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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Reliable, but poorly designed features. - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By Andi - January 28 - 5:50 pm6 Cyl offers quick pickup to get into traffic. Stylish looking. Driving w/ Sun/Moonroof up can be noisy. Fold-down seats are a cinch to use and offer a lot of storage room for trips to store.
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Highly recommend! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Nicole - January 28 - 3:30 amI love my RAV4! I have had great experience with Toyota cars and was watching the RAV4 for a few years, but was disappointed in the rear seat and cargo space - until the 2006 model! The back seat space is awesome, and the seats even recline. The cargo space with the seats up is excellent, and with the seats down, its hard to believe its a "small" SUV. The audio system is excellent, ABS is standard, as is traction control, and the hamdling is responsive and nimble. I even went on a trip in March and got 34 mpg! Great car!
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I love my Rav 4!! - 2002 Toyota RAV4
By haylieplum - January 27 - 10:00 amI just bought this car and I love it. It is so much fun to drive. I got the all black one and its so sleek to look at. It looks like a smaller BMW suv. I love all the options I have on mine and I love the reliability of everything.
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Cheap Cheap Cheap - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By firefly67 - January 27 - 8:30 amWeve had our 2006 Rav4 Limited 4WD for less than one year - the back seat stitching is already coming apart. Its uncomfortable for both me and my husband to drive more than an hour, no matter how we try to adjust the seat. The plastic dashboard is just cheap - everything about the car, except the price, appears cheap. We love Toyotas but will definitely re-think before we buy toyota again.
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RAV4 is the best! - 2016 Toyota RAV4
By B Rodz - January 24 - 2:20 pmGreat gas mileage. Great vehicle! Sporty! I love it!
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Great SUV - 2016 Toyota RAV4
By MrBee - January 24 - 3:52 amHanding and riding comfort are very good.
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Rav4 - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By Dick Nelson - January 24 - 2:00 amLove the car....quick..starts at -20 and I even like the Stereo. Dislikes: Dash Squeaks and rattles and wind noise. Never owned a vehicle with such dash rattles. I have not yet had to dealer to correct rattles....
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Excellent car! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By bzktnkorn5 - January 23 - 5:26 amMy familys had a 96 Rav4 for 10 years now, and we love that thing, but now that the new ones have arrived, we love this one even more! Its fun to drive, and its a lot more comfortable than the older model we own. (Ive found that on long car trips my legs start hurting because the seats are so stiff, not a problem on this model!)
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Nice - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By JPM - January 23 - 2:06 amFinally found a Limited 4WD V6. Great little SUV.
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Wisely chosen - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By Peanut - January 21 - 1:03 amWe were initially set on getting the base model but after driving the Sport model we were sold on the upgraded version. The V6 almost packs too much punch. We took it on a road trip to LA from Nevada for thanksgiving and it handled extremely well in the rain all the way home. This car has the perfect balance of performance, size and price. My wife says she is happy she doesnt look like a soccer mom driving it; we just had our first child and it is perfect for our small family.
