The 2011 Toyota RAV4 Sport is a small, crossover SUV.  Actually, the RAV4 was THE original small, crossover SUV when it was introduced to the market in 1996.  A lot has changed since then.  Crossovers have become ubiquitous and the RAV4 has gotten a bit bigger.  But is it still good enough to occupy an elite seat in the marketplace?

The RAV4 Sport comes with an 2.5 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that gets 179 horsepower.  Forget about it and go with the upgrade to the 3.5 liter V6 that gets 269 horsepower.  The RAV4 Sport comes with front wheel drive, 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels, and a 5-speed automatic transmission.  With the V6, it gets 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.  You can upgrade to 4-wheel drive if you want, but it isn’t nearly as important as getting the V6 engine.

The RAV4 Sport comes with a tilt-telescope steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, keyless entry, cruise control, full power accessories, standard air conditioning, and a limited-slip differential.  The sound system has 6 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack.

The RAV4 Sport has stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and active front headrests to reduce whiplash.  It got 5 stars in every government impact test except for getting 4 stars in passenger front impact protection, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it their highest ratings, “good,” in all tests.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

There are a lot of things to like about the RAV4 Sport.  The interior has plenty of space for everyone.  It seats 5, and you can even get an optional third row seat to seat 7 if you want.  All of the seats are comfortable and have plenty of headroom and legroom.

There is plenty of cargo space, too, and if you don’t need the third row upgrade, you can fold the second row seat flat for even more.  So, basically, there is a lot of space and the RAV4′s versatility makes it easy to find even more when you need it.

The drive is great, as long as you get the V6.  The RAV4 is another of “those” vehicles that is able to give responsive and sporty handling while still giving passengers a comfortable ride.  The V6 accelerates very well without sacrificing mileage.

The negatives are few.  Some industry critics thing the interior looks too cheap, and some say the driver space is a little tight.  Probably the most legitimate concern is that the 4-cylinder engine needs to be peppier.  But customer reviews are all overwhelmingly positive.  I can’t find a customer review that has anything bad to say about the RAV4 Sport as long as it has the V6 engine in it.

In this case, I’m going to have to go with the people who bought the RAV4 over industry insiders.

The Verdict: the RAV4 is a great crossover and heartily recommended.

Toyota Camry LE 4cyl  2011 (example) $0 down payment $0 security deposit $0 due at signing and $0 first months payment! This offer runs for a limited time only and a similar offer applies to the 2011 2WD Passenger Sienna LE. Please contact Toyota Central for specific details.

The top selling Corolla looks attractive and is available with $0 down options, 3.9% APR for 60 months, 1.9% APR for 60 months, $500 factory cash back, $750 cash back and the free maintenance plans.

The ever popular Toyota RAV4 is being advertised with a free maintenance plan and the very attractive “zero” down plans outlined above as well as 2.9% APR for 60 months. Specific waranty details outlined below.

Covers factory scheduled service. Plan is 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever occurs first. The new Toyota vehicle can not be part of a rental or commercial fleet or a livery or taxi vehicle. See plan for complete coverage details. See participating Toyota dealer for details. Offer ends 11/1/10.

The popular Toyota Yaris is also worth taking a look at with 0% APR for 60 months (2010 model) / $500 factory cash back /  For a limited period of time you can get a free maintenance plan on the Yaris – “complimentry 2 year or 25000 mile Premium Toyota Auto Care”

• Toyota Central
• 1600 S. Figueroa Street Los Angeles,
• CA 90015
• Sales – 800 574 0413

*Please note all of these details are subject to change without notice and you should contact the dealer for specifics on each car and the purchase options.