The RAV4's 104.7-inch wheelbase delivers more than space for a third row of seats. It also allows almost six inches to be added to second-row legroom, compared to models built before 2006. Headroom in the second row also grew by more than an inch, although front-row occupants lost half an inch.
The Honda CR-V, the RAV4's major competitor, has been redesigned for 2007, but the Toyota still either exceeds it significantly, or trails it by a fraction, in headroom and legroom, both front and rear. The Honda offers more than 2 inches more hip room, both front and rear, than the RAV4. But the CR-V does not offer a third-row seat. Maximum cargo volume (with all seats stowed) is nearly identical: 73.0 cubic feet for the Toyota, 72.9 for the Honda.
The only competitor that comes with a standard third-row seat, the Suzuki XL7, is also all-new for 2007. It provides more headroom than the RAV4, particularly in the third row (by a significant 1.6 inches). In legroom, the XL7 gives up half an inch to the RAV4 up front, but gets that half inch back in the second row, and betters the Toyota by almost a full inch in the third row. But in hip room, it's the XL7 that loses by 1.6 inches up front, gains a scant 0.7 inch in the middle, and then loses to the Toyota by a whopping 5.1 inches in the third row.
Placement of the gauges will be familiar to anyone who's owned a RAV4. The placement and function of the controls populating the center stack is virtually the same as it has always been, which means very good, as is the arrangement of the hand brake and the shift lever. It's all styled differently, however. The dash is sharply split by a horizontal gash running the width of the car. About the only plus we divined in this garish feature is a bi-level glove box, with an upper bin covered by a retracting lid and a lower bin fitted with a traditional, bottom-hinged cover.
Materials are high quality, if not Lexus level. Fit and finish is Toyota grade, which means excellent. All three models share the same motif, with contrasting but complementary colors and brushed metallic trim elements along each side of the stereo and climate control panels, surrounding the shift gate and swooping around the door handles. The standard side-curtain airbags still allow a passenger assist grip, which folds down from the headliner over each door.
Storage areas are plentiful. Beyond the glove box, the doors have fixed plastic map pockets, the backs of the front seatbacks wear net pouches, a total of 10 cup/bottle holders are situated about the cabin and when the third-row seats aren't ordered, a deep cargo area awaits beneath a water-repellant, foldable deck board. Next Page