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 Great Crossover and Redesign - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By habl - July 18 - 6:31 am

  Just a short review. Have had my new Rav for a week and 500 miles of driving. It replaces my horrible 2010 Equinox which was trouble times two. My new Rav4 drives fantastic, is fun, comfortable and is a great buy. Exterior is great looking, interior same, have had a dozen people comment or ask to see the car. The electronic system is great, entune system working perfectly and with the upgraded JBL system, audio is incredible. I cannot believe how. Great my old Philadelphia rock stations sound in HD radio. I actually like to drive again with the new Rav, I put on about 2,000 miles per month, it is now not such a chore with such a great vehicle.

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  Really fun to drive - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Chris Kingston - July 17 - 1:40 pm

  I love my new RAV4. It is a kick to drive, has lots of room for my groceries, chicken feed and dogs. My only complaint is the gas mileage. I am not getting anywhere close to 27 mpg, and if anyone should, its me. I live in a very rural area and do not do any "stop and go" driving." For a matter of fact, every tank so far has gotten worse. I started at almost 27 mpg and when I filled up today only got 22mpg. My first oil change is about 60 days away so I am hoping that the dealer can make some adjustments that will help.

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  #1 Car for People of All Ages - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Rita Mele - July 17 - 8:20 am

  My husband is 84 I am 75 this RAV4 is outstanding getting in and out of. It drives like a very expensive British baby carriage and is very comfortable. We have three Toyota vehicles and just feel safe, and the reliability is the best. We would suggest all seniors try RAV4, you will be amazed at reliability, look and comfort. Thanks Toyota!

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By MARecycle - July 15 - 6:16 am

  Just a very nice vehicle.Handles like a sportscar.

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  Great SUV!!! - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By crashondown - July 13 - 2:12 am

  Just bought my 2000 Toyota Rav4 (I know it is a little old) it had 87,000 miles on it when I bought it and wanted something that is good on gas and I could carry my kids in (truck was a gas gussler). This little car so far has given me no trouble. I hit a deer driving down the interstate the other night and dented up the front quarter panel and tore off a piece of the back bumper. Much to my suprise the little guy took it like a champ no mechanical issues and didnt really mess it up all that bad. Meeting with the Inurance guy on Monday to see about getting her fixed up. Like I said the only thing bad that happedned was some minor cosmetic issues. This little guy is a mini Sherman Tank lol.

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  Dont fall for Toyota reputation- its garbage - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Onlybuyinghonda - July 10 - 9:29 pm

  I dont even know where to begin. We are in a time crunch and needed to buy a car and we had always heard that Toyotas were very reliable and dependable. We are loyal Honda owners however we figured wed give a Toyota a chance. We bought a used 2007 RAV4 with clean car fax from a reputable dealer and low miles (72k, which for a nine-year-old car is great). The dealership had changed the oil and done a complete tuneup before selling the car to us, however we had the oil change just 3000 miles later after we bought it and the person changing our oil said he couldnt believe the car was still functioning because there was almost no oil left. This is a consistent problem with Toyotas. We also had issues with the engine making noises and check engine light coming on sporadically. The car would shake and rattle and we had to have the oil changed four times in the less than six months we owned it. The worst part was when the air conditioner died and all of the coolant was leaking out through the front onto the driver and passengers feet!! The car would shake and rattle and we had to have the oil changed four times in the less than six months me owned it. The worst part was when the air conditioner died and all of the coolant was leaking out through the front onto the driver and passenger sides feet! Worst money we ever spent. If youre considering buying a used RAV4, please look into the fact that this year had over 12 recalls alone. There are known issues and the dealerships and Toyota are not good at taking care of these issues. They tried to put a Band-Aid on them and people like me suffer. I shouldnt have needed to buy a new car six months after owning this one. It is such a shame. From now on I am only buying Honda. For those of you thinking about this model please run dont walk. Look for a 2001 or 2002 Honda CRV. Much more reliable or you could get a Honda element which is even larger interior space and much more dependable.

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  Happy owner - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Tim Toews - July 10 - 2:33 pm

  Bought our Rav 4 after having a 06 Tacoma and very impressed with it. My wife loves it. The ride is good, the power is exceptional, and the fuel economy is right where we need it. We got the Sport model so we got the 18 in alloys along with the leather and moonroof options, the heated seats are nice in the winter.

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  Unplanned Purchase, but so Far, so Good - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By chuck17015 - July 10 - 4:31 am

  I wasnt planning to get another car for another year or so, but when the postcard came in the mail, I went to check this vehicle out. Took the test drive and liked the ride. I was coming out of a Honda Fit, so driving this around felt like driving a beast, but I kinda liked it. The Fit was a nice little car with great gas milage, but I just wanted something a bit more capable. Also, the Fit was rather a slow vehicle for something so small. Im happy to say The Rav4s base 4 cylinder actually is quicker than the Fit. The handling is good, not as good as the CRV I once drove, but still solid. The ride is smoother than either of the other vehicles. Still, the gas milage is pretty low.

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  No hill holder on 4cyl. 4wd - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By rr93lwb - July 8 - 8:08 pm

  2011 RAV4 Limited 4cyl. 4x4. For me (63") I find seat bottom short and uncomfortable. Mom (54") loves the seats. Ride isnt terrible but still bounces around like SUVs do. Rides nicely on highway. One of the quieter vehicles. Visibility is pretty good. Storage and cargo space is great. Mom is averaging 14mpg because she drives short 3-5 mile trips to the store or doctor and frequently sits in traffic. But, its still 3-4mpg below lowest EPA estimate. 1 highway trip 1000miles I averaged close to 30mpg. There is no hill holder on the 4cyl. 4wd model. Car rolls back quickly and easily if stopped on incline and remove foot from brake. Very disconcerting. Only thing my mom does not like.

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  I LOVE IT!!! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Whoo-hoo!! - July 7 - 5:36 pm

  I just bought this car with 125,000 miles on it. I know, by reputation, that this is pretty much just broken in for a Toyota. The car handles beautifully. I have been using it for business, and I have no complaints. I have always wanted one, and now, I FINALLY HAVE IT!! Peppy, and FUN to drive! Ill drive it until the wheels fall off, which I am sure will be a long, long time!