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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My Rav4 - 2005 Toyota RAV4
By Barbara Kiella - December 29 - 9:53 amMy husband and I are at an age where getting in and out of the low cars are almost impossible. The Rav4 is higher from the ground. All we have to do is slide right in. On a long drive, my hips and legs use to ache, but not with the Rav4. It sits high so that your feet and legs dont stick out straigt in front of you, as if you were sitting on the floor. We cant wait to go on our vacation this year with it. And the gas mileage is terrific.
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Happy, excited driver - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Palmetto Lady - December 27 - 8:43 amMy husband is a "car" enthusiast but 15 years ago I started picking and buying my car. My Toyota 4WD Sport RAV 4 is his favorite. We have even been stopped in parking lots and asked what it is, what do we like about it and "can I take a peek". Good gas mileage, a smooth comfortable ride and great looks with plenty of room. We have made 2 11/hour trips to South Florida since the purchase and were very comfortable.
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1 Year, 15,000 mile review - 2013 Toyota RAV4
By limasawa - December 27 - 5:29 amWe compared this car to the nice 14 Forester and bought this for its interior design and Toyota reliability. Im not sure I would do it again. Im 6-4, 225 lbs, and 53 years old & need a car that is higher, easy to get into, and gets good MPG. This RAV4 is high enough, but the shape of the front door causes me to have to contort my body just a bit to enter. I do have plenty of room in the front and my knees do not touch the dash. But, the car feels cheap. The hood vibrates/shakes on certain kinds of rougher paved and dirt roads. The silver & "graphite" trim both scratch really easily. Car handles well, though the ride is stiff. Speakers are much worse than Camry, more like Corolla.
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My little RAV - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By Chichi - December 26 - 10:00 amI love my RAV. It rides smooth for a small SUV. The sound system is great and the reliability is wonderful!!!!
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My Blue RAV 4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By Sue h - December 26 - 10:00 amThis SUV goes very excellent in the rain and the snow. NO problems at all with this vehicle.
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Nice 2002 - 2001 Toyota RAV4
By caccar - December 24 - 10:00 amI put 30,000 miles on in 8 months. Not a single problem. All wheel drive excellent in 6" snow and on steep muddy mountain roads.
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Startup problems - 2012 Toyota RAV4
By tsoupy - December 23 - 11:36 pmIm having problems where my new RAV4 V6 4x4 just wont start up. Eventually - it will start but Toyota doesnt seem to have any handle on this issue. I notices that a couple other reviewers have had the same problem. Im not willing to live with this problem.
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My Rav - 2005 Toyota RAV4
By Laurie - December 23 - 8:36 pmWe rented a Rav in Las Vegas and fell in love...We came home and purchased one and still own it today...I would buy another one in a heart beat...!
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The smallest SUV in America - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By Eddie Newlson - December 17 - 2:00 amI like the styling, I hate the performance, I like the small size (easy to park in tight spots), I hate the little towing power. The interior feels very small after sitting in my fathers LX470
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Good small SUV but not perfect - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By JJ - December 15 - 2:53 amI needed a 2nd car that is easy to take my 85 year old Mother back and froth to the doctors, shopping and so-on. I looked at the CRV and Forester but the V6 Rav4 Sport with the Sport app Pkg missing the UGLY wort of a spare tire hanging off the back door. I would have passed if it had the spare on the door. Anyway, I ended up getting 3k off sticker price and must say it was worth it. My first car is an Audi A4Q and I had no idea how cheap the poor plastic everything Toyota builds car out of was, my Audi is light years ahead in build quality and dash layout. If you drive easy the 4wd V6 Rav4 gets decent MPGs, I always get 20 in the city and 26 to 29 Hwy. If your heavy on the gas youll pay.
