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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  Time To Get rid Of My TOYota - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By toy time - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Sadly disappointed in reliability department. Have had the brakes replaced numerous times and had to have to computer replaced at 10,000miles and reflashed again at 22,000 miles. Poor customer sat from toyota. I previously owned a 98 Camery and to date was the best vehicle that I owned. Sorry Toyota but after the service I received and the numerous problems with this vehicle I will GLADLY take my business elsewhere.

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  Just love it... - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Thomas Hornick - May 16 - 4:33 pm

  The gas mileage is average for a vehicle of its size. We have not had it long enough to judge the reliability. But it is a great SUV, plenty of leg room (I am 6 - 1") as I can rally get comfortable in it, the interior is well laid out, love the way they did the leather, the ride is great, handles great for a vehicle its size. It is just the perfect SUV for my wife, dog and I. It is a fun vehicle to drive. Love the AWD (were in a very bad rain storm the other day and it handled outstanding, no problems with the wet roads).

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  Excellent small SUV!! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Mike B. - May 14 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is one of the few that I have driven that is fun to drive - it drives more like a car than an SUV. The handling is amazing. Im averaging 25mpg right now. It also provides a perfect unobstructed view of the road ahead. If your looking for a small SUV you owe it to yourself to test drive this vehicle - it may surprise you - the more powerful engine this year makes a huge difference. With the seats folded up I can fit 2 mountain bikes inside!!

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  LOVE my 1997 RAV4 - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By teresa31 - May 13 - 9:57 pm

  I purchased my 97 Rav4 14 years ago with approximately 30,000 miles on it. Today it has 103,000 miles and is still going strong. The paint looks fantastic. The sunroof has never leaked. Seats still look great. It isnt a "peppy" driving vehicle but it is the most reliable car that Ive ever owned. It goes in ANY weather. The amount of storage with the seats down is unbelievable. In 14 years the only repair (other than scheduled maintenance) has been to replace the oil pump. Since they had to pull the motor I had all belts replaced at that time (at approx. 85,000 miles). Ive test driven a few newer vehicles with all the bells and whistles, but they dont compare to my 16 year old Toyota.

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  Good family hauler - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By tireguy - May 11 - 4:53 am

  No surprises with the RAV4. I dove into this purchase with extensive research, and optioned it precisely to suit my familys needs (well, mostly my needs): Limited, V6, 4wd, leather, JBL, 3rd row, tow package. On paper, its exactly what a family of 5 needs to motor about the local area (with three kids in car seats) in a bit of style. What this vehicle lacks (unbeknownst to the spec-sheet analyst) is any serious personality. Its fast, but handles like a van. Its a suitable light-medium duty tow vehicle; I frequently tow a 2,000 lb enclosed trailer and barely know its there. The interior is laid out fine. Exteriorwise, the front is nice, but the back bumper is just plain ugly.

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  Awesome - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Doug - May 10 - 11:46 pm

  This car is awesome in nearly every detail. Power to spare, great gas mileage. Only 1 complaint: Base model upgraded stereo system leaves something to be desired. Display does not scroll so you cant see XM info, which is unacceptable since XM has been around for a long time now. Speakers do not sound very good. Way too much bass. Everything else about the car rocks. Seats fold flat with the pull of a lever from the back end. Makes it very convenient to load stuff for hauling. Pulls my fishing boat with power to spare. Ride comfort is great, seats very comfortable, handles great, bluetooth attachment great. Tinted glass on rear window makes auto-dimming mirror unnecessary.

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  Great Little SUV - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By touracc - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Flat out - Great Quality Car. Very easy to drive, great fuel economy compared to other SUVs, and the fact that its a Toyota says a lot. Engine is quiet and heats up quickly in cold conditions. And, the price is very comparable when it comes to an SUV. Very fun to drive in the city and handles great on the interstate.

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  Lousy Gas Mileage/No pick up - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Gdcsb - April 28 - 10:33 am

  This is the worst car I ever owned. I am lucky to get 17mpg around town and 22mpg on hwy. For a small car, light car it has no guts. It is reliable and has a nice look; however, it really stinks. I just traded mine in for a Saturn SUV.

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  Rattling dashboard - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Karen - April 27 - 7:03 pm

  I bought my 2008 rav4 4x4 base model in February 2008. It was the best vehicle I ever owned until it hit 850 miles and thats when I could hear a loud constant rattling coming from the dashboard, more specifically the center console. The vehicle was brought back to the dealership 4 times and was never permanently fixed. The master technician, who was great to deal with even replaced my vents in the center dash with a new RAV4 on the sales lot. At times it sounded like a popcorn machine! Finally, a field technical expert from Toy inspected the vehicle and determined that it was A NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC! Very disappointed, 1st and last Toyota Ill ever own.

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  i like my rav - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By kaat51 - April 24 - 10:00 am

  i have always liked the style of the rav 4. even more so when the 2001s came out. i too agree that they need a little more power and a little less outside noise inside. the only problem i have had was kind of unusual in so far as my headlights would go out for no apparent reason and then come back on. they fixed a switch the first time but it continued to happen and they never could find out why or duplicate the incident. eventually it stopped totally for whatever reason and has not happened since. explanation???? beats me!! overall i like my rav and to me you cant beat the exterior styling,very sporty.