Mother Proof's view

What’s the definition of a chick car? More reasonable (read: female) creatures will look at the 2009 Toyota RAV4 and say it’s a sleek, handsome SUV, but what pushes the RAV4 into chick-car territory is the fact that it can be described as “cute” or “small.” Instantly, all masculine street cred is kicked to the adorable pink curb of chick-cardom.

Don’t be alarmed. Chick-cardom doesn’t actually harm the driver, except when, say, a man is driving. In this case, damage to manhood and manly image may be irreparable. However, this is one of those times when being a chick is a good thing, because you can drive a fun SUV without fear or judgment.

Case in point: The RAV4 I tested was manly looking with its Black Forest Pearl (blue-green-black) exterior paint color. It even has some sleek, masculine fenders (notice I didn’t say “curves”). The interior was a Dark Charcoal color, which is the only option in the Sport trim level. Yet several dudes I know claimed it was a chick car, and all conversation about the RAV4 subsided. That’s too bad, because the RAV4 is moderately fun and very flexible – and for crying out loud, it’s not like it was lavender-colored or something.

I’ll admit that its four-cylinder engine might have hurt the RAV4’s attempts at masculinity. While perfect for this girly-girl mom-reviewer’s errand-running, I’m not sure it’s quite burly enough for those Y-chromosomers who need a powerful car to feel good (I’m not saying this about all of you guys out there, of course). There is a V-6 available for more money, if you need more power. The EPA-estimated gas mileage for a two-wheel-drive RAV4 is 22/28 mpg city/highway with the four-cylinder and 19/27 mpg with the V-6.

Exterior

The 2009 RAV4 has more aggressive angles on its front fender and hood. The RAV4’s honeycomb grille and fog lights help curb the cuteness found in previous generations. A spoiler provides a clean, sporty look to the rear.

The RAV4 is short and, um, small, and both contribute to its cute factor. Its smaller size made it easy for my kids to get in and out of, but smaller children might need some help climbing into this SUV.

The tailgate opens to the side, and while that bugs some folks, I found it easy to use. I was able to load my groceries into the cargo area without any problems.

The spare tire is stored on the outside of the tailgate, which was a look my husband didn’t care for. The cargo floor was really low, which would make it easier to heft a double stroller in and out of the cargo area.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

Interior

The RAV4 Sport’s interior has a clean design, with its Dark Charcoal interior and faux-chrome plastic accents. The silver-colored plastic is tastefully used and doesn’t look cheap. I must confess it’s a masculine-looking interior for such a chick car.

Storage in the RAV4 is handy and abundant for its small size. Its dual glove boxes are awesome: The top glove box has a grippy base, so whatever you put in there won’t slide around. The center console is deep and has a flip-up tray. Under the tray is more storage and a charger for gadgets. Just in front of the console, there’s an MP3 jack and a cubby to store an MP3 player or cell phone, as well as any cords.

In the front, there are two cupholders with supplemental rubber inserts; if your cup is smaller than the cupholder, use the insert to secure your drink. The only drawback is that the insert usually hangs onto your cup when you pick it up. What could be more manly and un-cute than a removable black-rubber cozy?

There was plenty of room in the backseat for my two children and their booster seats, but there wasn’t enough room to fit a third child back there. The center seating position is narrow, and the seat belt receptor is smack dab in the middle of the seat. Who thought that was a good idea? An armrest with cupholders folds down from the center position. All four doors have good-sized pockets and bottleholders.

One of the things I loved about the RAV4 was its simple climate controls. Big, obvious knobs make it easy to adjust the heat and air-conditioning controls. There’s no mystery to them and no need to consult the owner’s manual. There’s also no need to ask for directions – you know who you are – with the RAV4’s easy-to-use navigation system.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Safety

Some manly men like dangerous stuff. This might explain why the men I know have classified the RAV4 as a chick car – because it’s safe. The 2009 RAV4 was named a Top Safety Pick for 2009 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. To earn this distinction, a car must receive Good ratings-the highest possible-in front, side and rear crash tests, and offer electronic stability control, which is standard on the ’09 RAV4.

The RAV4 also has standard traction control, antilock brakes, active head restraints for the front seats and child-safety locks. It has front, side and side curtain airbags for both rows. I also really liked the optional backup camera and daytime running lights on my test car.

In the backseat, the Latch connectors are easy to locate and use. The top tether anchors, however, are totally confounding because they’re at the bottom of the seat backs. I had to fold the rear seats (which fold flat with one hand, incidentally) to access the anchor, then put the seat back in its regular position to finish the installation. Weird. This seems to counter Toyota’s normal attention to detail in the family friendliness department.

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: The top tether anchors were incredibly difficult to access. If you can work around that, you’ll have all kinds of room for child-safety seats.

In School: There’s enough room to keep kids comfortable.

Teens: The room in the backseat is good for teens; this could be a good first car for teens and college students.