As Toyota’s entry into the crossover SUV market, the 2009 Toyota RAV4 is spacious, comfortable, and easy to drive. Overall, it has a great deal of power from an optional V6, a low cargo floor, solid built Toyota quality, and high crash test scores.

As far as the engine goes, the optional V6 engine surprisingly has the same fuel economy as many 4 cylinder engines, but with much more power. The 4 cylinder front wheel drive RAV4 gets 22 mpg in the city, and 28 on the highway. The V6 gets 19 mpg in the city, and 27 on the highway – almost the same fuel efficiency as its 4 cylinder competitors.

With the RAV4, you can choose from front wheel or 4 wheel drive. But unlike many of its competitors, the RAV4 has a true 4 wheel drive lock feature that fixes the front to rear wheel power ratio at 50:50. This is useful for light off road driving, as well as driving in snowy conditions.

The handling on the RAV 4 isn’t that of a sports car, but then again, it isn’t meant to be. For an SUV, the handling is tight and responsive and the ride is smooth – even when the road is a little rough.

In addition, the RAV4 has a third row option, but the space is minimal and better suited to smaller children than adults. A flip of a lever lets down the back seat, making it easy to using the car’s carrying space. With the seat down, you have 73 cubic feet of cargo space. Coupled with a low floor for this class of vehicle, loading the vehicle is pretty convenient. The side hinged rear gate can be awkward for loading from a raised curb, but if loading is a crucial concern, a truck is probably a better choice than an SUV anyways.

The biggest criticism of this SUV is that Toyota could have spent more money on the interior. The driver’s seat may be a little small for taller drivers, and the interior lacks some of the finishing touches found in other models.

Standard features include 16 inch steel wheels, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and a CD/MP3 player with an audio jack. The sport model boasts 18 inch alloy wheels, a rear tinted window, sport-tuned suspension (tighter and better handling), fog lights, heated side mirrors and some additional exterior detailing. Alternatively, you can step up to the limited trim package, where 17 inch wheels provide a smoother ride while you enjoy automatic dual zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an in-dash 6 CD changer with satellite radio.

In crash tests, the RAV4 earned 5 out of 5 stars in front impact, 4 out of 5 in front passenger, and 5 out of 5 in side impact passenger protection, making it a great choice for families with children.

All told, the Toyota RAV4 is a surprisingly fuel efficient crossover SUV that handles well, and will do a good job with all the tasks you buy an SUV to do.