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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  A Thrilling Ride - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Kathy - March 5 - 5:36 am

  The Rav4 6 cyl. is a solid little car that is really fun to drive. The car is comfortable with plenty of interior room and gives a sense of security to be able to pass with power to spare.

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  I love my RAV4 - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Massage Therapist - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle in April 1998 so I could make out calls. My massage table fits so easily in the back, as does groceries and luggage. The car has taken me and my friend on many out of town trips. I have never had any mecanical problem. I have only done routine maintenance.There are no rattles nor are there any cracks in the dash. This is my 6th vechile and by far the best one Ive owned.

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  Rav 6 cyl front wheel drive - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By drrvega - March 2 - 8:50 pm

  The front wheel drive works great, even off road. Saves gas. Get 20 in town, 26-30 on highways. The hill start feature is wonderful! Have used it over large mountain ranges. Traction control and stability are great also. Extremely reliable. We take it camping and the space in the 6 cyl. in more than the 4 cyl, so it is perfect for that. mine has side air bags, as well as front airbags.

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  RAV4 I$ A LEMON!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RAV4 I$ A LEMON!! - March 1 - 9:13 am

  I commute from the SF Bay Area to Sacramento,70 miles each way. The stretch of freeway is rough & you feel every bump in the road. The seats are stiff and not enough thigh support. I had to get the brakes replaced at 40k with almost all freeway driving, not stop & go. The car sometimes doesnt start immediately (since purchase) and what I hate most is you cant get the key out of the ignition without moving the gear shift in park back & forth. The dealer says NOTHING WRONG... It had a major oil leak (covered w/power train) air noise from windshield, and rear door. rattles if not on a completely smooth surface. Needs torque & power to rear wheels in turns, & quick acceleration r feels unstable

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  A commuters dream car. - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By ilvsmcars - February 17 - 10:00 am

  I bought a RAV4-L with AWD and 5sp Man trans. I purchased largely due to interior comfort and driver space. Aestherics playes a role as well. Driving experience is very good. The car is very nimble, and handles road bumps with ease. Excellent brakes. Downside is a somwehat underpowered engine. The manual seems to make little difference due to the rather close gearing in the car. One could easily go from 2nd to 5th and not really miss 3rd and 4th. Torque comes in a very tight range of RPM and I find myself always dropping a gear or two to get the most out of the engine. Nevertheless, I have come to really enjoy how the car drives.

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  A truly unique vehicle!!! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By victor - February 15 - 8:46 am

  Why did I purchase this vehicle?? SIZE SIZE SIZE. With all the SUV makers trying make their SUVs larger and larger, the RAV4 is a truly refreshing choice in a dying breed. Its ultra- compact exterior size enables me to park in the TINIEST of places. Its unbelievably fabulous turning radius makes U-turns a breeze, and its teeny exterior dimensions make driving on the super-crowded streets of LA a virtually stress-free experience. Its got decent power, is pretty comfy with very good handling for an SUV, and gives reasonable fuel economy (actual calc.21-23mpg city & 26-27hwy avg)

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  Poor Quality of work - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Pat McMullen - February 14 - 11:36 pm

  As a customer of Toyota, my wife and I are disappointed in the vehicle we have purchased. The Toyota Rav is only 7 years old and we need a new transmission. I have had 5 brand new cars in my life so far and never needed a new transmission installed as a maintenance problem with my cars. The Toyota was not in any kind of accident. I was told my the technician it was due to transmission fluid being low. I just think Toyota could do a better job of building their products than this. Everyone is saying how good Toyota is we decided to purchase our new Toyota vehicle but so disappointed to have the transmission gone with only 79,000 miles. Gear is slipping from 2nd to 3rd.

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  My New RAV4 - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By Warren from Long Island - February 11 - 1:55 pm

  I bought my new 2017 RAV4 SE the end of December 2016. I sold my 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 4 Matic and wanted an SUV because I retired and want to play in a band and neeed room for my drums. I chose Toyota because they are so reliable. I love this SUV but Im sorry that I didnt get the Hybrid because the gas mileage is NOT good (very disappointed). The ride and comfort is excellent and the visability is great. The blind spot alert could have been better, it lights up yellow rather than bright Red and doesnt beep when a car is in the blind spot and you have the blinker on. All in all its a great SUV except for the gas mileage.

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  Disturbing chirping noise - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By rwallace7 - February 10 - 12:10 pm

  All that I can say is that I love the performance of my 2005 RAV4 except for the disturbing "chirping" noise that consistently occurs when going over mild bumps in the road. It is very annoying and the dealership cannot resolve the problem after making 5 service appointments. The noise seems to be coming from where the lower part of the windshield meets the cal panel. Im not sure I spelled that correctly. Anyway, this problem ruins the entire fun of driving this vehicle. Sorry, I cant recommend a RAV4 to anyone. ... disappointed buyer.

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  Love it - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By N.G.Simon - February 9 - 3:56 pm

  The only negative I have with my RAV is the roof rack, its a real pita when it comes to washing the car. Were it an option I would have opted out!