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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  1500 miles, so good so far... - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By brad sparks - December 28 - 3:00 pm

  to be upfront,the only thing that sucks about our new 07 rav4 is having a car payment again.everything else is awesome,besides the fact that this is my wifes daily driver and i hardly get to drive it.v6 power is strong,especially in the midrange powerband.well worth the money to upgrade from the 4 cyl.5-speed auto. shifts effortlessly.have not checked out the 4-wheel drive as of yet,but i would like to see if it will make it out on the beaches in nags head,nc. i will write back if it does,if i dont i will have burried myself to the floorboards trying to get out to the fish.interior room is pretty good even for a big guy.jbl stero rocks hard.

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  First Toyota - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Ed Kolacki - December 27 - 6:20 pm

  Fun to drive and good on gas. steering is tight and responsive.

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  09RAV4 - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By okudud - December 26 - 7:16 pm

  It is a genuine fun, easy to drive vehicle. Well made and just only two items were defective but Toyota taking care of problems.

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  my rav - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By chash - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Rav4 in 1999 brand new and I fell in love with it. I have never had any problems with it and right now it has right around 47,000mi. My only prob with this sport ute is the inside space I want Toyota to make nicer arm rests on this car and also come on little more room for those back seat drivers that get their dirty shoes on the backs of my seats..Otherwise wonderfull car I love it. oh the best part it is the mistic teal mica I have the only one around.. Which also makes it pretty unique...

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  fun - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By skepticboy - December 22 - 8:46 am

  nice cheap cool

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  satisfied second owner - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By satisfied owner - December 22 - 3:43 am

  Bought used with 19,000 miles, in top condition. Paid about $500 over average market but was great buy. Only repair (covered by warranty) in 3 years was to reset computer immediately after purchase due to no acceleration from stop. Drove 6,000 miles on summer vacation in 05, performed perfectly with average 29 mpg thru rocky mountains, pacific NW and level terrain, no overheating. Holds 75 mph easily on hwy, uses reg. fuel, holds 4 adults long distance in reasonable comfort, 3 adults in great comfort. Easy on tires, great stability, seats removable with no trouble. Only complaint is halogen headlights are too bright and unadjustable. Will still be a great car at 200,000 miles.

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  Toyota hit a homerun with the RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RAVfan - December 20 - 9:43 pm

  We bought our loaded v6 AWD limited on the basis of some good reviews from reputable auto mags. Those reviews still ring true today, four years after our purchase. The 269 HP AWD version possesses a very sporty driving experience. It handles mountain roads with ease, zipping through corners like a much lower sedan. In straightaway acceleration, it gives performance cars a run for their money. Hardly worth mentioning the very minor repairs over our ownership run. Certainly far less than similar vehicles. Excellent build quality, including exceptional paint and interior materials. You cannot go wrong with the RAV4.

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  Beats the competition - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Steve - December 13 - 5:53 am

  This vehicle is fun to drive and has loads of power, almost too much for the front wheel drive when accelerating quickly. The ride is very firm and tight. It is roomier than most of the competition and gets the best gas mileage. I have the Sport V6. I average 23 in town and 27 on the highway. I just returned from a long trip driving it totally loaded with 4 people, luggage, etc., and averaged over 26 mpg. Recommend test driving this vehicle after checking out all the rest.

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  2007 rav 4 v6 sport fully loaded - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By dante_sparda - December 9 - 6:00 am

  Brought a 2007 rav4 used few years back.i live on a hill so first thing i replaced the brakes and tires and brought some good yokohomas from tire rack and felt the difference in handling the factory tires are horrible. you get about 19 to 20 miles city + highway. the ride is still stiff you do feel bumps. only thing i have done on the car is change tires,brakes , oil filter, air filter and cabin filter for the last years other wise no major issue..A.c does give out some stench even after getting serviced and cleaned.. going for a Subaru forester after reading some reviews..

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  Love My RAV4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By allura - December 8 - 8:50 pm

  Purchased my RAV4 two weeks ago and love every aspect about it, very very roomy, classy looking on the outside, back seats are like a sedan for leg room, love the new storage area, I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a small SUV, Go out and take a test drive you will be sold