By Don Hammonds

Toyota’s venerable RAV4 isn’t so venerable any more–because it’s been heavily  transformed.

It’s got snappy new looks to entice buyers who may mistakenly think they will find the same model in Toyota showrooms that they’ve seen before.  It’s somewhat roomier than previous models. And the interior materials and presentation have been stepped up considerably.

Power comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. You will find that the  six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and  you …