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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  This is a GREAT little car! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By JD - November 29 - 8:50 pm

  I had trouble with availablity of LTD V6, especially in Everglade Metallic, and so probably paid more than I should have BUT I love this car! I have no regrets having opted for the V6. It has so much pep and, as a result, is a lot of fun to drive. As for the reduced gas mileage, well, think again. Ive taken two highway trips so far and both times got 31 mpg. On local mountain roads Im averaging just over 24 mpg. Needless to say, Im very pleased. Ive not been back to actual stop and go traffic yet, so cannot comment on actual city driving. In sum, this is a great little (not so little anymore) car. I highly recommend it. Im having a bit of a problem getting the rear seats to go down using the one- touch lever. Im planning to check it out at dealer with first oil change

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  Owned the vehicle for just one year - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By SpartanMan - November 28 - 12:54 am

  Purchased the vehicle in the Spring 2015. When I test drove it , it was only around town, only short trips . No problems at that time, loved the vehicle. In the Fall, I took it on its first long journey to take my son to college, several hours away...and for the first time my back was KILLING me after just a couple hours non stop driving . It was then, I realized just how uncomfortable the drivers seat was....no adjustable lumbar support, no good thigh support. I used wedges, pillows, side leg support ...anything to help the leg and hip pain. Nothing worked. I ended up using my old Ford Expedition for long trips the remainder of the year. Never had issues with comfort in the Ford or even my wifes Nissan Altima. Traded the Rav4 ( and Expedition) a year later for a 2016 Kia Sorento, which I made sure to take on a prolonged test drive before buying. Needless the say, the Kias seats are excellent. ........If you find the seats in your Rav comfortable, then yes, the Rav4 is an excellent choice and should provide reliablity and value for years and years.

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  Happy at last - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By sandra - November 27 - 10:00 pm

  Love it! Love the back tailgate door swinging out instead of up...much easier to use, especially when your arms are filled with packages. Its comfortable, drives beautifully, great mileage, has a lot of pickup, lots of room. I love the interior and exterior design, plenty of cargo space and compartments. I feel safe in it!

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  GOOD CAR FOR SHORT PEOPLE - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By MARK SCHOLZ - November 25 - 10:00 am

  IS MY WIFES CAR, SHE LOVES IT AND I DONT MIND IT. ACCELERATION IS SLUGGISH UNLESS YOU FLOOR IT THEN IT TAKES OFF. WE HAVE DRIVEN IT TO FLORIDA 3 TIMES (3000MILES) AND I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE (63") MY ONLY COMPLAINTS ARE; PASSENGER POWER MIRROR HAS LIMITED ADJUSTABILITY CANT PUT IT HIGH ENOUGH TO SEE WELL. WIND NOISE FROM WINDSHIELD AT 65 MPH AND ABOVE. i PUT A K+N FILTER ON IT WHICH HELPED MILEAGE AND PERFORMANCE. WE AVERAGE 24 MPG CITY AND HIGHWAY. 28MPG IS THE BEST WEVE SEEN (4X4 AUTO) WHEN I DRIVE I GET ABOUT 23 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY DOING WELL OVER 65. DONT BOTHER WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES, YOU DONT NEED THEM. NOTHING HAS BROKE. HAPPY WITH QUALITY

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  Hate it or love it - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By gorav4 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Love the car in terms of the inter/exter design and handling. Hate the price of the car and initial quality. Maybe I care too much about the quality, but that is one of the major reasons I bought the car. It is not fun to bring car back to dealer even for warranty services. In addtion, this car really need a V6 engine to be perfect although 4 handles majority of the task really well. Hum, maybe I should nt make that wish since mpg was the other reason I bought RAV4. Or I should be smart enough to get a Hightlander or RX300. Anyway, compare to my old buddy - 94 camry, RAV4 is much better.

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  Great Car - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By cking7 - November 21 - 2:37 pm

  Great car and customer service. I am having trouble with the Bluetooth connection to my phone. It worked for the first 3 weeks and abruptly stopped. Took car back and no one seems to figure out what happened or fix it.

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  Our Baby Rav4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By DGregory - November 21 - 10:00 am

  We love our Rav4. In fact, we both of our cars are Rav4s (2003 and 2004)!

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  The RAV 4 Limited for 2006 is great!!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By DawnM - November 14 - 12:53 am

  This car is wonderful. I previously have owned a 2003 RAV 4 L, and still like it very much. The 2006 model, is really very well designed and a lot of fun to drive. The improvements over the 2003 model include a nice feature of automatic fold-down seats in the passenger area, and more interior room. We will enjoy both cars very much.

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  Does Everything Without a Fuss - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By Central Maryland Dad - November 13 - 11:42 pm

  This 2012 RAV4 Base is my first SUV and Im pleased with my choice. I needed a fuel efficient, roomy, do-it-all car for my daily commute, driving the kids, and something my partially disabled wife could drive, too. I put about 9,000 miles on the SUV since I bought it used in January, including a couple days of central Maryland snow. So far, this RAV4 does everything well enough and nothing spectacularly. Performance is adequate. The 2.5 liter four-banger has enough power for my commute and in-town driving. Highway merges arent a problem as long as Im willing to gun it hard. The power is barely adequate with three passengers and highway merging is dicey. My overall fuel economy is a pretty good 27 MPG. Braking is effective. The long pedal travel was disconcerting enough that I had the dealer re-check the brakes. The brakes work well under all conditions once I got the feel of them. The car holds the road suprisingly well, much better than I expected from an SUV. The steering is predictable and solid. The four-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and the gear changes are merely noticeable, even under hard acceleration. I hardly notice them any more. Front seat comfort is okay. Im 64" and weigh about 310 pounds. Leg room is sufficient and I have plenty of headroom, about three inches. I wish the seat had better thigh support. The seat cushions are very firm, almost hard. The side bolsters hold me in place nicely, even during hard curves and corners. All of my drive times have been shorter than an hour. I have no information about longer trips. The rear seat is surprisingly roomy. Teenagers (up to 58") can sit behind me and still have enough room to be comfortable. I could sit behind me and have enough room! The rear seat cushions are as firm as the front seat cushions. However, my teenaged rear seat passengers ride for short trips and havent complained. My main interior complaint is the frikkin noise! A lot of engine and tire noise penetrate the cabin. Road noise is so bad that I cant listen to the radio. I stopped playing the radio during my commute lest my ears ring painfully at the end of the trip. Cargo and storage is cavernous. I love it! Im glad the first owner did not get the optional third row seat. There are plenty of pockets, cubbies, and other cavities for small things. The cavernous cargo space is a boom box, though. I think half of the road noise is amplified back there. Safety seems fine. If I dont notice, then its probably good, right? The headlights are nice and bright. The all-wheel drive, anti-skid control, and anti-lock brakes worked unobtrusively or as expected in the snow. Win! This RAV4 is my first car to have Bluetooth. I dont know how I lived without it! I have one USB port and one 3.5mm headphone jack in the Base trim. The radio sounds okay for playing speech but lousy for music. Its the cheap base model radio and it sucks. I dont know if I would notice a better radio over the aforementioned interior noise, though. Reliability? Maintenance costs? Its a Toyota! It gets top reviews and recommendations everywhere. This is the fifth Toyota in my family and all previous Toyotas have been rock solid. I expect my RAV4 to be just as reliable. Ive been driving the snot out of this car ever since I got it and Ive been satisfied with it.

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  Extra options? - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Louis A DAndrea Jr - November 9 - 4:43 pm

  Pro: Nimble quick and easy to drive! Exceptional safety system. Very fuel effecient for large V-6. Exceptional tourqe coupled to a smooth refined drive train. On road 4x4 capable. Comfort and ergonomics are excellent. Cons: Below averge sound system lacks fedelity. Skimpy on the underseal. Sunroof noise.