Toyota’s RAV4, a favorite since its inception around 1994 has changed a lot on the surface, but underneath, it still harbors the same aspirations.

When it launched 28 years ago, it was bridging the gap between traditional 4x4s like the Land Cruiser and ‘normal’ road cars like the Camry, using a monocoque bodyshell like a sedan with the raised height, suspension, and all-wheel-drive of an off-road car.

Based on the Corolla, but with a Celica GT-Four 4x4 system, an engine from a Camry, the RAV4 sounded good on paper and also worked in practice. Hence, it became a success.

There was, and still is, a market for a small and capable soft-roader with refinement on the road; but now the RAV4 is bigger, more advanced, and more expensive.

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The Toyota RAV4: A Compact SUV Which Looks And Feels Like A Bigger Car

Toyota RAV4
Via: Toyota

Starting at $26,500, the RAV4 is aimed at the crossover SUV market where the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan, Ford Bronco, and more reside – it’s a crowded field, but the RAV4 has heritage and Toyota’s reputation for reliability and amazing technology on its side.

Starting with a 2.5-liter motor that makes around 200 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, the entry model doesn’t even have four-wheel-drive, making this a pretty basic car with little to offer for tackling trails.

But as we know, most buyers in this segment will be staying mostly on the asphalt. Hence, style, equipment, and comfort are as important here as anything else.

In the basic trim, for that low price, you get the efficient engine, basic selectable drive modes, a massive raft of safety tech, 7” infotainment system, keyless entry, basic air conditioning, cloth seats, manual seat adjustment, and an electronic parking brake.

Hence, the basic trim features little luxury and extras, but it gets more luxurious in the higher trims, and this expectedly raises the price.

RELATED: A Closer Look At The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited

Toyota’s RAV4 Has You Covered For Anything You Can Throw In Its Way

Toyota RAV4
Via: Toyota

The hybrid powertrain is offered from the $29,000 price range, enabling you to make the most of Toyota’s technological expertise with two electric motors (one for each axle), and the gasoline engine, which works on the front wheels only.

This 2.5-liter hybrid system supplies on-demand all-wheel-drive with 219 hp, enough to provide adequate power from a standstill and over that incline into the shopping mall – officially, the hybrid model has a combine rating of 40 MPG against 29 MPG for the non-hybrid gasoline-powered variant.

In order to have the four-wheel-drive, quiet cruises around town, plus a higher overall MPG figure, it’s probably worth the extra $2,500 upfront when purchasing the car.

The RAV4’s principal rival, the Honda CR-V, starts at $31,000, with a 212 hp engine and all-wheel-drive, but both the RAV4 and CR-V hybrids have only a CVT (continuously-variable transmission) available, no 8-speed automatics here.

If you fancy something different, the Ford Bronco starts at $29,000 (the same price as the RAV4 hybrid), and while it has only two doors in the entry-level version, the Bronco however comes with a 7-speed manual transmission, 2.3-liter Ecoboost turbocharged engine that makes 275-hp and 315 lb-ft of torque, plus an all-wheel-drive system.

That said, the 2022 RAV4 is a great vehicle for its manufacturer's design purposes. It’s cheap, especially in the basic trim, it offers all of Toyota’s hybrid know-how, it is capable of basic-level off-roading (dirt tracks and fields), and above all, it will transport you and your family in comfort and safety day after day.