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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  Love This Car - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Maricruz - August 20 - 11:54 am

  I bought my 2002 RAV4 at 106k miles. It is now at 118k and it runs as good as a new car. It is so comfortable and so reliable. Ive only had to do the basic maintenance which include oil change and brake change. It is so great on gas. It looks newer than a 2002. The paint and parts are all original and it rides so smooth. My only complain is the spare tire cover, unfortunately it is too difficult to remove. Other than that everything about this truck is great.

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  318,000 and still going - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Laurea McLeon - August 19 - 6:40 am

  My Rav has been in 4 major accidents and has over 318,000 miles on it and it is still going stong. I wouldnt part with this car unless you gave me another one...well maybe if you gave me a Highlander.. :-}

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  Catastrophic Engine Failure/vvt oil leak - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Deb - August 19 - 12:10 am

  I used to love this car. I ordered it specifically. We own several Toyotas. After only 37000 miles I had a VVT hose leak spraying the car engine and making loud grinding sound. The dealer will not examine the valves or open the drip pan. I have found this is more common than Toyota is letting on. Toyota has only replaced the hose (60000 power train warranty) and will not agree to look for any damage that may have occurred. The warning light does not come on until the oil is gone and the engine is frozen. Horrible combination. Hope this helps someone else avoid this situation.

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  Great Little Vehicle - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By C Lemons - August 18 - 10:40 pm

  I was always a big SUV driver but, with gas going up almost everyday....I needed a SUV that wasnt a gas hog so, I did my homework on value and cost to own and found the Rav-4. I am so glad I did. Great little SUV, handles good, scoots in and out of traffic, cute as a button and I am getting at least 29 miles to the gallon. Way to Go Toyota.

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  Poor Mileage Unreadable Climate Display - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By R Grimes - August 14 - 1:16 am

  This car is acceptable. I dont get anywhere near the promised mileage. The Premium Radio and Climate control display is unreadable in sunlight while wearing sunglasses. It is a clear safety hazard to try and operate them while driving. They need to be better lit as they are fine at night.

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  good second family car - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By chando - August 8 - 2:00 am

  great for hauling kids and gears around town but bit busy on the engine when push hard, so far so good

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  RAV 4 over new CRV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By David - August 8 - 12:23 am

  This is my fourth Toyota, and the best one yet. Silky smooth controls, very subtleshifts, and overall refinement well above average cars. My 80 pound Dobe can stand up straight in the back. Four cly. provides more than enough power here in WI, but six would be desirable in mountains. Looks awesome with 18 inch wheels and flares. Makes my Tacoma seem primitive. Drove a new CRV and it did not compare

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  HATE it LOVE it - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By justadriver - August 7 - 7:18 am

  My version of the 2016 rav 4 is the most expensive with the birds eye view and thinking that spending 40,000 on this car would last me a lifetime, but I am slowly starting to count down the days until I am able to trade it in. Dont get me wrong the birds eye view is great, the blind spot sensors are great, the car is awkwardly high and low at the same time, but what bothers me the most is that I can never get the Pandora or Iheart radio to work. And the apps for Toyota are really horrible. The car itself is spacious if you are no taller than 5"10 so far the Ive only had one oil change, and seems to be running fine, but I only get 23mpg city which seems very low for an eco friendly 4 cyl. car.

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  1,000 Miles So Far - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Nick B - August 6 - 1:43 pm

  I traded a 2002 manual honda civic for the RAV4 because we had a baby and needed a bigger car. I love the power upgrade from the civic, V-6 is a big jump in hp for my daily driving. It doesnt take the corners like a car, but it does handle fairly well with the sport suspension and larger wheels. We were almost ready to buy the CR-V, but the power of the V-6 sold me. So far Im averaging 21.5 mpg, pretty good mix of highway and city with the A/C on all the time because its been hot. Also drive on the more heavier footed side of average, not crazy, but more pedal than probably about 3/4 of the people out there. Overall its a nice car so far.

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  Great SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By mike - August 4 - 7:50 am

  My wifes vehicle, she loves it. Looked at Honda CRV, no comparison. RAV is much sturdier and roomier. Great utility, Camry reliability, pretty good gas mileage (for SUV its great) and lots of room. I cant imagine a more space efficient vehicle. Takes me a while to find a comfortable seating position for a long drive - Im 62". Wife is 53", says the RAV is even more comfortable than my Camry for her. Swing-out back door is a little awkward at times, but you get used to it. Tire pressure sensor is a pain at times (cold weather), but you can disable it. Overall, weve had the RAV 15 months, couldnt be happier.