2013 Toyota RAV4 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick Status

Toyota redesigned its compact crossover for 2013, and along with new exterior styling and more interior features, the RAV4 also got improved safety ratings for the new model year. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the RAV4 its Top Safety Pick award; the crossover earned "Good" ratings in the agency's moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear crash tests. The biggest improvement for 2013 comes in roof strength. According to Kristin Nevels from the IIHS, "the new model's roof withstood a force equal to five times the SUV's weight. The previous generation RAV4, manufactured from 2006 to 2012, had a strength-to-weight ratio of 3.46, which equates to an acceptable rating," she said. 

The RAV4's main competitors, including the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5, are also Top Safety Picks. None of the 2013 vehicles in the small crossover class have earned the agency's new and best safety rating, the Top Safety Pick+ (plus) award.

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2013 Toyota RAV4 Review
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Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Our review of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 crossover unsurprisingly extended its stay atop the list of most-read reviews this week. Aside from a bit of movement among the ranks and the 2014 Kia Sorento and 2013 Toyota Avalon joining the top 10, much of this week's roster should look familiar.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Subaru Forester
3. 2014 Kia Sorento
4. 2013 Ford Fusion
5. 2013 Ford Escape
6. 2013 Ford Explorer
7. 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
8. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Perhaps using its imposing makeover for 2013 to scare off competitors, the Toyota RAV4 continued its reign of terror atop our list of most-read reviews of the week. The compact crossover's nearest opponent, the 2013 Ford Fusion, generated a little more than a third of RAV4's reader interest. Maybe newcomers to the list, including the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid (No. 6) and the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid (No. 10), will gain enough confidence in coming weeks to face down the RAV4.

Until then, check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Ford Fusion
3. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
4. 2013 Ford Explorer
5. 2013 Ford Escape
6. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
7. 2013 Toyota Avalon
8. 2013 Nissan Altima
9. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
10. 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

The 2013 RAV4 held off the competition once again to retain the top spot among our most-read reviews of the week. It was joined by some fresh faces this week: the 2013 models of the Hyundai Sante Fe Sport, Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Fusion Hybrid landed at Nos. 6, 7 and 8, respectively, squeezing the Cadillac ATS, Mazda CX-5 and Acura RDX out of the top 10. Meanwhile, the Toyota Avalon, Ford Fusion and Ford Escape gained some ground, as the Ford Explorer, Nissan Altima and Subaru XV Crosstrek lost their footing.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Toyota Avalon
3. 2013 Ford Fusion
4. 2013 Ford Escape
5. 2013 Ford Explorer
6. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
7. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
8. 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
9. 2013 Nissan Altima
10. Subaru XV Crosstrek

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Despite some midlist musical chairs, this week's most-read reviews played a familiar tune. The 2013 Toyota RAV4 and 2013 Ford Explorer held their ground at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. The 2013 models of the Toyota Avalon, Acura RDX, Subaru XV Crosstrek and Ford Escape simply rearranged third through sixth place. Meanwhile, the 2013 Ford Fusion entered at No. 7, bumping the Nissan Altima to No. 8; the 2013 Mazda CX-5 ascended one spot to No. 9, forcing out the Honda Accord to make room for the 2013 Cadillac ATS in 10th.

Check out what was popular this week:

• 1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
• 2. 2013 Ford Explorer
• 3. 2013 Toyota Avalon
• 4. 2013 Acura RDX
• 5. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 6. 2013 Ford Escape
• 7. 2013 Ford Fusion
• 8. 2013 Nissan Altima
• 9. 2013 Mazda CX-5
• 10. 2013 Cadillac ATS

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

There wasn't a lot of movement among our most-read reviews this week, with six of the top 10 spots going unchanged and the 2013 Toyota RAV4 holding onto first place. The Toyota Avalon jumped two spots to No. 5, bumping the Acura RDX and Nissan Altima down to sixth and seventh place, respectively. The Chevrolet Equinox entered the list in eighth place, knocking the Audi A4 off completely as the Honda Accord and Mazda CX-5 held their places at ninth and 10th.

Check out what else was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4

2. 2013 Ford Explorer

3. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

4. 2013 Ford Escape

5. 2013 Toyota Avalon

6. 2013 Acura RDX

7. 2013 Nissan Altima

8. 2013 Chevrolet Equinox

9. 2013 Honda Accord

10. 2013 Mazda CX-5

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

In the 2013 BMW M5 video, Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek notes the high-performance sedan's class-consistent "big engine, big brakes, big wheels." The video put up commensurately big numbers, landing in the top spot among the most watched of the week. That knocked previous champ, the $26,000 Midsize Sedan Showdown video, to No. 3 while PickupTrucks.com's peek at Chevy's and GMC's new heavy-duty trucks for 2014 held its ground in second place. Check out the M5 video above and see which others were popular this week:

• 1. 2013 BMW M5
• 2. First Look: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra
• 3. Cars.com/USA Today/MotorWeek $26,000 Midsize Sedan Shootout
• 4. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 5. 2013 Toyota RAV4

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

With the new year comes some new blood, at last, in the No. 1 spot among Cars.com's most-read reviews of the week. In 2013's first top 10, the Toyota RAV4 has supplanted the Subaru XV Crosstrek — the reigning champion for nearly six weeks. Meanwhile, the consistently popular 2013 Ford Explorer review found its way from the bottom half of the list up to No. 2 this week, bumping the XV Crosstrek down to third.

Check out what else was popular this week:

• 1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
• 2. 2013 Ford Explorer
• 3. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 4. 2013 Ford Escape
• 5. 2013 Acura RDX
• 6. 2013 Nissan Altima
• 7. 2013 Toyota Avalon
• 8. 2013 Audi A4
• 9. 2013 Honda Accord
• 10. 2013 Mazda CX-5

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Toyota RAV4

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 is like a tough guy doing the two-step: He gets points for trying, but he might step on your toes with a few clumsy moves. Cars.com reviewer Jennifer Geiger says the RAV4 literally shows its fangs with an imposing body makeover. A more efficient powertrain and a smoother ride are welcome updates to this compact crossover. But so-so interior materials and reduced powertrain and passenger capacity options mean the new RAV4 is a bit less versatile this year.

2013 RAV4 Review

2013 Toyota RAV4 Video

Do those fangs on the front end of the redesigned Toyota RAV4 signify that the fourth-best-selling small SUV is gnashing its teeth at its opponents? Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays says the RAV4 is going to need an edge if it wants a bigger bite of a ferociously competitive class. The shortened, updated five-passenger crossover ditches its third row for a bit more cargo space, as well as its V-6 engine for a more efficient four-cylinder.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The 2013 RAV4 also wisely jettisons its swinging rear gate for a more practical liftgate, and interior improvements afford it an upscale vibe. These upgrades are a good start, Mays says, but the call of the wild will be answered on the road. Check out the video below.