2005 Toyota RAV4 2WD (Manual)

Safety: 2005 Toyota RAV4

Safety

The RAV4 comes well equipped with safety features; electronic stability control with traction control, dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, a tire-pressure monitor, and a brake-assist system are all standard. (Brake assist determines whether the driver is attempting urgent emergency braking and, if so, applies additional pedal pressure to engage the ABS until the driver releases the brake.) Side and side-curtain airbags are optional.

All these features add up to make the RAV4 one of the safest vehicles in its class. Although the standard equipment listed above is also included on the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson, most other competitors don't stack up. For example, the Chevrolet Equinox isn't available with electronic stability control, and neither electronic stability control nor stand-alone traction control can be had on the either Ford Escape or the Honda Element.

The RAV4 performed well in NHTSA's crash tests, earning five stars in the side-impact test for both front- and rear-seat occupants and four stars for both driver and passenger in the front crash test. These numbers compare well with those of the competition, though the Chevrolet Equinox and Honda CR-V earned five stars for all seating positions in both tests. The RAV4 was not tested for rollover safety.