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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Consider your purchase wisely - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Mick - December 12 - 4:23 amGreat car for resale and possible reliabilty. V6 is peppy but hard to handle when flooring it to get up to speed or pull out into traffic, the steering wavers. Very choppy bouncy ride. Has had loss of power when accelerating onto freeway twice. Shifts late at times, just enough to be annoying. Have actually had to give it gas to go down hill. Dont let the fancy controls of the Limited sway you, simple dials are easier to use. Seats are hard. Tow package does not include wiring, you cant do it yourself, because it has to be wired from the dash to the back. Rear suspension cant handle 1200 lb. tent trailer. Snow/rain gets in through the door controls and freezes.
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Most FUN SUV ive ever driven - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By JasonErickson - December 12 - 2:00 amThis car is the most fun SUV ive ever driven, its one of the most easy motor vehicles to drive ever. Excellent handling. VERY FUN!!! Performance is adequate, especially for an SUV. It gets about 28mpg in the city!!!!! Its really nicely styled too. Great car, id recommend it to ANYONE!
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great rav4 - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By d whyte - December 7 - 10:00 amGreat SUV. This SUV is fun to drive. Great gas mileage. Toyota dealers were willing to reduce price below invoice.
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trusty rav - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By natcam - December 4 - 4:33 amGreat handling for an suv not at all like a truck plus on freeway trips gets 30 mpg. Love the hood scoop on the S model even though husband says its non functional so far 3 years 33000 mile no problems whatsoever then again its a Toyota. Also test drove a Honda CR-V which had more room but at the time the Rav had better safety features like standard ABS, Traction & Stability Control that was not even available on the Honda.
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needs bigger rear end - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By lobos - December 1 - 10:00 amThis is a reliable car. It has great gas milage. We drove on the freeway for 61/2 hours and we did not need to fill it up. We drove 60-65 mls an hour.
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Simply Perfect - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By Holly8484 - December 1 - 10:00 amI have had my RAV for over a year and 1/2, and I still love driving it. Drives very smoothly, just like a car. I had a Camery before I got my RAV 4, and to be honest, I like the RAV much better. It also makes me feel safe while driving. You wont regret buying this one! I promise!!!
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Better than I expected - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By S.Baker - December 1 - 10:00 amWe bought this Rav for the wife. She had some reservations about the 4 cyl. After driving it for a few months it has excceded her and my expectations. Off road its great as long as you avoid extreme situations.Ground clearance is fantastic, very little wheel spin and very agile. On the highway it really shines, it will cruise all day without breaking a sweat up hills included with close to 30 mpg.Once it gets too 3000 rpms its pretty impressive. The only real down side is the cup holders could use some improvement and it can be a real slug at stop light to stop light unless you activate the ECT.
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Purchased 7-3-11. Love RAV4! - 2011 Toyota RAV4
By lovemyrav4 - November 28 - 4:22 pmI have owned my RAV4 for a week now. Left my comfy Tahoe LT and I am very happy with my purchase. Already took it on long road trip 1000 miles. The RAV4 was amazing!! Did not feel the bumps in the road. Very smooth. Easy to handle. Gas mileage was good. Visual clearance was excellent. No noticeable road noise. Lots of get up and go! The tailgate is NOT too heavy. I am a small person too! There is so much room back there. Also extra mini-trunk is a bonus. Drivers seat was a little hard after a few hours, but had pillow to help. Also steering wheel is like holding onto a metal bar, but also fixable! Back seat is very comfortable with lots of leg room. RAV4 is excellent!
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My First SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Joseph Greene - November 27 - 2:30 pmThis is the first SUV I have owned. With about 1000 miles on the odometer its still early but we love it. My wife and I spar over whos going to drive it. It is really fun to drive, very practical and very comfortable. Our other car is a Volvo S80 which we have enjoyed. But the thrill is with the RAV4. We are a little disappointed with our gas mileage. Its running a tad under 20 MPG. We live in Palm Beach County Florida where a lot of driving is stop and go, long traffic lights to wait for heavy traffic on the roads and we havent had it on the open road except for brief trips on the Turnpike or I95 so the jury is still out. But so far we love the car.
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Finally love my RAV4 - 2011 Toyota RAV4
By Maxine Gatling - November 23 - 10:00 amI drove a V6 Camry for 11 years so I was used to the silky smooth ride of a Camry. Of course, the RAV4 is a SUV,and not a sedan, so it took me about a week to get used to the rougher ride. The V6 is still a smoother ride than the V4 RAV or the V4 Honda CR-V. I think I am going to love this SUV as I adjust to the different ride. It handles very nicely.
