In contrast, we've had the opportunity to drive the Subaru Forester in similar conditions, and the Forester felt considerably more secure due to its lower center of gravity. Around town, though, the RAV is great. And we still remember how well it performed in Boston's humongous April 1 snowstorm several years ago. Even on unplowed roads with two feet of heavy snow, it handled the conditions admirably. Given that this is a Toyota, it almost goes without saying that the ergonomics are pretty good.
Controls are straightforward and easy to understand.
We were able to get a comfortable temperature readily, regardless of the outside air temperature, and the four-speed fan seemed to be more than adequate. What a refreshing change from the German cars, where we've always had to pore over the owner's manual to figure out how to get a little air out of the dash. While convenient to reach, they do, at times, conflict with the stick shift. An automatic transmission would not present a problem. This is not exactly a Lexus RX300 or an Infiniti QX4.