2007 Toyota Rav4

The all-new third-generation RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) introduced for 2006 gains an important safety system as standard equipment for 2007. Driver and front passenger front-seat-mounted side airbags, along with first and second row roll-sensing side curtain airbags, are now standard (formerly optional).

With significantly improved performance from an available V6 engine, plus enhancements to overall refinement, the larger, more powerful RAV4 is redefining a segment it essentially created a decade ago. The new-generation RAV4 is a logical step up from the popular second-generation model, providing more room from a larger design that is still compact, highly maneuverable and fuel-efficient.

The 2007 RAV4 is offered in three distinct grades - Standard, performance-oriented Sport and top-of-the-line Limited - and with a choice between two engines and either two- or four-wheel-drive. All grades offer a 269-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, making RAV4 the most powerful vehicle in its segment. Equipped exclusively with a gated-shift five-speed automatic transmission, the V6 RAV4 models offer fuel efficiency comparable with much less powerful four- and six-cylinder competitors.

"Toyota pioneered the car-based compact SUV segment with the first RAV4, and now this type of vehicle is the overwhelmingly most popular choice in the segment," said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president. "The third-generation RAV4 adds performance without penalty at the pump, and adds room without sacrificing the nimble nature that has made the RAV4 so successful since its introduction."