The RAV4 aims to be the "Goldilocks" of crossovers; it is big enough that it doesn't simply feel like a lifted compact car, but also small enough that its size never really gets in the way during everyday driving. It is short enough that it makes perfect sense in the city, but it is not in any way simply pretending to be an SUV when the need for off-roading arises. Toyota has also made a serious push for fuel economy with this generation, by introducing a new plug-in hybrid model that joins the hybrid in RAV4 lineup. The RAV4 competes directly in the increasingly popular compact SUV segment, with rival vehicles such as the Ford Escape PHEV, Subaru Crosstrek PHEV, Hyundai SantaFe PHEV and the Kia Sorento PHEV.
