Consider it the sharp little SUV that comes with or without steroids. In two-wheel drive guise with a five-speed automatic transmission, the RAV4 can be packed with a 3.5-liter V6 cranking out 269 horses at 6,200 rpm and 246 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm, all while returning 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. Opt for four-wheel traction and see an EPA-estimated return of 21 mpg, 28 mpg, and 24 mpg, respectively. Two-wheel-drive four-cylinder variants, offering 166 horses at 6,000 rpm and 165 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm, come in at 24/30/26 mpg, dropping to 23/27/25 mpg with four-wheel drive. Prices range from $21,595 for a base four-cylinder RAV4 to $27,165 for a Limited V6 four-wheel drive (including destination).
