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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  2004 RAV4 - LOVE IT, JUST LOVE IT!! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By RUREADY2DOIT - September 20 - 10:00 am

  This car is well engineered. It will retain its resale value for years down the road. It is responsive and extremely convenient. Lord dont know if I could handle a V-6 with over 200 horsepower in it if they decided to put one in. Brakes are solid and certain. Sound system is absolutely superb. Turning radius is most acceptable.

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  Very Happy With My Rav4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Smilin Bob - September 19 - 2:40 am

  I waited to review my RAV4 until I could see how well it performed in winter snow. It performed exceptionally well after a 12" dumping. The AWD, traction and stability control worked great. I really had to work to make it skid! (and thats with OEM tires) Its been great when going camping and it gets good gas mileage. Ive not had one reliability issue in 14 months now. I have absolutely no regrets in buying this great mini-SUV.

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  Best little SUV out there! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By anselmo1 - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Test drove all the competition and settled on the 2003 RAV 4 L with all the pptions. Interior is well layed out and the seating is quite comfortable. It rides like a car on the road and is very easy to drive.

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  I love my Rav4! - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By kate66 - September 17 - 10:33 am

  I bought my Rav4 used in 2006 with 34,000 miles. I have had absolutely no problems with it beyond normal maintenance. I have made multiple cross-country trips in it and have found it to be very comfortable even on long car rides. People can not believe how old my car is when they look at it. It still has its original paint, and people think its brand new. I love the way it drive. It has a lot of road noise, but I knew that going into it. At 90,600, its still going strong. I think I am one of the only people I know who not only loves my car but actually doesnt want a new one.

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  Toyota is Slipping - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By voicedude - September 17 - 7:59 am

  I bought this car for the engine, and it remains the best feature of the car. But I have had ongoing problems with the transmission, and many others have, too. This is only true with the 5-speed transmission on the V6 (not the 4-cyl.) The now infamous "whining transmission" noise that has been well documented on the owners forums (search transmission noise on RAV4 World and others) is something you will want to consider when youre buying this vehicle used. Also the poor response from Toyota in fixing the problem under warranty has completely soured me on the ownership experience, so I wouldnt be able to recommend this car to anyone. Go with Honda.

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  Its good... but - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By HansJuergen - September 15 - 9:20 pm

  Purchased in August 06, and have driven it about 5000 miles. Although the engine is powerful, there is a bit of steering instability when accelerating hard. Also, the suspension is a bit bouncy. I also drive a Mini Cooper with very stiff suspension, and I guess I prefer the stiffer ride to the RAV4s. I agree that the standard stereo is disappointing, as are the cupholders. We get pretty good mileage (average 23mpg), but we tend to drive conservatively. It is tempting to step into the gas pedal now and then, but I am sure that this results in significantly less mileage, as others have reported. Also, when you do step into it, the downshift is rather abrupt and startling.

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  Had it a year and love it!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Carrie in PA - September 14 - 6:03 pm

  This is the best vehicle I have ever owned. It is fun to drive and when I want to get up and go she just flies. I have recommended a RAV4 to many people and they too have purchased them and loved them just as much. It has a nice turning radius, great on snow and ice, no lagging on hills. It cleans easily with just a wet rag, I did purchase rubber husky mats to preserve the floors (recommended). I average around 25.5 mpg and have gotten as much as 28 mpg on the highway. It is a bit lower in the winter (21-22 mpg) but I figure it is because of the AWD being used. Definitely not complaining there since I want to be safe.

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  Great suv...with some reservations - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By Scotty - September 9 - 9:12 am

  This has been a fantastic vehicle. Has great passing power, great visibility, and of course Toyota reliability. My girlfriend and I purchased the Rav to replace her 2003 Ford Escape. I drive the Rav 30% of the time and after two years, there are a few things I have found annoying. The front seats are as comfortable as bar stools. There isnt a lot of adjustment for the driver, and none for the passenger. Im 6 1" - even with the seat all the way back and the thigh support tilted down, I dont have enough room. We still own the Escape and when we swap back and forth between vehicles, the lack of room and comfort for the front passengers in the Rav is evident. The drivers door and steering wheel controls are not lit. Why are the foot wells constantly lit, but they couldnt have the window and door lock buttons lit? We have the limited model which comes with the push button start. With this option you cant have the stereo on unless the engine is on. Even with these small complaints, we would purchase again.

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  My RAV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By randgard - September 4 - 10:06 am

  Great Toyota. Very functional and perfomance is super and gets 23 mpg. nothing but oil changes first 18000 miles. Very good quality for the price.

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  Its All That! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Sheridan McDaniel - September 4 - 9:36 am

  This SUV has class and quality Ive never experienced. The four years plus of owning this vehicle, the only issue Ive ever had with it is taking it in for its required maintenance. I dont think I can ever get a better quality and more affortable vehicle unless its a Toyota. The only reason I am departing from it is that I need more room due to medical issues, which leads me to the new 2006 that has more room. I havent checked it out yet but if the driver seat gives me more room, then Toyota has won me over again. I will never purchase another motor vehicle outside of Toyota. I hate having to give my SUV up, but I feel like I am getting a big promotion to what Toyota has to offer me next.