Test Vehicles: 2006 Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD; one with 4-cyl. engine and one with V6 engine
Prices of Test Vehicles: $26,319 (4-cyl. including $605 destination fee); $28,094 (V6 including $605 destination fee)
Engine Size and Type: 2.4-liter four-cylinder with variable valve timing; 3.5-liter V6 with variable valve timing
Engine Horsepower: 166 at 6,000 rpm (2.4L); 269 at 6,200 rpm (3.5L)
Engine Torque: 165 lb.-ft at 4,000 rpm (2.4L); 246 lb.-ft. at 4,700 rpm (3.5L)
Transmission: Four-speed automatic (2.4L); Five-speed automatic (3.5L)
Curb weight, lbs.: 3,514 (2.4L Sport 4WD); 3,677 (3.5L Sport 4WD)
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 23/28 mpg (2.4L 4WD); 21/28 (3.5L 4WD)
Observed Fuel Economy: 24.9 mpg (2.4L 4WD); 18.5 mpg (3.5L 4WD)
Length: 181.1 inches
Width: 73 inches (Sport model with fender flares)
Wheelbase: 104.7 inches
Height: 66.3 inches (two-row model with roof rails and cross bars)
Leg room (front/rear): 41.8/38.3 inches
Head room (front/rear): 39.5/39.7 inches (with power sunroof)
Max. Seating Capacity: Five (Sport – seven can ride in Base or Limited with optional third-row seat)
Max. Cargo Volume: 73 cubic feet
Max. Payload: 1,021 lbs. (2.4L Sport 4WD); 1,043 lbs. (3.5L Sport 4WD)
Max. Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs. (2.4L); 3,500 lbs. (3.5L with tow package)
Min. Ground Clearance: 7.5 inches
Competitors: Acura RDX, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Kia Sorento, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-7, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mitsubishi Endeavor, Nissan Murano, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn Vue, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Suzuki XL-7 Photos by Ron Perry, Thom Blackett, Christian Wardlaw
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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