THE original Toyota RAV4, although a commendable car, always lacked that chunky and rugged look that characterises the more successful leisure 4x4s.

On sale since the latter part of 2000, the latest RAV4 addressed this issue very successfully with a stylish new look that is equally at home parked outside a trendy boutique or village school as it is across fields or pulling a horsebox. Despite nearing three years old the RAV4 still looks very much the part and I recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 5-door 2.0 litre diesel version in the top-of-the-range VX trim.

Prices start from £13,480 for the 2WD three-door NV model and rise to £20,695 for my 4WD test model. Offered in only 4WD five-door form the VX boasts ABS, twin front airbags, alarm/immobiliser, remote central locking, air conditioning, electric windows all-round, powered tilt/slide sunroof, front fog lamps and leather upholstery.

Options include a style pack with guards and side steps at £720 plus a chrome pack that includes light guards and side bars at £740.

Inside a neat and well laid out facia greets the driver and allied to a good range of seat and steering adjustment means most drivers should find a comfortable position. Plenty of stowage space is offered for in-car clutter and there is a general feeling of space and airiness within the cabin.

A high seating position affords the usual 4x4 views and with good legroom for both front and rear passengers it all adds up to a very pleasant package indeed.

Rear luggage space is reasonable with the added bonus of split folding rear seats. My one criticism is the rear door.

Unlike many imported vehicles Toyota have the door hinged correctly so that it opens to shield you from passing traffic.

However, it just doesn't open far enough. Although the rear luggage aperture could comfortably take a large box, say a TV, you would fail to load it because the door fails to open at right angles to the car.

On the road the two-litre common rail diesel has bags of torque, or pulling power, to enable safe and swift overtaking yet returns all the benefits of diesel at the pumps.

At lower speeds you are always aware it is a diesel, although certainly not obtrusively and once on the move it becomes so much more like a petrol engine.

Always smooth and never sounding harsh or raucous it would get my vote over the petrol engine in terms of its torque alone.

Low speed and mid-range power is far more useable on today's roads and this is where diesels, especially this Toyota unit, really come into their own.

As with all Toyotas the build quality and finish is faultless, backed up by a three-year/60,000 mile warranty along with 12 years anti-corrosion guarantee.

At more than £20,000 though the competition is tough and if the RAV4 suffers from anything it is perhaps a lack of badge cachet.

Land Rover's Freelander especially triumphs in this respect and Kia's new Sorento is an object lesson in how to build a high quality vehicle to a budget price.

So although the competition is getting tougher all the time the RAV4 remains, in my view, an underrated member of this sector.