Toyota's RAV4 was a front-runner in the mini-SUV market from the get-go, and not entirely by default. True, it was the earliest of mini SUVs, which gave it a competitive advantage; but being built on the platform of the proven Camry certainly helped its reliability and its user friendliness. But during the five-year run of the first-generation RAV4, a steady stream of Asian challengers appeared, such as the Honda CR-V, Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Sportage. And now there's the highly rated Ford Escape, an Asian-American. It was time for Toyota to upgrade the RAV4 and attempt to raise the bar for the field.