The RAV4 earns the highest five-star crash-test rating from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Institute (NHTSA), along with a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

All trim levels come standard with emergency front braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights, along with the rearview camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles. The Limited further adds rear parking sensors with low-speed cross-traffic braking and a bird’s-eye-view camera system. The top trim line also includes a digital display rearview mirror, which broadcasts a camera video feed of what’s behind the vehicle. It can be handy if rear-seat passengers or cargo are otherwise blocking your view, but I find it takes a moment to focus on it when I look up. I generally just switch the mirror to a conventional reflective view

The RAV4 uses a 2.5L four-cylinder that makes 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s more horsepower than some competitors, where the CR-V makes 190 hp and the Tucson has 187.