Overview & Reviews

Originating in the latter half of the 1990s, the Toyota RAV4 was one of the first entries in the small crossover SUV market. Almost two decades later, today's RAV4 is considerably larger than that pint-sized original, but the core appeal of versatility, good fuel economy and favorable on-road manners are firmly intact.

The RAV4 has been very popular with consumers through the years, so there are going to be plenty to choose from if you're searching for a used model. The newest third- and fourth-generation RAV4s are the most family-friendly and come with the most features, but an older RAV4 should still appeal to young families and urban singles in search of a reliable compact crossover SUV.

Current Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is offered in LE, XLE and Limited trim levels. All have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard and buyers can choose either front- or all-wheel drive. With an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in combined driving, the RAV4 is as fuel-efficient as its competitors.

Base LE standard feature highlights include air-conditioning, reclining second-row seats, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a touchscreen interface and iPod/USB integration. The XLE adds alloy wheels, heated mirrors, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control and sport front seats. The Limited features bigger wheels, a power liftgate, keyless ignition/entry, a power driver seat, heated front seats and faux leather upholstery.
Major options, depending on the trim level, include automatic high beams, blind-spot/lane-departure warning, Toyota's Entune smartphone integration system, a navigation system and premium audio.

In reviews, we've found that this RAV4 gets just about everything right. Its roomy cabin boasts more cargo room than most rivals and provides ample seating space for adults both front and rear. The overall interior design is modern looking, and the Entune system provides useful smartphone app integration, although the touchscreen's virtual buttons can sometimes be finicky to use. There's no engine upgrade available, but the RAV4's 2.5-liter four is refined and adequately powerful. Handling is secure, and the all-wheel-drive system adds further athleticism on curvy and slippery road surfaces. In the interest of comfort, we recommend the smaller wheel options, as the 18-inch wheels tend to have a rougher ride quality.

Used Toyota RAV4 Models
The current, fourth-generation RAV4 debuted for 2013. It maintained the typical RAV4 strengths of carlike driving manners, versatile cargo and passenger configurations and all-around comfort. It's about the same size as the previous generation, but has bolder styling, a more modern interior and some new features. It also has an easier-to-use, top-hinged liftgate instead of the previous swing-out gate, though the previously available third-row seat was discontinued. There have been no notable changes since its debut.

The previous Toyota RAV4 represented the third generation, which Toyota produced from 2006-'12. Compared to earlier models, these RAV4s were bigger and offered an available V6 engine and third-row seat.

In its inaugural third-generation year, two engine choices were offered. A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine delivered 166 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque, while a 3.5-liter V6 produced 269 hp and 246 lb-ft of torque. Automatic transmissions were standard, with the four-cylinder paired with a four-speed, while the V6 received a five-speed unit.

Three trim levels were also offered: base, Sport and Limited. Base feature highlights included air-conditioning, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat and full power accessories. The Sport added 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and a roof rack, while the Limited topped it off with 17-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver seat and an upgraded audio system. A third-row seat, a moonroof, leather upholstery and a DVD-based rear entertainment system were options on upper level trims.

We praised these models for their pleasant driving manners and convenient cargo space, but deducted points for the side-hinged rear gate and noticeable road noise. We also preferred the powerful V6 over the base four-cylinder engine that suffered with its outdated transmission and mediocre fuel economy.

Changes since its debut were minimal but included additional standard airbags in 2007, a slight styling update in 2009 (with an external spare-tire delete option) and a power increase for the four-cylinder engine (from 166 hp to 179 hp). A newly available touchscreen audio interface and Toyota's Entune smartphone apps were introduced for 2012.

The second-generation Toyota RAV4 (2001-'05) was larger than the original RAV4, with more expressive styling and innovative removable second-row seats that gave it truly impressive cargo-carrying capabilities. Early models had a 148-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that came up short versus the larger four- and six-cylinder engines offered by competitors. Toyota addressed this to some extent in 2004 by replacing the 2.0-liter with a larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 160 hp. Acceleration was markedly improved, and buyers could still choose a manual or automatic transmission. Overall, we found this RAV4 to be a fun-to-drive urban runabout thanks to its precise suspension tuning and high fuel economy ratings.

The first-generation Toyota RAV4 (1996-2000) was offered in two-door and four-door body styles, with a convertible version for a brief period. The first-gen RAV4 was appealing to young singles, but due to its narrow width and tight rear legroom, this cute ute was ultimately no substitute for a traditional family vehicle. Advantages included carlike handling, a low cargo floor and a large rear door that made loading cargo a breeze.

User Reviews:

• 

  Compare all Vehicles in the same category - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Morris - December 19 - 4:53 pm

  Seats are stiff. Stereo hard to read like trying to read your cell phone display when you are outside. Tailgate swings sideways... inconvienent if someone parks behind you. The bass in the radio vibrates when only set at a level "2". Radio sound is so so. Gas mileage is 23 mpg overall. Interior sides scuff VERY easily. I wish the passenger seat folded flat to hold an 8 ft ladder. Radio controls on the steering wheel should be standard.

• 

  No serious issues but............ - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Firsttime ravowner - December 18 - 10:00 am

  My only complaint is that it shakes or shimmys at 65 mph or so. i asked my dealer to check tire balance and they only test drove it and then told me, "We dont find anything unusual here." So, what do I do? Believe me, the steering wheel shakes back and forth on smooth highways, at high speed. Anyone else notice this?

• 

  I feel good in my new RAV4 - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By chris perko - December 18 - 2:40 am

  Its a great little car25

• 

  great suv - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By b - December 15 - 12:26 pm

  the best small SUV on the market

• 

  Pleased with pre-owned RAV4 (28K miles) - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By k5zoo - December 15 - 2:42 am

  After wanting to downsize from my minivan with the additional goal of improved gas mileage, I initially test drove a pre-owned Ford Focus and it was ok but quite compact especially the second row leg room. I happened upon the RAV4 in the same lot. I really liked how spacious the leg room was in the second row and I really liked the back storage. I am 52" so the cargo door is a plus because I had to be on my toes with the van hatchback.The full sized spare tire is also a plus; I read some neg reviews about its location but I think its much easier access. My combined gas mileage is 25.4 M-F due to hwy commuting; on the weekend which is more in town its 25.1. Overall a good value.

• 

  Good little SUV - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Alex J - December 15 - 2:20 am

  The Rav4 is a comfortable little SUV. It is not the most powerfull, but it gets great MPG (When driven nicely). Seats are nice and supportive, and the silver/metal looking plastic looks upscale, even if your not sure what it exacly is. The AWD is nice and is needed in the rockies.

• 

  Very good car/sSUV - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Linh - December 14 - 5:46 pm

  It is fun to drive this car/sSUV. The gas mileage is good. The layout of the temperature controls are good, but the control for the audio is a bit high or out of reach.

• 

  Lots of Fun - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By JMcKay PA - December 12 - 10:40 pm

  Love the vehicle for looks and the pick up. Wish it had a place to store my sunglasses instead of a garage door opener above the drivers seat. The engine jumps when you hit the gas. Good view of the road when driving.

• 

  At first impressed and then not so much - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By spidermum - December 8 - 3:00 pm

  I am a 7 year Toyota owner and didnt think twice when it was time to buy a another car. My 2003 Corolla took me to 150,000 miles with no problems (besides standard maintenance). I bought my CERTIFIED 2008 RAV4 in November of 2009 and have had to replace the breaks, tires, and battery since then. At first, I loved the snappiness (torque) of my V6 Rav4. After replacing the breaks and the tires (after 6 months of ownership) I was a little discouraged. Then, my battery went out and what I didnt know is that the power steering is powered by the battery. I lost complete power steering in the middle of a major intersection and am thankful to be alive.

• 

  big bang for your buck - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill N - December 8 - 3:00 am

  Just got the SE trim last week, and the more I look at this car and the more I drive it, the more I love it, the seats are comfortable, although fake leather for the price you are paying is a bummer, it still looks and feels great. The ride is smooth, sometimes a bit noisy from the road, but handles great, for my day to day driving, the pick up is fine, we didnt buy it to be a racer. the entertainment well, was disappointing to find out, with the higher priced JBL system, it didnt come with a CD player, first car since the 80s that didnt have one, but, the Nav is great, the sound is good and easy to control. The room for the back passengers is great, plenty of leg and head room, the cargo area is great, especially when you fold the seats down. All in all, a great ride for the money, and I have no regrets, except maybe for the dealership I went to, but, thats for another review.