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:

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  Tough as nails, 150,000 and a front impact - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By dcayres - November 21 - 9:13 am

  My Rav has 150,000 miles on her. Last October I rear-ended someone and thought she was done for. I pulled the frame back out a few inches, installed a new radiator and shes back running as strong as ever. My only complaint would be the wind noise, honestly. The clutch was replaced around 15,000 miles ago, but thats been the only mechanical issue. Regular maintenance, tires, and brakes have all been reasonably inexpensive. This is the first car I have ever kept until it was paid off. In the past, I would grow tired of issues, but not this baby. I am going to drive her until the wheels fall off.

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  Here in the Real World - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Doug - November 21 - 12:26 am

  We purchased our Rav 4 in Febuary and so far so good. Typical Toyota quality. Snow, ice, and now mud doesnt slow this baby down. Although its not a hardcore 4X4, it does the job. Id buy another one tomorrow.

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  bye bye CRV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Ron - November 20 - 8:40 am

  I was waiting for the new CRVs to come out to make my purchase. After seeing the CRV i am so glad i got the RAV4, just went on a 400 mile trip with it last weekend and love the ride, fuel was about 25mpg, not bad.Power is awesome Great SUV

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  Love it - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By will - November 20 - 5:30 am

  We love this car. Consistently get 24 mpg if I keep it under 80. It handles like a sports car, very quick. Interior layout is the most convenient, cup holders are up front for easy access. Dont like where Toyota put the cruise control & road noise is a little excessive but tolerable. We are currently looking for another one for my wife.

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  First Year Review - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By bob t - November 19 - 2:00 am

  We bought our RAV-4 at the beginning of the year. We got the RAV when the price dropped to the same level as the Forester. The stock tires were fine the end of the first winter. I bought some Blizzak DM-V1s for this winter as the OEMs have poor ratings for winter driving. No problems with combined mileage at 27+ mpg. The vehicle rides a little rough and the steering, brakes, and accelerator are a bit sensitive.

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  Loving my new Car! - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By Anonymous - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I was driving a 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara which I really liked... except for the gas mileage. I was getting about 18 miles a gallon, and when youre job hunting... that doesnt work. I was pushed into driving a Rav4 and surprisingly... I LOVE IT. I hope once the "new car" wares off the mileage will be as great as I need it to! I am very happy with my new car!

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  Best Quality Compact SUV - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By lvknkt - November 17 - 5:13 pm

  I love the handling of this beauty, the interior is very well laid out with lots of cargo room. Upgraded 17" tire size will definitely help in the winter time. I also love the Blu Logic BlueTooth that come pre-installed on my Rav4, now I can call handsfree, and enjoy MP3 music through the car speakers from my Nokia phone. Test drive this beauty, and you will love it!!!

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  good choice for city driving - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By uncle_john - November 13 - 7:40 pm

  I took this suv in april 2012. this small suv is a good choice. I had a bad time deciding between this suv and the Honda crv. I dont regret buying a Toyota rav 4 sport 4 cylinder . but I regret spending this much and getting the expensive options . the car has its issues like the slow and weak motor. it was to weak to drive in san francisco . I had trouble climbing hills and thought the car was going to slide back down the hill. the brakes have been a problem. I had them changed in august 2015 and still they make a loud rubbing noise. the brakes dont work very good. but I have to admit the car looks cool . it has plenty of interior space for a small suv. im averaging 19.2 miles per gallon I do more city driving then highway. most driving conditions the car is fast enough even for the I 95 its good enough but needs big improvements in horse power. the radio sucks big time. the sound is low and terrible. the car is easy to drive in south florida and easy to park . baking out is not so good and has bad blind spots. I dont like the door opening from the side and lack of space problems in los angeles . I couldnt open the door all the way sometimes. the sunroof makes odd noises even when closed . the interior noise is bad and loud. it takes a while to get use to that much noise. not to comfortable on long drives because the seats are to hard. but still I recommend the rav4 because it has more pros then cons .

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  Buy a RAV4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Best Vehicle Owned - November 11 - 12:36 pm

  So far, this has been the best vehicle Ive ever owned for several reasons. I got rid of a Jeep Liberty for the RAV4 and now I have confidence about easily getting at least 200,000 miles. The engine build is real quality. Nothing beats RAV4 in its class and the proof comes from owning it. Way to go Toyota!

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  Major defects - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Cgoodrich - November 10 - 8:59 pm

  Had to take it in 2 weeks after I got it gir a faulty rear differential. There were 3 other brand new ones there as well for major fixes.