by James Hamel

Created on: February 16, 2010

The new trend among hot-selling mini-crossovers (or bite-size crossovers, if you will) is for auto manufacturers to offer these often times very heavy vehicles with both 4 and 6 cylinder engines. Even if the 4-cylinder only gets a gallon or two better on the EPA fuel economy cycle, many times a buyer will choose it just because they associate 4 cylinders with efficiency.

But then there are some highly efficient small crossovers with four cylinders that probably don’t need an optional six (the Honda CR-V springs to mind) but to be fair everyone knows what a strong contender the CR-V is so it hasn’t been included in this test.

The 2010 Toyota RAV4, 2010 Chevy Equinox and 2011 Kia Sorento are easily the three best small crossover/SUVs that offer alternatives to the standard Honda CR-V route. All three of these models also just so happen to offer the optional 6 cylinder engines that the Honda lacks. Who wants to take bets that the next generation CR-V has an optional six-cylinder? Or perhaps they will just go Honda rogue and start offering a turbo-charged 4 like in the Acura RDX. Now that would be cool.  

2010 Toyota RAV4

Not only did the RAV4 invent the “cute-ute” genre but it also was the first crossover/SUV this size to offer optional V6 power. Despite being the oldest design here the 2010 RAV4 also still manages to look surprisingly fresh. It has always been and remains one of Toyota’s most pleasing stylistic endeavors inside and out.

The basic RAV4 has a perfectly adequate 179 horsepower 2.5 liter 4 cylinder that can do 28 miles per gallon highway. The optional 3.5 liter V6 with 269 horses turns the little RAV4 into an adorable mini-hot road thanks in part to the nimble nature of its handling and steering. The 2010 Toyota RAV4 really is one of the most enjoyable to drive small utility vehicles on the market today.

A fully loaded V6 AWD version with a third row of seats, premium audio and leather can easily top the $30,000 mark but with things the way they are at Toyota nowadays, dealers may be more willing to negotiate than ever before. And when it comes to buying a RAV4 it remains one of the smartest buys for people who need a sensibly sized vehicle with lots of utility.

(Note: At the time of this writing this model is not for sale due to a gas pedal defect that Toyota is rectifying. This recall has no impact whatsoever on the abilities or strengths of the RAV4 as an overall product so it in no way affected my judgement.)

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>