22/09/08

• Price21,295
• We like...Easy to drive
• We don't...Awkward rear door

Dependable, driver-friendly and packed with safety aids, this off-roader's a breeze to own. No wonder it's a top seller

It’s safe. This Toyota RAV4 off-roader packs nine airbags as standard, including one for the driver’s knees. If you’ve decided on a 4x4 for an extra sense of protection, this RAV’s for you.

This Toyota’s the one which kick-started our liking for compact, people-friendly all-wheel drivers: the first one pitched up here in 1995. Since then it has re-invented itself twice, so what you see now is the third generation.

Stepping inside for the first time, you can see that Toyota has kept true to the RAV’s origins but has refined it all the while. Immediately you notice how car-like it is to drive. You sit a pinch lower than in most other 4x4s, while the view out is good, thanks to slim pillars and a sloping bonnet. The controls are light and easy, too. The diesel engine in ours is a real smoothie, punchy and relatively quiet with little clatter. It sits well in the RAV, punting it along quickly. And its low-down shove makes this Toyota a likely tow car, should you need.

It handles neatly and although it’s over 2 metres wide it’s manageable along narrow city streets because of its good view out. Reversing, meanwhile, is easy because that rear end is near vertical and the view out is clear.

The cabin’s smart and sturdy, well equipped in the XT-R variant shown here. Treats such as the clear and easy-to-fathom sat nav are standard. And Toyota’s safety-first approach shows in the cabin layout: logical controls and big, clearly-labelled buttons for the stereo and other gadgets means minimum eyes-off-the-road time.

It’s roomy in there, too, as much for those in back as up front, while the interior’s height adds to its airy feel. Boot space is reasonable and easy to extend because dropping a back seat happens by tugging a lever. But the rear door is side-hinged, making it heavy to use and dicey if you’re battling to open it against a strong wind.

The RAV4 rides firmly and gets unsettled if you go ploughing at speed over potholes. But otherwise, it’s fine. And while a Rav wouldn’t be top of your list if you wanted a vehicle in which to charge through a forest, it should be capable enough, offering four-wheel-drive plus a diff lock to help it plug through mud. When rolling on road, it is capable of up to 42mpg overall, which is pretty good.

So it’s good, though the £21,295 asked makes it no bargain. Its key rivals the Nissan X-trail and Honda’s CR-V are a little cheaper, although the RAV’s standard sat-nav just makes up the difference.

Second-hand, RAVs of all ages are in demand and prices start at a little over £1000. But it’s the nearly-new ones that change hands eagerly and for stiff prices. Just shows the enduring popularity of a car so easy to like – and easy to live with – as this one.

• Engines2.2 D-4D
• Power134bhp
• 0-60 mph10.5sec
• Economy42.8
• CO2g/km173
• Insurance groups12E
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags9
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: