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I am looking at buying a small SUV like say a Rav4 and was wondering if you had any advice on this or any similar model and which might be better

You don't say whether you are looking at buying new or used, what year you are considering or what your budget might be.
However, as a generalisation across all years and budgets, the RAV4 is a very good model, with a good reputation for reliability.
Back in the '90s and early 2000s, there were really only 3 contenders in this segment - the RAV4, Suzuki Vitara and Honda CRV. If you are considering new or near new, numerous other competitors have entered the small SUV segment and there are now a lot to choose from, including Mazda CX-5, Ford Kuga, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan X-Trail and many, many more. Most of these models are worth looking at is you have a higher budget.