THE mid-size SUV segment is now one of the biggest and most competitive in the Australian market, with any number of manufacturers offering a vehicle tailored for the young family and practical adventurer demographic.

In fact, you could say the mid-size SUV is the new sedan – the everyman’s car.

So what does the everyman look for in a car? Does the mum with two kids in the back judge how well a car corners when on the way to do the grocery shopping? Does the man who just wants to fit his golf clubs, surfboard and luggage in the car worry about what sort of exhaust note he gets at peak revs?

Unlike us, most people in the market for a new car are not actually car people. What they are looking for is not sexy looks or ecstasy-inducing performance – they want a car that gets them from A to B in a way that is practical, reliable and comfortable.

On paper, it would seem the petrol-powered all-wheel-drive Toyota RAV4 GXL fits the bill, but does the mid-size SUV tick all the boxes in reality?

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