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 1511 through 1520 of 2,041.00-
after 3 years, a few problems - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By icwl - August 13 - 6:53 amGenerally a quality, functional vehicle. Quick acceleration, good visibility. Experienced problem with wheel speed sensors (check engine, VSD, 4WD lights came on) so no cruise control and rough engine were the result. $800 repair which was difficult for dealership to solve and very annoying. Tires wear quickly but have good grip on dry and wet roads. Adequate on snow.
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A Year in Review ... - 2002 Toyota RAV4
By chas215 - August 11 - 10:00 amRAV4 is fun to drive. Like it alot but am disappointed with persistent rattle in sunroof (has been replaced but is still there) and other rattles in rear. Gas mileage is a huge disappointment , as well. But overall, it looks great and has a nice ride and adequate power for my purposes. No car/SUV is perfect. Just look at consumer discussions of luxury cars/SUVs. This one has many positives that allow me to accept the few negatives.
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The Rav4 that goes and goes - 2001 Toyota RAV4
By Sean - August 11 - 2:36 amIm an onsite computer tech. I average 225 miles per day in this Rav4, I bought it with 51k on it now has 150k on it only prob Ive ever had was the cat converter. It has been a great car, most reliable car Ive ever owned and in my line of work that means money. Great on gas, great on getting me to the client and home again, and fun to drive.
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New XLE - 2015 Toyota RAV4
By Phil - August 8 - 2:29 amI traded a 2006 4 Runner for the Rav4, and I was impressed with the room. Although a bit smaller, the gas savings and navigating in traffic, the Rav4 is worth it. If you have a big family think a larger vehicle, but for two or a young family (or retiree like me) this is just the answer. Go the extra mile and get the Convenience Package it makes driving much more enjoyable. After driving it for over 6 months, I wish It would have power seats. The XLE has most everything else, but is uncomfortable on longer trips. Added at a later date: After 7 months I traded the Rav4 in for Chevrolet. The lack of power seats was the deciding factor. A few squeaks and rattles began to appear, and the design lost its appeal {although I never did care for the overall look of the vehicle}.
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LOVE THIS BABY! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By TikiDikiDoo - August 7 - 10:00 amI just bought this car this weekend and so far I truly love it! It rides like a dream and perfect to use for work and pleasure. Toyotas are one of the best cars you can buy. The price was right too!!
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Room for Improvement - 1998 Toyota RAV4
By rab2 - August 5 - 10:00 amA wholly functional around town vehicle. The four-door model is near perfect size for the family with one or two small children. Mechanically sound, if a bit noisy even with good tires. Smooth in high-speed corners. Paint and interior upholstery holding up well, even in Florida sun. Lots of visibility at all angles. Does groceries well. Not a long distance vehicle. Not a car I could get emotionally attached to.
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History of problems - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By jimdereynier - August 4 - 4:57 pm2007 Rav 4 First 100,000 miles= a real problem At 80,000, external oil line blew- lost all oil but was just coming up an I 95 ramp so I was able to save engine- This occurred before the recall- - Bad battery in the first 18 months. - $600 air bag electronic line went bad- no recall. - Disk brake rotor plate- front and rear and to be replace- under 60,000 miles. 100,000- to 238,000 - Car works like a Toyota - and even get much better mileage than the first 100,000.- Bottom line- the engineering team should have been fired.
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Darkened Dashboard/Speedometer - 2013 Toyota RAV4
By dgambini - August 3 - 7:20 amThe dashboard/speedometer is set back into a tunnel. In any other car when you turn the ignition key on the dashboard/speedometer illuminate. Not the case in the RAV4. It stays dark. So dark, that when you are driving downa tree lined street or on a cloudy day, its almost impossible to see the speedometer. This is a design flaw in the vehicle. I have to turn my night time lights on during the day to see the speedometer clearly. A very dangerous situation! I have tried talking to corporate in California and they will not do anything about this problem. I have not contacted the BBB, The Dept. Of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney Generals office.
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After one day I like it - 2008 Toyota RAV4
By thedarius - July 25 - 7:00 pmI bought the 2008 4 cyl. Limited. Best looking small SUV as far as Im concerned. Lots of cargo space. Tremendous functionality. It has the smoothest ride Ive ever felt in any truck style vehicle. If someone tells you it has a harsh or rough ride, they havent driven it. I have many steep hills where I live and it tackles them with little effort. Ill update this in 3 months.
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Excellent reliability, some cost cutting evident - 2009 Toyota RAV4
By mattwc1 - July 24 - 2:17 amI purchased a 2009 Base 2.5L/AWD Rav4. First and foremost, I really like the Rav4. I have had it for about 10 months now and average between 25-28mpg (mostly highway driven). Interior is laid out well with great room for drivers and passengers. Rear passenger seats move fore and aft and recline. Sightlines are very good and all instruments are well laid out. Toyota revised the base engine for more horsepower/torque and smoother running and it is apparent. The engine is smooth and revs freely. Fuel economy is very good for a CUV. behind the rear seats provide ample storage with under floor storage bins and handy remore release levers to lower rear seats from the hatch.
