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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  2006 RAV4 Limited V6 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By silverphx - December 4 - 7:03 pm

  This car is very fun to drive. I love the pick-up/speed it has. I love its small size (easy to park/maneuver in traffic, etc), but it also offer a lot of power. I love the 3rd row seat/fold flat capability.

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  Two Days Out - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Wolfgong - December 3 - 11:53 pm

  2010 RAV4 4WD (4432C). CF FE MF QV. 101 miles the TPS light began to flash. Then stayed on. I checked the tires, they are not low. I slightly overfilled the tires and the light went out. 174 miles the TPS light goes back on again. Tires are not low. Rattles are everywhere; like surround sound. Front seats lack thigh support, again. The value of the display button on the steering wheel is comical. So far Im not convinced this is a worthy effort by Toyota. This specific vehicle was made in Japan.

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  VERY NICE DESIGN - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Ron - December 3 - 6:56 pm

  My wife and I test drove several cars, SUVs, and Crossovers before settling in on the RAV4. We found it easy for both of us to get in and out. I am 511" and my wife is 53", yet we can both slide in and out with ease (dont have to grab handles or anything). In the past my wife has been more comfortable driving smaller cars. However, with the RAV4 we both found the visibility exceptional, as well as being very easy to turn and park. We love the cargo room and the easy-to- open rear door. Since this is a vehicle that both of us drive it had to satisfy both of our needs, and it does.

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  great sm.SUV - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By jeromac - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Rav4 fun SUV to drive good road vision. Easy handling nimble & quick responce. Good gas mileage 25MPG in town almost 30 on long rd. trips. Good service so far 28000 miles no problems.

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  Love it! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Hugh & Ginger - December 2 - 10:00 am

  More fun to drive than my 525i BMW. Engine is a little loud on rapid acceleration. I am heavy on the accelerator and get 25 mpg city and over 30 highway. The 2004 has the upgraded engine with more horses. Ride is very comfortable but stiff and very agile.

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  A pretty good vehicle - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Easteddie - December 2 - 10:00 am

  A little noisey on the Interstate

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  loaded 2003 rav4L - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Jason415 - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle has been great. the gas mileage is good,HOWEVER I have to fill the gas tank as much as my 02 Suburban! The reason for this is because of the very small tank.

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  OK so far - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By scott - December 2 - 2:53 am

  Bought rav4 for the quality and its been great in the snow and it did have 29000 when purchased. Few minor things, air pressure warning problems, some brake issues.

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  I love it! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Alex - December 1 - 12:40 am

  This is my second car, first new one, and I thought it would best meet my needs coming off owning a 96 S10 light pickup. I also drove a Mazda CX-7, Honda CR-V, and Mitsubishi Outlander during testing. The Outlander and CX-7 didnt have the stuff I wanted at the price I was looking for, and the CR-V just wasnt as nice (interior, exterior, or driving experience). I got absolutely the most base setup I could, and I love the features. Granted, my last car set the bar low, but the power is just fine for me, and I got 24 mpg for the first 400 miles, running AC the whole time and not exactly accelerating gently.

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  Watch out for minor annoyances - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By T_Sport - November 30 - 10:00 am

  Problems: The 3-spoke steering wheel doesnt move down nearly enough to get a comfortable grip. If you like to drive, holding one hand or both on the bottom spokes, you will NOT like the Rav4 steering wheel. The other major flaw with the car is the pathetically weak factory stereo. My car had the upgraded stereo which results in two more useless paper tweeter speakers. Unfortunately, at this time, Crutchfield doesnt support the 2002/2001 Rav4, so speaker upgrades are tough. I replaced the factory head unit with a Sony unit which resulted in more power but ZERO bass, and distortion above 30% power. If you love good music, buy a Nissan.