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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Dont Buy 4 Cyl 4WD - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Rob1975 - November 8 - 9:36 pmWhen I read the reviews last fall, this sounded like a great vehicle. The dealer didnt have any RAVs in stock when I ordered, but I figured the pre-delivery test drive would indicate if I would be happy with it. What a huge mistake and disappointment. I should have test driven where I drive daily. I live in the mountains of Northern AZ (Flag, Prescott area), but I thought 166 horsepower should be adequate in a smaller vehicle. The transmission constantly downshifts on practically every uphill section, which of course is ruining my mileage. Even trying to maximize economy after 1500 miles I have yet to average 20 mpg for even one tank. Not worth $25K for a 4 cyl. Spend the extra $ for V6.
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snow - 2016 Toyota RAV4
By rich - November 6 - 12:59 pmWhen going down a snow cover road the two front door fill inside the door with a lot of snow and slush inside .They is a very bad cool brezze coming from front doors into the car when driving down the street
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fuel Economy - 2018 Toyota RAV4
By Janga Rai - November 6 - 12:37 pmI have great concern about fuel economy . I have been observing the fuel economy since 2013 . The fuel economy of 2013 toyota rav4 was 22 in city and 28 on the high way . when I checked the fuel economy of 2018 toyota rav4 , I found still same . we being the reliable customers , the fuel economy of 2019 toyota rav4 will be 26 in the city and 35 on the highway as same as honda crv. thanks.
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A nice value in a basic SUV - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By Cheryl in VA - November 4 - 9:33 amJust bought 2010 Base I-4 FWD RAV4. So far, it seems like a good SUV. I had fun driving it on hilly, twisty roads in my area. It had enough pep to merge into traffic on a 65-mph HWY. More energy than expected. The radio is better than some of the reviews Ive read, but Im not one who needs the best audio. Seats are firm; hoping they soften a little with use. The headlights on the RAV4 are surprisingly bright! I rarely had to use my high beams (unusual for me). The rear door needs to be changed to a left- hinge for sale in the U.S. Plenty of storage room. Would like more space to rest my left arm on while driving. Love the exterior design. Even the base model is sporty.
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AWESOME! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By michelle - November 3 - 11:23 amI test drove every small to mid sized SUV under the 50K price tag; the V6 Rav4 Sport beat anything else out there. A few came close, but they were 15 to 20K more! With 269HP under the hood, its got a lot of pickup, it handles great, and its a very smooth ride. Ive gotten great gas mileage, better than I had expected. Im impressed with everything about this vehicle.
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04 Rav4 what a car - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By EMAN - October 31 - 10:00 amThe 04 Rav4 is a fantastic SUV. It handles the road well and the performance of the vehicle is incredible with the larger engine. The double wishbone suspension at the back is a welcomed improvement. The fog lamp design for the front of the vehicle is impressive and inside the cosmetic changes are very nice to see. You would be crazy not to consider this vehicle is you are searching for an SUV.
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The Rav-4 - What a great car! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By BellaKatherine - October 31 - 10:00 amThis is a great car - fun to drive, always reliable!
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Awesome vehicle - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By ahenson5 - October 30 - 4:43 amI love this vehicle! I traded a 2001 RAV4 which I bought new when the body style changed. I really liked my 2001 but I love this vehicle. The V-6 is awesome and there is a ton of room for passengers and cargo.
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My rav - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By mike - October 29 - 10:00 amI love its design which is both fun and classy. Toyota doesnt need to resort to cheap tricks to get a higher selling price for a quality vehicle. The interior is perfectly designed (and I believe other manufacturers like Hyundai have taken note of this). This vehicle handles curves almost like a sport car. The radio lighting is a little dim during the day which is awkward but at night the interior lighting is a show in itself. Its classy, its all-purpose, mileage could be better but worth the trade-off for its response. Luv it!
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Really Like The Rav - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By bg1811 - October 29 - 10:00 amI just leased a 2010 RAV4 Limited FWD I-4 last week (for my wife). I was concerned about some of the negative comments about this vehicle. I leased it in New Orleans and then drove it 570 miles back to my home in Kentucky. I drove up US 61 through the Delta to keep from driving a constant speed on the interstate. My car is a 2007 Cadillac Escalade and I didnt find this car to be any louder than the Caddy. I got 29.7 mpg which I think is great. I also found the seats to be very comfortable. The interior trim is very acceptable for this price range IMO.
