added $355 (why are these an option, I wondered) and running boards added $549. Delivery and processing fees were $995, for a sticker-as-tested of $28,932.

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Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.