Toyota's Prince of Practicality

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>Scion tC , which has the same standard four-cylinder engine as the Rav4 and also can be ordered with a stick shift.

The Rav4 isn't by any means a rough and ready off-road vehicle, but it handles winter driving conditions quite well. It has an intelligent four-wheel-drive system that automatically distributes power based on road conditions -- so much of the time it's actually in front-wheel drive only. But you can push a button to keep the four-wheel drive permanently on when you need to power out of a snowdrift.

There's also "hill start assist" to keep you from rolling backward when you take off from a standing start on an incline and "downhill assist control" that intervenes to keep your speed steady when you're driving down a steep slope.

IN ITS PLACE.

What really stands out about the Rav4 is its practicality. The third seat is probably too tight for adults, but it's a great option for those who regularly travel with small children. The Rav4 has numerous cupholders, and there are handy storage bins and niches everywhere.

These include a small separate compartment above the glove compartment, a small flat space for papers over the CD bin between the front seats, and an underfloor cargo area in the back where the spare normally would be (the Rav4's full-size spare tire rides on its rear-end, outside the passenger compartment).

There are also bins for maps, purses, and magazines in the doors, nets on the backs of the front seats for stowing magazines and papers, and another net behind the second row of seats.

JUST FINE.

In terms of looks, the interior is nothing special. The black cloth upholstery in the base model is functional and looks quite durable, but it's but not very attractive. The center stack looks like an implant made out of R2D2 robot parts, which is fine if you're a Star Wars fan but out of place in such a functional vehicle. The big chrome Toyota logo on the steering wheel looks a little tacky.

Still, the Rav4 gives you tons of features and technology for your money, as well as many thoughtful design touches. It isn't perfect, but if you're looking for a practical, versatile set of wheels at a reasonable price, you'll want one.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.