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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  Issues with the car. - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By pinkldy56 - January 20 - 6:08 pm

  At 17,603 miles the water pump needed replacement which entailed removing the engine to get to the pump due to poor design. Fortunately the repair was under warranty. At 28,748 miles the car needs a new steering shaft which is not covered under the warranty because the car is already six years old; total cost at dealership service was $236.52 for the part and labor will be determined when I get he repair done.

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  ITS A BUDGET SUV, DRIVE THE COMPETION FIRST - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By Goose - January 19 - 9:02 am

  I had my vehicle, 2004 4Runner, in the dealer shop and had to rent a car. The Toyo dealer rented cars and I decide on the RAV4 AWD LE. First thing I did was reduce the tire pressure to the vehicles door jam specification. Here is my take. Its not as quiet as my 2004 4Runner, especially on rough roads. On the Freeway it is quiet, so long as the road surface is good. Seats are comfy but the hip bolstering can make it difficult to get out of the vehicle. Stereo sounded pretty good at a stop or stop light, but the sound quality goes down hill as the speed increases. Its nimble and the short wheel base takes all of the credit. The MPG was around 24 with lots of city driving, Im not a lead foot or a grandpa driver. So would I consider this for purchase? No, the deal breaker is the amount of noise that makes into the car. Id like to add that on the previous day I had a 2017 Ford Fusion hybrid and that thing was luxury quiet, on any road surface. I use to have a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and that thing was quieter and more fun to drive than the RAV4. So there is my take, good luck with your decision.

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  Great around-town car! - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By pcd - January 18 - 6:43 pm

  Ive had my all wheel drive RAV4 for one year now. Only problem I had was a check engine light came on once, took it in to the dealership and it was corrected (nothing serious). It is a great car for errands, city driving and shorter trips. Ive taken it on one long trip and wished it had an 8-way power adjustable seat with more support, and more insulation against road noise. No complaints about interior rattles except for the lock on the glove box, sometimes buzzes.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By ravgrl - January 10 - 1:06 pm

  I just purchased the rav 4 and it is great. I am 52" and it is the only small SUV that I drove and felt comfy in. It handles really well with great pick up and steering. It does take getting used to if you were used to driving a sedan as it is top heavy, but the rav4 doesnt lean as much as the other models I drove. I love the sporty look and the interior gauges are easy to read and fun to look at.

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  Rav4 1 year later - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By DavidRav4 - January 8 - 3:50 am

  Ive been driving my Rav4 for about a year. So far its proven very reliable. Switching from a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C280 to the Rav4 was a huge difference in performance, but even at 4-cyl it gets the job done, more than well enough i might add, when I need some passing power. Im in college and involved in multiple organizations which requires me to transport large equipment for food sales, parties, etc. the spacious room when back seats are folded down is remarkable. Handling is great, I use the cruise control daily. Toyota is the way to go, despite the companies recent setbacks.

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  This RAV is the Mac Daddy - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By glowwing - January 4 - 7:16 am

  Im 52 and this is by far the nicest car i have ever owned. i would never have guessed any car would beat my 4runner but i was wrong. The loaded 4 runner is great but all things considered the RAV takes the gold star!

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  Fun for Mommy and kids - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Marta - January 1 - 8:43 pm

  At first I thought it might be a bit small for my 2 toddlers, but it is so roomy in the back seat a tall person fits comfortably, lots of leg and head room, my kids love it and I agree. The fuel efficiency is excellent, I sometime feel like I am driving a car. It handles great.

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  My Rav - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Roberta - December 31 - 11:46 pm

  This is one of the best cars that I have ever had, It is small easy to handle and roomy enough for long legs.

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  Great 4 cylinder Horsepower - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Ed - December 31 - 5:53 am

  I just traded-in my 2001 Rav4 for a new 2006. After test driving it I couldnt believe that a four cylinder would have that much power and performance. I also own a Highlander V6, the performance on the Rav4 is excellent in comparison. Also the large cargo area is almost as big as the Highlander, for the price difference the Rav4 is a steal. I have owned Toyotas over the past 20 years from 4 Runners to Avalons and the Rav4 really competes.

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  Better value than CR-V LX - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By hemoyt - December 31 - 2:00 am

  This year should be big for RAV4 though toyota doesnt put more effort to advertise the fact that by using a 2.4 vvt-i engine with VSC, trac ctrl and disc brakes for 4 wheels, ABS on standard list, RAV4 packs a better value comparing the once class-leader CR-V, esp., at the entery-level trims. Except for the sometimes buzzy engine and high-rev transmission under harder accelerations, I dont have any thing to complain on my mid-january cross country driving from Massachusetts to San Franscisco. If you dont care extra several cubic feets cargo or backseat room, RAV4 offers much better safety features over CR-V LX.