The current RAV4 will be replaced soon, and I will miss it; here was perhaps the finest affordable, small crossover ever conceived. Especially for those of us living in places like Colorado, where the thin air saps significant horsepower, the need for a powerful engine to conquer the steep mountain passes, pull with authority, or just provide fun, is a great option. And its one that will no longer be available on this model’s replacement, who will be exclusively motivated by four cylinders.

Sorely lacking will be the hot rodders’s favorite trick of stuffing a big motor—in this case, the great 268hp, 3.5-liter V6—in a small, light body (the RAV weighs several hundred pounds less than most competitors, despite offering more cargo room). Gone will be class-leading acceleration and real-world low-to-mid-20s fuel economy that beats most rivals. And despite the lack of mass, there’s no lack of refinement in the RAV4; the Limited model I tested felt like a mini-Lexus in the way it smoothed rough urban roads, and all its major controls—steering, throttle, brakes—all had a honed polished reminiscent of Toyota’s luxury brand.

Seating comfort was likewise first-rate, though some of the materials inside show evidence of the cost-cutting that began to affect the company’s products midway through the century’s first decade. The next model will no doubt improve on the dash architecture of this Toyota as well, which has never looked as appealing as some others in the class, either. But in most other respects, I can’t imagine the replacement for this current RAV4 being either a nicer drive or a better value.

EPA 19/26

MSRP $31579

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