The Junior SUV in Toyota's lineup has grown up. Quite handsomely.

The last version of the RAV4 was an SUV lite: Higher than a car, and rugged enough to plow through a snowball, but with a small back seat and cargo area and a delicate feel on the road, as SUVs go. But that was the RAV4's adolescence. The car-based SUV—a quintessential "crossover," for those who prefer the term–is now a more confident vehicle, longer, stronger, and more assertive, and with more to offer. The redesigned RAV 4, new for 2006, has enough space in the back seat to make six-footers comfortable on a long ride. Folding down the rear seat—an easy one-lever operation—produces enough cargo space to turn the RAV4 into a handyman's hauler. It's even big enough to accommodate an optional third-row seat. Only a diminutive kid would be comfortable back there, but for a relatively economical vehicle, it's a great option for moms who carpool or for bigger families who can tolerate each other in a confined space for the duration of a car ride.

There is no trade-off in comfort or performance. The RAV4's sedanlike handling offers the best of both worlds. I was able to maneuver in city traffic as nimbly as a veteran cabbie, with the comforting advantages of a raised perch and good visibility out all directions. Four-wheel drive is available as an option for those who think they might hit the trail once in a blue moon. The full-size spare tire rests on the back of the liftgate, where it doesn't take up cargo space. The interior is handsome, with angled armrests on the doors and other stylish touches that are a step beyond the mere utilitarianism found in many smaller SUVs. And there are big-SUV conveniences, like a cavernous glove box, large control dials you could operate with work gloves on if you had to, and big, padded seats. With the upgrades from the last model, the RAV4 is actually quite similar to the Highlander, Toyota's midrange crossover—while costing a few thousand dollars less. This little brother is proving itself convincingly.