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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  Long term relationship - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By IAM - November 20 - 2:00 am

  We have had this car since 1997, its reliability performance & style have all withstood the test of time. It rides today like it did 9 years ago.

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  Awesome - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Morgan - November 18 - 4:16 am

  My Mom bought this car used in 1998, and puts absolutly hammered it with miles. We are now at about 205000 miles. But it has never had any major problems. It is a great car and I would recommend it to anyone. Especially with gas prices being the way they are. (27-29 mpg)

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  No disappointment here! - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By patman5150 - November 17 - 9:49 pm

  it is hard to go wrong with Toyota, and my recent RAV4 purchase is no exception. I am glad that Toyota has made the RAV4 a little bigger than past years. I looked seriously at the Equinox and Terrain SUVs, but the RAV4 won me over. While some of the displays & gadgets on the interior are not as nice as GM, I feel it is a minor issue. The 4cyl is refined and peppy. The overall ride is smooth. The cabin is relatively quiet and quite spacious. The 2 things I feel Toyota could improve are the steering wheel, its layout is uncomfortable (for me anyway), and the electric steering in not where it should be. the steering feels very "heavy" - like turning 350lb wheels. Overall very satisfied!

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  Terrific! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By C. - November 14 - 2:30 pm

  This is a great vehicle! Handles like a car and is very responsive; tight turning radius makes it easy to get into parking garage from the back alley. V6 is fun to drive - I almost regret the short commute. Great mileage. Sleek look, not clunky or boring like other SUVs. Lots of space for passengers in back seat, with huge storage space. Couldnt be happier with my choice and I still admire it everytime I see it! Love the MP3 capability and bottle holders in the doors. Also love adjustable backseat headrests that can be minimized to avoid blocking rear view - unlike some cars, including other Toyotas, in which they block a large portion of the view!

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  High quality design - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill - November 12 - 1:23 pm

  Love the car, plenty of power and it is built like a higher priced luxury vehicle. The design is much classier than the last generation of the RAV and it turns heads everywhere I drive it.

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  After a month, so far, so good - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By John - November 10 - 7:11 pm

  My wife "stole" my RAV4 for a January trip to West Virginia. "Awesome" is her only report.

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  RAV = Really Agile & Very fast - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By M McCurdy - November 8 - 1:36 am

  Owner for a couple months now. Handles great and the performance is amazing. High lease rate is a drawback. Performance makes up for it?

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  not a bad little suv - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Jody brad - November 7 - 10:00 am

  bought toyota after my husband had his truck for 18 years and he bought it used. it didnt cost us anything. i had a ford exploder with acutaly did explode. bought toyota after much research. i am happy with this vehichle although i too have had problems with stereo (had to be replaced), check engine light, rattle in my back door (took a year to be fixed finally) and other small things. I have had it 3.5 years and i would buy it again. I just hope the reliability I reasearched comes through for me till the end. Definetly go for the 5spd

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  Very Nimble - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By San Diego Rav 4 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 96 BMW 318is and love the RAV 4. It is very nimble and responsive, Has enough get up and go for city driving, and is more fun to drive than I thought it would be. Not a luxury car or as solid as a BMW, but it is a great vehicle for the money. It is so easy and comfortable to drive.

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  Glad I Chose It - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Rob - November 7 - 7:40 am

  This car rides just as well as the familys Benz sedan or Infiniti suv. Its been great in stop and go, as well as on the highway. The cloth seats feel both durable and comfy. Real world fuel economy has been more along the lines of 22.5/25 vs. 23/28 advertised, par for the course if not better. The 4cyl can chase down your normal traffic without even punching it. This car deserves a look for cargo space alone, which even includes an extra few cubic feet buried beneath the mats. Take a seat in the back and youll immediately notice how far away the front seats really are. Passengers have plenty of leg room and can even recline if need be. It gets a lot of looks for its exterior too.