You could say that when it comes to small SUVs and power, change is in the air like smog is in the L.A. basin. And it starts with the RAV4. Though other automakers have recently amped up the power of their small utility vehicles, the RAV4 is one of the first car-based SUVs with a significant, class-leading amount of power. So if you think the 2006 Toyota RAV4 is a wind-up car with room for groceries, it’s time to change your thinking. The new RAV4, especially with its optional V6 engine, is a powerful SUV poised to change the rules by which small SUVs are judged. Consider that the RAV4’s 3.5-liter V6 engine generates 269 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and delivers 246 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm, inside a vehicle penciled in as a competitor for the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. Realistically, the only vehicles even close in terms of power and price would be the Ford Escape and Nissan Xterra, which offer 200 and 265 horsepower, respectively, at comparable prices.

The V6 is new and a jewel of Toyota’s engine lineup, and it should be. Mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, Toyota says the V6 will power the 2006 RAV4 from 0-60 in under seven seconds, while delivering EPA fuel economy ratings of 22 city/29 highway for 2WD model and 21 city/28 highway for 4WD versionss. The Toyota RAV4’s automatic transmissions also feature uphill and downhill shift logic, which reduces the amount of shifting while either driving up or down a steep incline.

For those shopping puny little powertrains, the 2006 Toyota RAV4’s four-cylinder gets five more horsepower this year, up to 166 at 6,000 rpm, and 165 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 2.5-liter engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, and Toyota claims that it is one of the most powerful four-cylinder engines in the small SUV segment. A quick glance at the competition shows that it has a little more grunt than most, including competitors such as the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder engine is rated at 24 city/30 highway on 2WD configurations and 23 city/28 highway on 4WD models. Both are expected to be certified as Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV2) vehicles.

What’s more, Toyota has added space to enhance the engine lineup, and the result is an SUV that will likely give its competition fits, not just in terms of power but in areas of handling and interior room as well. That’s evident by its underpinnings, a four-wheel independent suspension with redesigned MacPherson struts up front and trailing double wishbone suspension in back that’s designed to maximize space in the cargo hold. Also new for 2006 is Toyota’s pseudo full-time four-wheel-drive, an electronically controlled system that automatically distributes torque between the front and rear wheels, allowing the RAV4 to switch from front-wheel-drive to four-wheel-drive mode as conditions warrant. There’s also a 4WD manual locking switch that shuts down the auto mode and sends power to all four wheels, until the SUV reaches 25 mph – at which point the RAV4 goes back to a front-wheel-drive setup. Toyota has also included standard Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Assist Control (DAC) on all RAV4s equipped with a V6 engine as well as four-cylinder models with the optional third-row seat. HAC keeps the vehicle still while starting off on an incline or slippery surface, and DAC helps control downhill speeds when traveling in low gear.

The technology treats continue with the RAV4’s steering components. New for this year is an Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system that’s designed to provide better, more precise control than the standard hydraulic system in the previous RAV4. It works by providing computer-controlled assistance to the driver when needed, thus eliminating the need for a power steering pump. A benefit to the electronic steering is that steering control is now connected to the RAV4’s myriad electronic safety systems – VSC, TRAC, ABS with EBD and BA, providing input regarding lack of control from the steering wheel, and applying power – or taking away – where needed..

All of this hardware is connected to 16-, 17- or 18-inch tires and wheels, depending on the trim you choose. These wheel sets are stopped by either 15-or 16-inch ventilated disc brakes up front (16-inch for V6 models and those with a third row) and 11.1-inch disc brakes in back.