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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  What fun! - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Love it - November 4 - 11:06 am

  I love the way this vehicle handles. It is quite nimble and quick. In the V6 model acceleration is better (much better) than I had with a V8 Explorer. Interior room is very satisfactory allowing me to have my large breed dog crate in the back without issue and to also offer room to the other dogs. It is fun to drive!! We did some off road driving yesterday through mud, up hills and over some rough terrain. I have the V6 Ltd model and am very pleased so far. I am small so the seats work well for me as does the rest of the car. The best thing about this SUV is the handling. It is so fast out of the starting blocks it was tough to get used to. Turning radius is on a dime. Stopping on a dime OK.

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  2001 Rav4 L Black - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Lee Suess - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive had many vehicles since I started driving in 1966 and the Rav4 has to rank in the top 5 of all of them. Thats pretty good because all the rest of them were cars, no trucks or SUVs. Ive taken it on several trips over 500 miles and its as comfortable as my Acura 3.2TL S Type. The combination of ride and handling is unbelieveable for an SUV and with the 5 speed manual it has plenty of acceleration. Most people cant believe how much room there is in the back especially when the rear seats are removed. Im surprised that Toyota doesnt advertise this vehicle more for as good as it is.

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  Love this Hybrd. - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Maggie - November 2 - 11:52 pm

  Great array of safety features: blind spot monitor, rear view camera, automatic low/high beams. Sometimes it is difficult to read the navigation screen. Would like to see heat/act in rear seat.

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  Problematic 2006 RAV4 V6 Limited - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By squarebomb - November 2 - 2:30 am

  We were so excited to hear that Toyota was building a V6 RAV4. After owning a 1999 RAV4 L for many years, we were ready for a bigger and more powerful RAV4. But because we couldnt get a good trade-in value for our 1999 RAV4, we decided to keep it. That was probably the best thing we ever did. While this RAV4 with the V6 engine si fun to drive, owning it is not fun at all. From whining sound coming from the fuel pump, to grumbling sound caused by the AWDs ECU, to prematurely failed wheel bearings, to knocking steering wheel column, to rusted through "Stainless steel" muffler, to failing ignition coils, and leaking oil lines that almost bursted. Now we have to replace the water pump. Sigh

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  Great Transportation - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Darren - October 31 - 10:33 pm

  I just traded my 2002 RAV4 in for a 2006 a couple months ago, and all of the things that I had issues with (all were very minor) they addressed. I wished that it had a little more power, seats fold flat, more size (now its almost as big as a Highlander). I put 148,000 flawless miles on my last RAV4, and I plan do the same on this one. I just wish they would come out with a hybrid. That would be the only reason that I would trade this one in before 150,000 miles. Great hob Toyota.

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  Zippy Rav4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By kevino - October 31 - 2:06 pm

  The new RAV4 V-6 is awesome. Its acceleration borders on magnificent. Merging on highways is a breeze.

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  It is a great little suv - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By Picky driver - October 30 - 2:00 am

  My Rav4L has performed well. It gets great gas mileage and after over 90,000 miles it still runs pretty much like a new car. I bought the RAV4 for the best gas mileage in an suv and because of Toyota reliability. I got what I was hoping for. It is a cute car. My husband says it is more suited to a woman though because it looks so cute.

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  Rav-4 09 Limited -Poor Paint - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Stew-16 - October 28 - 6:16 pm

  Leather interior is nice, gas mileage is not as good as they make it out to be, Toyota has put company profits above safety and apparently quality and control. The recalls issued has not mentioned the exterior paint my vehicle is 9 months old and has over 40 chips and counting in the black metallic paint, Im not alone with this complaint but Toyota, will not stand behind the quality of their paint work, they are blaming the new Chipped paint on the road environment. My other non-Toyota products did not have this issue. By time its paid off I will have more touch-up paint than factory paint on my New Rav-4.

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  Megs Rav 4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Margaret Langille - October 24 - 11:36 pm

  Has some body damage on both bumpers. Engine is in great condition.

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  Raving over RAV - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Robby - October 24 - 8:00 am

  Absolutely the best vehicle on the market for mountainous and hilly terrain. Living in St. Maarten Island has its challenges and an appropriate vehicle is one of them. Narrow, steep roads and torrential downpours must be met with by a special vehicle. The AWD RAV-4 is the very best of class in all categories.