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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  Powerful, Reliable, Fuel-Efficient, Fun - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Lucas Niiler - June 13 - 2:30 am

  Ive been a Honda driver for 20+ years, but this time around, the RAV4 V6 won out, hands down, over the CRV. This vehicle is in an entirely different league. Like the CRV, its reliable and fuel- efficient--but unlike the Honda, it offers more interior room and a much more powerful engine. Tow capacity is 3500 pounds; rear seats fold flat to create a box-like pickup truck-style space. Acceleration is crisp and smooth; braking is grippy, confident. Seats are comfortable; cabin is spacious; sight lines are clear and unobstructed; stereo kicks. 24 mpg in town; no highway numbers to report yet. Of course, if all you want to do is haul groceries, go with the CRV.

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  Reliable car - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Toyota Rav4 - June 9 - 10:16 am

  Very nice car. Great visibility and comfortable car to drive.

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  Owned 14 months: 3.5 L, V6, VVT-i spd - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By chengdu - June 8 - 8:03 pm

  I needed a four-wheel drive vehicle for the mountains. Ive had not a single problem with this Rav4 2007 Basic. Seats fold in 60 sec to load it with firewood. It handles well on mountain snow. It does not die, or gear struggle, on steep roads, loaded with equipment and four passengers. Downhill, the steep-grade feature nicely paces the vehicle without your active acceleration. The Basic has standard features such as cruise control, vehicle stability control, traction control, 4WD on demand - superior features for the Catskill Mountains. Its a quality vehicle.

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  Rav4=No worries - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By FunSmart - June 7 - 3:30 pm

  We I was looking for a car I back in 2006 grabbed the consumer report and this car showed the best rating of all (not only small SUV). I bought it used and through these years (today 2010) I have confirmed day by day that the reports were true. The Rav4 is spacious (you can easily remove the back seats) for cargo and passengers. The spare tire gives the sporty "Jeepy" look and unlike other cars there is no sacrifice of space to accommodate the tire inside the vehicle, so all that space left is yours to fill. Thanks to this the height of the base of the trunk is at or below your needs. Just go and compare this with other cars, you will find they are much higher.

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  My Dream Car - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Denise Guldin - May 30 - 8:03 am

  I love my RAV4. This car is great to drive and I love its safety rating. I find it to be very roomy and I am able to haul large items easily with the seats folded down. I like the gas mileage I get when I fill up also. It is easy to park, easy to handle and has get up and go when I need to accelerate. I am glad I got the 2005 RAV because I like the style and lines of the car compared to the 2006 model which is little bigger. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Little Maintenance? - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Rav4 - May 29 - 12:53 am

  Bought this new in 2007. It has 36,000 on it now. At 26K had to replace all 4 tires. They are 17" tires ($$$) and the dealer wanted us to pay 800 dollars to get it inspected. I bought them at a tire place for half. They said it was normal on Rav 4s that the stock tire wears out by 25K miles. The 30K maintenance cost us almost 400 dollars and Im not really sure why. I get carsick in it if Im not driving, same thing with my wife. My kid gets carsick on long trips as well. At 36,000 miles the check engine light came on accompanied by a light that said VSC and the 4X4 light too. Took it in and had to replace the coil. Paid 109 dollars for diagnosis. Also hard to tell if 4WD is on or not.

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  Disappointed - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By Vt - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I am very disappointment with the Rav 4. I wanted a SUV, but the prices were out of my range. I thought the price of this SUV was great. However, I feel that it really doesnt qualify as a SUV. Its VERY small-no cargo room at all. In addition, its a 4 cylinder so its a dog on hills. I dont need something super fast, but I dont want to have to punch the gas pedal to the floor to climb a hill. Also, the cruise wasnt smooth. Im going to trade it in for a 4Runner.

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  I own one - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Cole - May 28 - 10:00 am

  My Rav4 is the loaded one that everone loved but didnt want to pay the price well i did and i love it

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  Thoroughbred - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By 1969Ben - May 27 - 8:33 pm

  We bought this car in early October and have already hit 5000 very enjoyable miles. Weve run from NYC to Boston and back twice, one of those trips in the thick of the recent snowstorm. The AWD plowed through several inches of fresh snow (the electronic AWD lock being a very useful feature when the plows havent come through yet). Having a V6 gives added confidence, and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend this car. Im 62" and quite comfortable up front. I have 4 kids under age 7, so the optional third row gets used at weekends. Its a little tight back there - cargo space pretty much disappears with the third row up & in use. When the kids are older well go for a Sienna.

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  2003 RAV4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Mommymoto - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! It has the convenience of an SUV without the parking and maneuvering difficulties with larger SUVs.