Looking around the cabin and it's easy to see that Toyota's not trying to lure in Lexus buyers, even in the RAV4's leather-clad Limited

The surface plastics are better in quality than many rivals, the fit and finish of switchgear, bins, compartments and anything else that moves is first-rate, and the general layout of the dash and centre console are ergonomically friendly.(Photo: Toyota Canada)

iteration. But within the entry-level compact to midsize CUV class, it measures up well. The surface plastics are better in quality than many rivals, the fit and finish of switchgear, bins, compartments and anything else that moves is first-rate, and the general layout of the dash and centre console are ergonomically friendly, not to mention attractive. I especially like Toyota's unorthodox approach to climate control. The interface looks every bit like a conventional three-dial setup at first glance, until, that is, you notice that it's a series of buttons clustered three separate circular formations. Each button is large enough to actuate while wearing mittens let alone glove, and all click with a nicely weighted, precise

Toyota offers a variety of high-quality audio system, the top-line JBL system being truly spectacular for this class. (Photo: Toyota Canada)

feel. Even the base HVAC system is nicely laid out, again in a three pod configuration, and while not as slick as the auto climate control system, still easy to use.

The top-line JBL audio system head unit is much the same; not in layout but in quality. From a design perspective it's fairly traditional, sitting high on the dash, easily reachable without having to lean forward from the seatback. It offers more radio presets than average, with not only a half-dozen in the AM and FM bands, but FM is split between FM1 and FM2, doubling up the potential stations that can be locked in. It's a six-disc unit, loaded up right into the slot on the dash, so in effect it beats out BMW's X3 for CD player convenience. If it didn't include a port for an external audio device I might be complaining right about now, but there's one for an iPod or the like, while the stereo accepts WMA or mp3 files. That's true for the base stereo too, iPod connectivity included.

Audio and climate control aside, I think my favourite RAV4 interface is its sporty three-spoke steering wheel, especially the leather-clad version. Yes, it

How does it handle? It was easy to take around most corners at a much higher clip than the posted speed. (Photo: Toyota Canada)

comes with audio buttons, but that isn't what I like best about it. No, it's the way it feels in the hands. Its as if Momo, the great Italian aftermarket performance parts supplier, designed it; ideal for sport driving.

But sport driving an SUV? C'mon! OK, fair enough, this isn't a Celica GT-S or anything, but among crossovers it feels pretty agile. The circuit Toyota took us on offered a few moments to test its handling mettle, and it proved to be a worthy accomplice - i.e. it was easy to take most corners at a much higher clip than the posted speed. Its transitional response was slightly better than most tall vehicles, swaying a bit as a quickly moved from lane to lane, but once again, it felt stable at all times, important for accident avoidance.

Toyota also provided a rather adventurous (for a RAV4) off-road trek up and over the property that would soon be a manufacturing plant, so that we could see how it handled the rough stuff. I chuckled, thinking back to when the Japanese brand introduced the second-generation RAV. I was there, 4x4ing it through a pretty messed up logging road just outside of Whistler, BC, trying to crisscross through drainage ditches that kept hanging up its pretty little front and rear fascias. The sound of a plastic rubbing, and then its metal undercarriage scraping on rocks, is not that appealing to this auto writer, so I wrote the old RAV off as a city slicker that had better just keep to groomed roads.