Overview & Reviews

For 2015, the Toyota RAV4 is essentially unchanged save for a couple of new options and features. Specifically, there is a new Blizzard Pearl appearance package for the Limited, while the XLE picks up new wheels and the option of a power liftgate. Toyota has also revised the RAV4's frontal structure this year to improve the vehicle's score in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety small-overlap frontal-offset crash test.

• Strikes a good balance between ride comfort and sure-footed handling.
• Roomy interior for people and cargo

• No engine upgrade option
• Usefulness of available Entune smartphone features is diminished by cumbersome setup process.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 78.00

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  Mixed bag - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By RonC - December 28 - 1:57 pm

  Pros: Roomy, great gas mileage, dependable, good dealer network, good driver lumbar support. Cons: Armrest placement awkward for trip comfort, suction cup marks on windshield, handles rough pavement poorly, wind noise very noticeable at highway speeds, outside rearview mirrors block side views, no way to judge your parking as fender height totally blocks any visibility for parking. Overall road comfort feel is like a truck.This is my seventh toyota and I feel the rav 4 did not meet my expectations.

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  Speedometer purposely inaccurate - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Joe - December 15 - 11:50 am

  My speedometer is reading 3 to 4 mph below actual speed according to radar and confirmed by the dealership. An average speed of 40 mph is a 7.5 to 10% discrepancy. The warranty is 36,000 miles. That equals to a loss of 2,700 to 4,000 miles of warranty. Actual warranty miles will be 32,000 to 33,300. Toyota refused to fix or replace the speedometer. I went through arbitration on July 8, 2015. I lost because there are no laws governing the accuracy of speedometers and that the 3 to 4 mph is within Toyota specifications. In other words, Toyota dictates the accuracy of its speedometers and can therefore reduce the mileage warranty without the buyer being aware that this is happening. In my view this is corrupt as I would not have bought the RAV4 if I had known that Toyota is actually selling me a lesser warranty. Otherwise the vehicle operates fine. However the screen is very touchy and has a habit of going bonkers. I recommend using the tip of a pencil or a similar device. Discard the navigation and have a separate GPS handy. Great for hauling stuff. Again if I had known about the speedometer, I would have purchased an alternate brand as there are many out there. Have taken a couple of 3,000 mile trips: Speed averaged 75 on one and 83 on the other over plains and mountains. RAV4 performed flawlessly and had no problems passing other vehicles. MPG was anywhere from 27 to 29. JOn secondary roads on trips the gas mileage averaged 33. Very quiet engine but outside road noise was very pronounced (loud).

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  Factory Defects! - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Josie - June 10 - 6:18 pm

  I bought a new 2015 RAV4 in February. Have had issues from the start. Door locks worked intermittently, often I couldnt get back into my car - big safety issue! Took it into the service dept FOUR TIMES before they finally figured out the problem. This after my complaints being met with either disbelief or being told that I "must be pressing the wrong button." (Huh??) One of the times, they simply let it sit in the service bay for an hour and a half, then told me they had checked it out and everything was now working fine. (yeah, right.) Turned out it was the actuator in the front drivers door that was defective. (Had no idea what an actuator even was until then.) Since then, Ive had 2 other "factory defects" - so far! It looks great, drives great, rides comfortably, but... I will never buy another Toyota!!!!

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  20 years of RAV4s - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Chris K - January 31 - 2:47 pm

  I owned an original 1996 RAV4 as my first car and was curious to drive the newest version 20 years later. The original RAV4 was like all the other small SUVs of the day. Cute, compact, good mileage and a fair amount of utility. Mine was the forest green, but the hood paint was flaking off for whatever reason. The radio only worked in one speaker and I couldnt tune too high on the radio dial or I got static. If I floored it, not a whole lot happened and I had to carry around a can of WD40 in the winter, because the locks froze open. But it ran like a champ for the most part and was cheap to maintain. My wife and I got a 2015 Toyota RAV4 AWD XLE on loan from our local dealer thanks to a recall on my wifes 2008 Scion TC. So naturally, I was curious. How did 20 years of evolution measure up to the original? The new one is a lot bigger than the old one. I was impressed with the space in my RAV, but this car has to be twice as big. Its really wide too and the driving position is a lot higher. It almost feels like youre sitting on a milk crate, with a wide view of the road and your surroundings. The load floor in the back is still low and I imagine there isnt much you cant fit in the back. Theres some neat cubbie holes in the dashboard and console as well. The acceleration is definitely better than the original, thanks to about 50 more HP, but a bigger car carries more heft and you can feel it. From the numbers, its dropped about 1.5 seconds in 0-60, but it could use more oomph. The handling leaves something to be desired too. The new RAV4 is easy over bumps, stops well, is very quiet on the road and the wheel is light and easy. But man, is it boring. Sport mode just means a feeling of more power, but nothing else. My old RAV4 was mostly unremarkable. It had its flaws, but for the most part it got me where I needed to go with minimal issues. I put 145k miles on it and only traded in because the AC failed and would have cost more than the car was worth to fix it. I saw it a couple of weeks ago actually and has to be well over 200k in miles by now. Its great great grandson seems poised to do more of the same. Makes sense as thats what Toyotas are these days for the most part. If you want something to get you to where you need to go with minimal effort, this is the car for you. If you need something that moves the needle a little more and gives you some driving excitement, this may not be the best choice. Perhaps thats why I traded in the old RAV4 for a Subaru.

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  Fuel economy sucks! - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By John C. - December 2 - 1:07 pm

  First and foremost, you will NEVER EVER see anything close to 30mpg. If the wind is pushing you from behind and you are going down a large mountain slope you may get 27. But I average close to 23 mpg highway. Maybe 24 mpg on a good day if the wind is just right. However 50-60 mph seems to be its sweetspot, you will average 35 or better, but for whatever reason once you hit the highway doing 70+ its all over. So on that end you are better off buying something with a V-8. Power is adequate but if you want to pass somebody it takes a while. The brakes are noisey especially if it sits outside for more than 12 hours, the rotors rust up very fast, but the noise goes away after 10 minutes of driving. Had an issue with a window leak the first day of my lease. Interior is roomy, very easy to get in and out of. Older friends getting in and out of the back seat sing praises. Back seats recline which is nice and also fold down for much needed room when moving large items. Dirt and road salt seem to find its way easily under the door trim which tells me in a few years you can count on rust issues. The 4wd is nice. It does what its supposed to. Gives you the confidence to drive in almost any driving conditon. Overall, the LE model is basic transportation. Nothing flashy. Nothing to brag about, it just gets you to your destination and back. If it truly got 30mpg, I would like it much more and Id probably keep it, but the fuel economy is what kills it for me.

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  Great SUV/CUV, with a few caveats - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By tradedcmax - June 6 - 12:14 pm

  Updated 2 years later: I enjoyed the RAV4 and RAV4 hybrid for just over 2 years, but didnt realize the negative effect the front seat was having with my leg, and how I would develop a problem that could have caused or helped to contribute to neuropathy, something that developed during my RAV4 ownership. I had come to believe the RAV4 was the only car I could drive, without hurting my feet more. By chance I recently drove a Buick Encore, and while the seats were slightly more narrow, the bottom cushion side bolsters pushed up and provided support in a place that needed to be supported. I could not believe how much difference this made. I thought it was a fluke, and tried again and even again. Same thing, less problems with my feet hurting. Now, 4 weeks into this new relationship and Ive been able to do more than before. I have reduced the pain meds a bit, and I can go longer without the pain. I dont know if the condition is fully reversible or not, it came on during a 2 year period, so maybe it will take awhile. Maybe never. And maybe nothing to do with it? I dont know. But I do know Im getting better support with a different cars front seat. And I can get around without as much trouble - the need to limp from the pain is going away. As for repairs, I had the rear tailgate door switch that had to be replaced, and the problem of hitting the switch more than once was still present after the repair. In addition, the left front fog light burned out and was also covered under warranty. The last thing I noticed and didnt have serviced, was an intermittent issue with the brakes acting a bit odd, and without any consistency. It would feel like the left front caliper was grabbing or something. It was too intermittent to take in for service, and had recently passed the state inspection without issue. Is the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid a great car? Yes...and a great value. The paint on the RAV4 Hybrid, made in Japan, was way better. And the 30mpg average was just incredible. I miss the extra space, and the fact I was saving more gas. What I wish was that the seats were more comfortable, and that Toyota realized that not everyone is a certain shape and size, and plan accordingly with the seats. UPDATE: At about the one year anniversary of owning this great SUV, I traded it in with 18,000 miles on the odometer. Why? I traded it for a 2016 RAV4 Hybrid XLE. I enjoyed it so much that I took a small loss to get into the hybrid version. The gas mileage is anywhere from 31mpg around town and higher speed commutes, to 37.5mpg on a trip from Phila to Baltimore and back - going just about the speed limit using the adaptive radar cruise control. While I gave up the faux leather heated memory seats, I gained a significantly better technology equipped hybrid version. The tech package includes front collision avoidance with cars and pedestrians, lane departure, front and rear parking assist sensors, and of course blind spot monitoring. My wife misses her heated seats for her back issues, but agreed the cloth seats were more amiable to not sweating when hot, and not feeling as cold when it is cold outside. The RAV4 limited (non-hybrid) model did GRRRRREEEAAAAATTTT in the snow, it did a really good job in fact. The hybrid AWD is different, and havent had a chance to try it in the snow. But the limited non-hybrid was perfect in the snow - hoping for the same with this one. The only thing I found I didnt like on the non-hybrid version, which is made in Canada, was that the paint was as thin a layer as you could imagine and I got alot of chips from driving on the highway. The hybrid is made in Japan and so far, not a single chip. I did have to replace the windshield as a stone must have hit the windshield, and then it spread, but no chips on the hood.....so if you like a good paint job, get the hybrid because they seem like they are better painted as they are made in Japan. I would highly recommend the RAV4 to anyone......from the cargo size, to the quality, to the MPG, to the lack of problems, etc. Id say the RAV4 is a homerun! All in all, Im pleased with this vehicle. I upgraded from another smaller wagon cuv with all wheel drive, because it could not handle the speed of I95 in the Philly metro area. I was pleased with the handling of this RAV4, at those highway/rush hour speeds. I havent tried out the AWD as I bought this in the spring season when there was no snow. But so far, it is doing well. Ive had this for about a month and have just over 2,000 miles on it. But this is getting anywhere from 24 mpg on my suburbia trips, up to 28 mpg on the highway (higher speed) drives. I realize Id get more MPG if Id be able to go 45-50 mph, but that is not possible.

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  Defective Hood! - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Art - February 13 - 3:58 am

  I didnt notice during the test drive because it was almost dark already. The hood is bouncing even at low speed and more on high speed. According to the technician from Toyota USA it is normal because they made the Rav4 body thinner than the previous for more mileage. Biggest mistake of my life but I learned a lot with this experience. Just waiting one more year coz still upside down. I will definitely trade this car.

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  Well keep our superior 2011 Rav4 limited - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Tim - August 22 - 5:11 am

  Try before you buy! When we needed more cargo room to take daughter and dorm stuff back to school 100 miles away we killed 2 birds with one stone. Were considering a new Rav but a 10 minute test drive IS NOT enough so we rented a 2016 Rav4 Limited which was hard to find for rent and seemed to ride the same as a 2015 we had driven prior. The car served its purpose in 2 ways: 1: It got the job done. 2: It convinced us to keep our 2011. Why? Ok so if you drive mostly smooth highways its ok. When tooling around/commuting on anything else it rides like a brick (yes tire psi correct) You feel every imperfection on the road.The other annoyance is the 6 speed which in theory makes sense but its annoying as it constantly hunts for gears. The 15/16 just have an overall cheap feel inside and out including fake leather. Our 2011 by comparison feels solid, no gear hunting, not a squeak or rattle, nice ride, real perforated leather and great JBL sound. We have owned many fine Toyotas including our current Rav and 2009 Camry Hybrid but I think corporate greed has caused their quality to decline in recent years including far too many recalls some of which years later STILL dont have a fix which speaks volumes right there.

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  Now Bigger Squintier with Less Head and Leg Room - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Jeff Harris - July 18 - 10:03 pm

  I took my beloved 2006 RAV in for its 120,000 mile maintenance. and drove a new 2015 Rav 4 for the day. I first noticed unfortunate design changes while attempting to get in the car. The seat was higher. The roof lower, and the steering wheel moved less. Anyone over 6 feet tall will not be comfortable getting in and out of the drivers seat of the 15 Rav 4. Thats a shame because the ample headroom and easy entry was one of the reasons I bought the 06 Rav 4. Visibility from the drivers seat , which wasnt ideal in my 2006 Rav4, was even further from ideal in the 15. The ribbon windows in my 06 model have become mere slits in the 15. No backup camera is a risky thing in the Rav 4; I had one installed after reportedly backing into objects hidden from view. The 15 has even less view of what is behind it. Clearly, tiny fashionistas with an obsession with squinty windows and headlights have taken control of design and the car suffers from it. The only improvement I detected was a decrease in road noise.

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  PLASTIC JUNK! BAD BLUETOOTH! - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Hugh - January 29 - 11:05 pm

  I love this SUV. Only two problems is the seat belt plastic mount on the drivers door pillar has a constant rattle! Right in my left ear. Been to dearler twice still no fix! Guess I could drive a stick in to this $29,000 car to get it to stop, cant go far like this! Like the voodoo rattle torcher. Worst bluetooh on the market! 02/06/16 Up date Still the worst bluetooth on the market! Nissan has Toyota beat 10 to 1 on theirs.You Can get in the car and take off and if the does not pair right you cant even use your cell phone. Have to stop and shut it down get out of the car to make a phone call! Not just the rav4 my wifes 2013 camry does the same thing on her bluetooth! come on toyota your letting Nissan beat you on this bluetooth deal! Your better than that!