2013 RAV4 Review

• Model — 2013 RAV4 Limited
• Route — San Francisco, CA, to Reno, NV
• Mileage — 432 miles round-trip
• Passengers — Five
• Trip duration — Two nights, three days
• Road conditions — Dry, mostly highway, with some winding two-lane mountain roads; nighttime and daytime driving

2013 RAV4 Basics

• Three vehicle levels: LE ($23.3K), XLE ($24.29K), Limited ($27K)
• Mileage per gallon (city/highway): 24/31
• 176 horsepower, four-cylinder engine
• Standard: Fold-flat second-row seats, 6.1-inch touch screen with backup camera, and steering wheel audio and Bluetooth controls.
• Standard on Limited: Power rear liftgate

The RAV4's roomy rear is its most compelling selling point. The 2013 model adds .4 cubic feet to the trunk, totaling to 73.4 cubic feet. The second-row seats lie completely flat, increasing the trunk space significantly. Underneath the cargo floor is a cover that is easy to install and keep your valuables out of sight while you're away from the vehicle.

Another change to the 2013 model is the rear liftgate, which now opens from the top instead of swinging to the side. This is a much-needed improvement to the RAV4 — that swinging gate was problematic for parallel-parked urban dwellers.

In the Limited model, the power liftgate comes standard. Hold down the door button on the key fob and the door will slowly open for you. If you're in a low-clearance area, just press and hold the button then release once it's reached the desired height.

The car is actually one inch lower than its predecessor for easier loading and unloading.

Drivers and front-seat passengers have the most comfortable ride in the RAV4. The seats have great lumbar and side supports. On the ride back, I dozed off in the passenger seat and slept like a log. In the Limited model, the driver's seat comes with eight-power adjustability.

There are also heated seats and dual climate control for regulating your own air-conditioning or heat in the front. Unfortunately, our second-row passengers complained that the backseats were poorly ventilated. Some strategic maneuvering of the fans fixed the problem somewhat.

The dual-toned interior design is new for the RAV4. It's called color blocking, and this burnt orange color is Terracotta, which is exclusive to Limited models. I'm not crazy about the Black and Terracotta, but I did like the stitching details around the edges of the front seats.

We had three passengers in the back, and the middle rider said that the seat felt slightly raised, which got uncomfortable during our three-hour ride.

The JBL audio system includes 11 speakers in the car. Our road trip soundtrack varied from hip-hop to electronic, and on our return ride, some laugh-inducing comedy.

The 576-watt, eight-channel DSP amplifier speakers were chosen specifically because they require low energy but still seemed to produce big bass and balanced sound.

The Entune system combines AM, FM, and satellite radio, plus a variety of smartphone apps like Bing, Pandora, and MovieTickets. Voice activation allows for hands-free maneuvering. Despite these high-tech amenities, we found ourselves using the Car app most — it revealed the changes in mileage as we were driving.

The USB port came in most handy. We plugged in our iPhones via USB — not through an aux input — and the system recognized our devices immediately. We were able to stream music through the Rdio app and play it through the vehicle's audio system.

The padded pleather dashboard is an interesting touch. I'm not the biggest fan of the Terracotta color, but in black, I could see how the leather look adds a luxe feel.

Next to the heated seats are two buttons that dramatically change the driving experience: Eco Mode and Sport Mode. The Eco Mode promotes smoother, more fuel-efficient driving. The car eases into acceleration and is less prone to abrupt braking. The Sport Mode changes the steering and remaps the throttle. It's a much zippier ride — an unexpected driving experience from the RAV4.

Amazing fuel economy, large cargo space, good handling along winding mountain roads, and a quiet, comfortable cabin make the 2013 RAV4 a great getaway car. It felt like a reliable vehicle as well in our testing. The Insurance Institute named the 2013 RAV4 a top safety pick. Features like the backup camera and blind spot monitors in the rear view window give the driver extra eyes on the road. For road trips, we suggest four riders, as opposed to five, as the middle backseat is not ideal.

The compact crossover SUV segment is a competitive one: the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V are the RAV4's biggest competitors, but neither beat out the Toyota's gas mileage for city driving.