de autos cars

The big ticket item was the Premium Plus Value Package. It upgrades the audio system to a JBL unit with nine speakers, adds hands-free Bluetooth capability, daytime running lights, a moonroof, leather-trimmed heated seats, a power driver's seat and a 120 volt power outlet. The tab for that? $3,480...but Toyota instantly discounts that $2,000...so the net cost is $1,480, which would be about right for the audio upgrade and moonroof alone.  The discount took a bottom line of $32,179 down to $30,179.

Yep, we're still talking about the smallest SUV Toyota makes, and a 2-wheel drive version at that, with a price tag over $30,000. But we're also talking about a well-built machine with significant amenities that gets an EPA estimated 19 city/ 27 highway miles per gallon.

If gas were cheap, that'd be one thing. But this is probably the new default SUV for most people. And if you're going small, you may as well be comfortable. As much as we try to pick apart the value equation every time we get a loaded RAV4, we end up enjoying the time we spend with it and hating to hand it back at the end of a week.

So our bottom line: Despite the psychological twitch that kicks in when we see the as-tested price crack 30 large, the RAV4 is worth it. And if you can't quite go there, a lower trim level and a modicum of restraint with the option boxes can get you in one closer to 25 than to 30.