Honda Accord Or Nissan Altima: Which One Does V-6 Better?
A decade ago, both the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima were offered in base four-cylinder versions... Read More
- #2LEADERBOARD RANK
- 2659ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
- 108COMMENTS POSTED
SAFETY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Four and five stars, frontal impact; five stars, side impact
NHTSA
Good," top rating for frontal-offset and side-impact crash testing
IIHS
vehicles equipped with the V6 and/or the optional third-row seat also come with hill-start assist and downhill assist control
Edmunds
The 2010 Toyota RAV4 promises reasonably good occupant protection and a full roster of safety features, though its crash-test ratings aren't quite best-in-class.
It achieves top "good" ratings for frontal and side impact from the IIHS but a "marginal" rating in the seat-based rear impact category. NHTSA awards the RAV4 five out of five stars for driver protection in frontal impacts, and for front- and rear-occupant protection in side impacts. It earns four stars for front passenger protection in frontal impacts, as well as rollover resistance and rollover crash protection.
Driver and front passenger front-seat-mounted side airbags, along with first- and second-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags, are standard on all versions of the 2010 RAV4, as are electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes. All-wheel drive, stability and traction control, and electric power steering come together in Toyota's VSC system. Models equipped with the third-row seat also come standard with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Assist Control (DAC)—two features that are derived from what Toyota offers in its off-road-worthy vehicles and would come in quite handy for negotiating a steep, snowy driveway.
Conclusion
Although its crash-test scores aren't the best, the 2010 Toyota RAV4 offers reasonably impressive overall safety.
