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:
Showing 1371 through 1380 of 2,041.00-
RAV 4 Eval - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By bravoair - April 24 - 10:00 amFunky design; looks good, fun to drive.
-
Excellent Car for the Money - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By lcmsgirl - April 22 - 3:06 pmThis SUV has been a dream to own so far. I love having all the extra space when I am haulling things or kids around.
-
RAV4 after one year - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By carguy - April 21 - 1:06 pmAudible beeps when merely locking/unlocking doors is EXTREMELY annoying. It sounds like car thief alarm. Gas mileage is horrible, not even getting the minimum. No leg room for driver (Im 61") with the electronic seat.
-
Happy car owner - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By H.D. VAUGHN - April 20 - 10:00 amI bought this automobile 9 months ago, and since that time I have enjoyed driving it. Ive had no type problem with it. Ive been back to the dealer two times, for oil change, lub. and tire rotation. The only problem I have is with the wife wanting to drive the Rava instead of the Buick.
-
Love my 2nd RAV4 even more - 2009 Toyota RAV4
By jduffy09 - April 16 - 1:52 amI had a 1999 RAV4 that was bulletproof. I recently upgraded to a 2009 Sport V6 w/appearance package. The power of this V6 is amazing and yet fuel economy is not compromised. On a recent 500 mile round-trip I got almost 28 mpg. The 2009 is much more refined and significantly roomier than my old 1999 model. Rear-seat room is significantly improved, as is cargo room, and it is great for families with children and pets. The only disappointment for me is the ride. You feel every little bump, but I think that is specific to the sport model. And hey, its an SUV after all, not a Cadillac.
-
The best of the small SUVs - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By Michael95 - April 15 - 10:00 amSold my Pathfinder and got the 2004 Rav4 and love it. The full time AWD is a big plus over having to shift in and out. Much better mpg than a 6 cylinder SUV, 10-16 mpg vs. 21-28. Lots of safety features standard. Basically a great suv for anyone who doesnt go heavy offroading and needs AWD for winters and some off the road driving. the build quality is awesome, it feels so well built, much better than some much more expensive vehicles I have been in.
-
So Far Not A Favorite - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By Bill - April 11 - 12:30 amWhoever writes all the positive reviews on the Toyota Rav4 Sport definitely did not drive a Chevy Tahoe prior to downsizing, which was a big mistake. For us, its hard to find the good that outweighs the bad. Hopefully, the Rav4 will have a decent trade-in value as we hope to rid ourselves of it soon. We read tons of information regarding this car. We have not found the economy, comfort, pep, or anything else. Our average mpg is 24, far from the 28. The ride is rough, and the passenger seat and seating area is the most uncomfortable ever! Even the steering wheel is misplaced causing uncomfortable driving if going any distance. Also, very poor stereo sound system and very loud road noise.
-
Great all around vehicle. - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By Bill - April 10 - 7:30 amThe original set of Yokahama tires wore out around 32,000, and were replaced with a better set of tires. I had the steering knock issue, and Toyota was aware of the problem, and fixed it at no cost to me. Also a oil hose was fixed at no cost even though the warranty had expired. The RAV4 is one of the best vehicles Ive ever owned.
-
Amazing gas mileage - 2008 Toyota RAV4
By panpan - April 9 - 6:30 pmI purchased my RAV4 Limited 4 cyl 4x4 3 days ago, and drove it Saturday and Sunday to Bear Mountain State Park NY. It was of course full tank of gas. After driving 180 miles over the weekend, and I refuel on Sunday night, it pumps only 5.6 gallons of gas. It turns out to be 32 miles / gallon. Unbelievable. It gives my family very smooth ride, reasonable wind noise and road noise. Interior room is spacious, near mid- side SUV interior space, with compact SUV price. It is fun to drive, good handling. Overall, great value for that kind of price.
-
218,000, best car ever! - 1999 Toyota RAV4
By morav - April 4 - 5:19 pmI bought the car used with 34,000 miles on it and I just traded it in yesterday for a Toyota Corolla. It was the lowest maintenance vehicle I have ever owned and would have bought another one, but w/the increased cost of fuel I wanted something with just a little better gas mileage. I averaged around 26mpg and I drove it pretty hard. I hauled animals to the vet, bags of feed for the horses and about anything you can think of. I have probably spent less than $500 in actual repairs the whole time I owned it. Other than that, just oil changes every 3K. I am going to miss my Rav4.
