On the Road With a 2006 Toyota RAV4 Limited
The 2006 RAV4 clearly is intended to keep itself (and its occupants) upright. Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control is standard and for those who go off-road on purpose, Hill Start Assist Control and Downhill Assist Control are available whenever Electronic On-Demand 4-wheel-drive is ordered. (I could have used those hill assists when I was skiing but we humans don't come with available options.) On road, the RAV4 handled surprisingly well through the new roundabout near my home: it may be intended to facilitate traffic but when empty, those quick right/left/right transitions are a real challenge to any vehicle. Or they are when taken quickly.My test driver colleague Colin Hefferon also drove the RAV4 and we both agreed the V-6 makes little sense for 99% of most driving. The DOHC 2.4 liter four is a real gem, with 166 hp and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 and in highway passing is not just adequate, it's all you'll ever need. The sole exceptions would be when pulling a heavy boat and trailer or climbing mountains with six hefty adults on board. That's if you can persuade anyone to jam into the third-row seat. So go with the four and congratulate yourself on the money saved at the pump.
