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| The 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE. |
Toyota, like its cousin Lexus, is on a campaign to make its vehicles seem more exciting. For Lexus, that involves (for some models) substantial upgrades to engine power and chassis dynamics. For Toyota, it largely involves cosmetics.
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| 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE. |
Case in point, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE. Equipped with the same 2.5-liter, 178-horsepower engine as any other RAV4 save the new Hybrid, it drives about the same as its siblings, and gets a bit lower mileage than the plainer models---22 city/29 highway, the same as the similarly-loaded Limited.
It's a well-optioned RAV4, but equipped differently than the one-step-down XLE or the top-of-the-line Limited. The base price for the RAV4 SE AWD is $30,665 and that brings standard equipment that does include a sport-tuned suspension the others don't have as well as 18-inch machined alloy wheels with black painted accents, LED headlamps, taillights and daytime running lights, a power moonroof with roof rails and a rear spoiler, power heated outside mirrors, privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, a touchscreen audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio, Toyota's Entune app suite, a backup camera, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-trimmed seats (the front ones are heated and the driver's is an 8-way power seat) and smart key with pushbutton start.
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| 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE interior. |
You can put even more into the RAV4 SE through extra-cost options, and Toyota did just that with our test vehicle:
- Advanced Technology Package (Birds-eye view camera, front and rear parking sonar, Toyota SafetySense, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, an upgraded JBL audio system with voice recognition, HD Radio, HD Predictive Traffic and Doppler radar weather overlay) $3,030.
- S-Code paint treatment (Silver metallic painted front and rear lower bumper, rocker panel, over fenders and side mirrors with black rear skid plate garnish) $600.
- Mudguards. $129.
- Paint protection film. $395.
- Roof rack cross bars. $315.
- Interior light kit. $185.
- Remote start. $499.
- Wheel locks. $65.
- All-weather floor liners and cargo tray. $239
With $900 delivery, processing and handling fee, what is perhaps the most well-equipped RAV4 of all time came to an as-tested price of $37,022. That is easily the highest price for a small SUV we've tested that isn't a luxury brand, and a bit more than $2,000 higher than the well-equipped and more powerful
240 horsepower Ford Escape Titanium with EcoBoost Michael reviewed three months ago. That's a tough value argument to make, but if your loyalties lie with Toyota and its legendary reliability, it may be a price difference you're willing to pay.
