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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  Outstanding beach car - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By justyn - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I traded my 2000 Honda Civic in on this one in Dec of 2000 for the new rav4. I was highly impressed before I even bought it, especially with the way cool interior design. Afte buying, this car has blown me away with its reliability: I currently have 107,000 miles over 3 yrs, kept up with oil and maintenance, and the only problem I have had is replacing the brake pads twice total. Nothing else has gone wrong, and it has been unthinkably dependable. When you take out the back 2 seats, youve got more storage room than a Land Cruiser. Outstanding overall

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  Good Rig - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By tommasini - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Good looks...Excellent handling...Below average performance

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  Great SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By wkk - July 13 - 12:40 pm

  The RAV4 Ltd. 4wd V6 beats the last two Honda CRVs I have owned, except for the uncomfortable front seats. My wife and I both find them very difficult to sit in when taking any trip over 1 hour. They really need to improve these seats since the car is otherwise so great.

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  Pleased - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Anthony - July 13 - 8:40 am

  I have had the vehicle for only 2 weeks and I have been pleasantly surprised. Roomy, sufficient power from the 4 cylinder, great looks. We needed a small SUV that will give good gas mileage and it looks like we got it.

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  My Second RAV4 - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Linda Kirwin - July 10 - 7:04 pm

  This is my second RAV4 after driving a 2005 RAV LE for 12 years. I had no problems with the car and decided the flexibility of this model was worth continuing into my next car. I bought a CPO RAV4 2015 XLE. Lots of additional features on this one of course and the same solid vehicle I am used to. Visibility is slightly worse in the newer RAVs since they changed the design to eliminate that rear door and replace it with the lift gate. I am still adjusting to some of the changes but overall this is a great and reliable car. The seats now fold almost flat in the rear to create a cargo hold rather than having to remove them entirely. This is a plus. The rear seats also recline, it may be one of the most comfortable back seats out there. The ride is smooth (although in my case the shocks are also newer, have to consider that!). Cup holder is better, it is deep well works fine and does not have any parts that need to be adjusted around your cup. Many added safety features compared to the 2005 and this is something I really like too.

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  I love my Rav4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Sandy - July 10 - 5:26 pm

  The engine is super responsive. I have chosen 3rd row seat for the occasional use with friends or grandkids. Getting anywhere between 21.5 and 23.5 miles per gallon dependent on weather, highway etc. We have had good results with past two 4Runners and Tacoma so I trust Toyota as a good value. We were looking at other brands until they changed the design of the Rav4 that met my needs exactly! I Love my Rav4

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  2007 rav4 v6 review - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By sd - July 10 - 3:26 pm

  The engine has sufficient power, at 270 hp. The vehicle seats 4 comfortably. The road and wind noise is excessive, especially on rough surfaces. The dash is made of cheap material. When the gas cap is opened the finish is dull and rusty. I am experiencing a tic-tic around the drivers sun visor area. The dealer says he does not hear it. It is intermittent but faint, and I hear it everytime I drive. There is also a light rattle sometimes when braking to a stop, again it is intermittent, my 96 Toyota camry v6 has 250,000 miles. I am the original owner and did not experience any of the defects and problems with the rav4. The Camry ride is a lot quieter. I am disappointed with the rav4 .

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  An Unbiased Review - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Mitch C - July 8 - 8:40 pm

  I have had my AWD RAV4 for four years and put almost 90,000 miles on it. I could not be happier. I have never written a car review before but this car deserves it. I just came back from the dealer for routine maintenance. I was told that it needed nothing. I have only put gas and oil in this car and have had no issues whatsoever. It drives new and looks (minus normal wear) excellent. Build quality is outstanding, no rattles. Everything works like it should and you can see that this car gets driven a lot. The noise problem that has been commented on improves 100% with better quality tires (comes with TOYO tires new). The AWD works excellent in real conditions (black ice, snow storms, etc).

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  i love this car!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By so4reelz - July 7 - 4:00 am

  This is my first SUV and my first Toyota. I have been driving this car for 3 months now, and Im still loving it. Ive made a couple snowboarding trips up the Rocky Mountains with 4 adult passengers and luggage, and the RAV did better than I had expected for an I4. I look forward to many years with this car.

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  loving my new car - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By CAROLE CAMMARATA - July 3 - 11:53 am

  Test drive tells you if its going to be your car! Thought I would get a Honda crv but loved the toyota better!