Toyota RAV4 Wins Edmunds' Inside Line Compact Crossover Comparison Test

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 23, 2008 - Edmunds.com's high-speed online car magazine, announced that the 2008 Toyota RAV4 won its latest comparison test of compact crossovers, which is described in full at The SUV Is Dead; Long Live the SUV

The Inside Line editorial team compared three competitive compact crossovers:

• 2008 Toyota RAV4 4x4 Limited (MSRP of $33,858 and Edmunds.com True Market Value^® (TMV^®) of $30,801), equipped with a six-cylinder, 269-horsepower engine and five-speed automatic transmission;
• 2008 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD w/Navigation (MSRP of $29,070 and TMV^® of $28,798), equipped with a four-cylinder, 166-horsepower engine and five-speed automatic transmission;
• 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion (MSRP of $37,270 and TMV^® of $37,021), equipped with a four-cylinder, 200-horsepower engine and six-speed shiftable automatic transmission.

“The RAV4, CR-V and Tiguan are all excellent alternatives to the traditional SUV,” said Jason Kavanagh, Edmunds’ Inside Line Engineering Editor. “But the RAV4 has the best combination of utility and power in the group."

The 2008 Honda CR-V and 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan tied for second place. The Volkswagen impressed the editors with its class-leading ride quality, and the Honda was praised for value. However, the editors also noted the Tiguan’s high price tag and the Honda’s underpowered engine.

Vehicle Rankings from The SUV Is Dead; Long Live the SUV

1. 2008 Toyota RAV 4

2. 2008 Honda CR-V (tie)

2. 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan (tie)

To read the test and to get more information on the editors' evaluations and rankings, visit The SUV Is Dead; Long Live the SUV