AZCentral.com's view

Life is full of surprises.

Take, for instance, the RAV4, Toyota’s little sport-utility vehicle, which just recently hit our shores. With its short wheelbase and toylike appearance, it doesn’t promise much in terms of sophistication or agility.

We’ve seen these things before: Suzuki Samurai springs to mind. That’s the diminutive 4X4 that a decade ago introduced young Americans to small, inexpensive off-highway vehicles – although its low power, choppy ride and propensity for flipping over definitely soured the relationship.

The RAV4 is much different. And here’s the surprise: The two-door model we tested is a nice-riding, good-handling and peppy vehicle, considering its narrow profile and close-cropped stance.

It has decent highway-speed stability, with a reasonably powerful 2-liter engine providing the pull, and good four-wheel- drive climbing ability on tough trails. Plus, decent gas mileage. The interior even provides human-size accommodations (though scant space for gear) and an air of quality. The 16-inch-longer, slightly more substantial four-door should offer even better ride and comfort.

The RAV4 raises the standards a notch for the entry-level class of sport-utility vehicle. Suzuki has replaced the Samurai with the improved Sidekick (also sold as the Geo Tracker), the RAV4’s nearest competitor. Kia of Korea is marketing its attractive Sportage, and others, including a Honda, are in the wings.

The Toyota presents a formidable challenge, perhaps defining the leading edge of this emerging niche, a less costly alternative to the popular crop of bigger, pricier sport-utes. In other words, Toyota should sell a zillion of these things in the United States, just as it has in Japan.

The company’s towering reputation for quality and reliability doesn’t hurt. The fun factor remains RAV4’s biggest selling point. Its chunky, cartoon looks are an instant hit with the young and the offbeat. Huge wheels and aggressive tires complete the image that the RAV4 is one tough little character. The overall effect, though, is toward the cute-as-a-bug side.

Quick rack-and-pinion steering (lifted from the Corolla) and four-wheel independent suspension make the RAV4 feel lithe and sporty, despite the flex from those big tires. And it’s a real kick off-highway because of its small size and light weight, feeling more like a dune buggy than a four-by-four.

It is small – not much longer than a Geo Metro – and several feet shorter than its older sibling, the 4Runner. On a jaunt into the hill country east of Carefree, a driver, two kids, an ice chest and picnic lunch pretty much maxed out the interiorspace.

RAV4, by the way, stands for Recreational Active Vehicle, with the 4 signifying four-wheel drive. Some pronounce it “rave,” others say “rav,” as in “ravage,” so choose for yourself.

The RAV4 uses a four-wheeler system formerly used on a performance version of the Celica sports coupe. It is front-wheel drive in normal use, hooking up the rear wheels for the rough stuff via an electric coupling, locked on with a dashboard button.

The RAV4 also comes with front-wheel-drive only, an economical alternative for those who won’t ever take it off the asphalt or drive in snow. All in all, the RAV4 is more car than truck, and those who engage in off-road antics should note that there is no low-speed transfer case.

Still, we went up some steep and rutted trails, the RAV4’s short overhangs and 7.7 inches of clearance granting plenty of leeway. As for price, a fully equipped RAV4 comes in pretty close to the big boys, in the low 20s, pretty much obliterating its most attractive feature.

1996 Toyota RAV4

Vehicle type: Four-passenger, two-door hatchback, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive. Base price: $16,348. Price as tested: (Not available.) Engine: 2-liter inline-4, 120 horsepower at 5,400 rpm, 125 pounds/feet of torque at 4,600 rpm. Transmission: Fiv e-speed sti ck shift. Curb weight: 2,364 pounds. Length: 145.9 inches. Wheelbase: 86.62 inches. Safety features: Air bags, anti-lock brakes. EPA fuel economy: 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway.