Even in this day and age we succumb to stereotypes and one of the biggest has to be the petrol-guzzling, space-hogging 4x4. You know, the kind of car that's a nuisance for other drivers, bad for the environment and unsuitable for on-road use.

This view may have stemmed from the Americans who, stereotypically, believe that bigger is better. The Chevrolet Trailblazer, which isn't available over here, is almost 5 metres long and 1.9m wide. It is powered by a monstrous 6.0-litre V8 engine that manages an expensive 15mpg. The Trailblazer is typical of the 4x4's that many Americans drive but not, of course, typical in Europe. Here, even larger 4x4s are much smaller than the big Chevy and usually powered by modest diesel powerplants.

With our high fuel prices, UK buyers tend to choose smaller, more economical engines and will probably go for a diesel model if they plan on covering a fair few miles. Really large 4x4's are available but they are a comparatively rare sight on our roads British buyers looking for 4x4s are more likely to end up with a compact version, like the Toyota RAV4.

If, as the media tells us, general ill-feeling towards 4x4 models really does exist, it lies in the fact that they are supposed to take up much more room on the roads and in parking spaces, as well as yielding poor fuel economy returns and high CO² emissions. But is this really true? After all, some models, like the RAV4, not only fail to conform to the 'typical' 4x4 stereotype but actually present a better environmental case than many normal saloons and hatches.

For example, the Toyota is 4.4m long and 1.8m wide, meaning that a Ford Mondeo saloon will take up more road space. And, in the case of the model we're testing here, it's powered by a 2.2-litre TD diesel engine which will average over 42mpg, giving you a better fuel economy than the 1.4-litre Volkswagen Golf. This engine also emits 177g/km of CO², which happens to be less than many run-of-the-mill petrol-powered family cars like Vauxhall's 1.8-litre Astra.

"Toyota breaks the stereotype, managing a very creditable 3-stars.."

The best feature of the RAV4 has to be that it can fulfil the role of two cars in one. The versatility of the cabin and the view from the elevated driving position make urban fetching and carrying less of a chore, yet the engine's game enough to tackle long distance work without a worry. The interior is a more mature, considered proposition compared to the previous generation RAV4. The amount of room inside is class-leading but this space has been found without sacrificing luggage capacity helped by the compact suspension causing little intrusion into the luggage bay.

But what about the 'typical' 4x4's poor pedestrian safety record? Campaigners will say that 4x4s cause more accident damage than other categories of vehicle and that pedestrians are more likely to be seriously hurt following an accident. Again however, the Toyota breaks the stereotype, managing a very creditable 3-stars for pedestrian protection in the European NCAP crash safety testing programme.

With all of those issues taken care of, you can treat yourself with a clear conscience., Which in the case of buying a RAV4 could mean opting for the XT-R version which has a collection of extras designed to make it look and feel a little bit special. That means features like privacy glass which virtually blacks-out the rear windows, front and rear scuff plates and metallic paint. Starting at £20,045, the XT-R is £1,140 cheaper than the standard XT4 variant it's based on and £140 cheaper if you pay the £1,000 needed to get leather trim.

In summary? Well let's get this straight. It is not only unfair but totally inaccurate to suggest that all 4x4 models are unsafe and environmentally unfriendly. Every vehicle can potentially be considered bad for the environment and it is possible for your everyday hatchback to be much worse than a compact 4x4. We're not pretending here that any kind of 4x4 is the cleanest car you can buy. Just that if you want one, then something like a RAV4 is a pretty good bet. And a role model, I'd suggest, for some less environmentally-conscious manufacturers.

TOP 5 RAV4 DEALS

The results below show the top RAV4 deals on buyacar

	Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D XT-R 5dr Spec edn Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £316	Saving £3,960	Price £17,330
	Toyota RAV4 2.0 VVT-i XT-R 5dr Auto Spec edn Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £331	Saving £3,439	Price £17,701
	Toyota RAV4 2.0 VVT-i XT3 5dr Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £336	Saving £1,791	Price £17,359
	Toyota RAV4 2.0 VVT-i XT-R 5dr Spec edn Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £310	Saving £3,318	Price £16,722
	Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D XT5 5dr Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £462	Saving £2,538	Price £23,362

typical 11.83% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000