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:

• 

  Shame on Toyota - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By KC Cookie - May 17 - 2:00 pm

  Our Toyota 2003 Rav4 was very nice. My husband did all the oil changes, rotating tires, brakes and any other kind of maintenance on car. It was fine until about a week ago and our transmission started acting up. We took it to a transmssion shop and they said to replace transmission at $5000. We decided to check out reviews on the internet and found out we werent the only ones with this problem. I use to trust toyota, but now I feel betrayed. They knew about it and didnt tell the consumer. Besides their Gas pedal problems now they are recalling not the RAV4s, but 2003 Sequoilas. This is for that cars transmission. Go figure ! Im going to Honda now!

• 

  RAV4 V6 Review - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Victor Baird - May 16 - 5:12 am

  The V6 engine is very fast. Watch out for the touchy gas pedal.

• 

  Wonderful Car, Fun to Drive! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By New Hampshire - May 15 - 4:40 pm

  This is my second Toyota Rav4 (and my 5th Toyota), but my first Sport model. The Sport model has eliminated the spare tire from the rear door, making it much more attractive. The car is responsive and powerful, with Toyota quality and reliability. The turning radius is small, making it extremely easy to get out of tight spots. It is great fun to drive!

• 

  RAV4 Rocket - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By fpoteet3 - May 12 - 8:46 am

  We were looking for a new SUV that met all my wifes business needs and met our traveling needs also. This one does it all. My wife is an interior designer and is on the road a lot carrying various samples and materials. She just loves that she can lay down the rear seats from the rear with one hand. One of our other cars is a Porsche and this RAV4 handles nearly as well. I love the power and the electric steering works great too. We just took two trips across west Texas and got 28 miles per gallon with a tail wind. By the way, we were crusing at 85 mph with a full load and the A/C on.

• 

  The v6 is super fast! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By glennm76 - May 11 - 5:52 am

  I brought the 2010 rav4 limited v6 awd brand new on a lease. I owned it for almost three years and have put 26,000 miles on it. The v6 engine is amazing, super fast and can pass anyone. The JBL stereo system is awesome. The bluetooth works good. The rav4 doesnt like corners and takes longer to break then most small suvs. If you open the moon roof while you are on the freeway, there is too much noise. The leather seats are not very comfortable. But other than that, great car and Toyota sells the best cars out there. I never had a problem.

• 

  2008 Rav4 Sport 4wd V6 - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By solo - May 8 - 2:23 am

  After trading in my Xterra, I am very happy with my RAV4 Sport model. What impressed me was the tremendous acceleration of the V6, the safety features and the "on demand" 4WD system. No more locking in hubs or shifting into 4WD. It took a while getting use to the different configuration of the stick shift. There is good visibility out the front windshield due to the short angled hood. Road noise from the tires is apparent and is probably due to the brand of tires. The seats are not too comfortable on the Sport but these shortcomings are minor to me compared to my previous vehicle. The gas mileage is quite good although it needs more breakin to see more improvement.

• 

  Oh What A Feeling - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Frankie Machine - May 7 - 11:16 am

  A great car/truck for New York City driving. Easy to parallel park and handles those pot holes with ease. After getting rid of my 10 year old car, it is good to have the feel of a tight suspension again. Although my wife uses the car to go back and forth to work, I look forward to the weekends when I do the driving and we plan more "Road Trips" for this fall and winter.

• 

  Ultimate SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Jim Sappington - May 5 - 1:23 pm

  We got what we wanted, a "just right" size SUV, fun to drive, good on gas and well made.

• 

  Edmunds Promise - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By John McCormick - May 4 - 11:41 pm

  Edmunds promise price and deal was honored at dealer. Easy way to shop.

• 

  My favorite car ever - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Kate - May 4 - 9:40 am

  In the last ten years Ive owned a Subaru Outback, a Volvo wagon, a Honda Element, and now this little Rav, and it is by FAR my favorite car ever. I love the lumbar support in the seats, the Euro-style look of the dash and the way the dash lights dim automatically when I turn the headlamps on, the way my body is situated in the seat in relation to the windscreen and moonroof, the fantastic visibility, the way it maneuvers on the road, and that it can fit my whole family and I can still park in compact spaces in the city. Mine is the automatic L series with leather interior, sea foam green and tan leather, prettier than it sounds. I would buy it again in a second.