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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  The almost perfect car - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Alin Souvanthong - April 5 - 8:17 am

  Its an SUV, so expect it to be a bit of a gas guzzler. Other than that its a great car!

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  Rough Ride - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By EM from Daly City - April 4 - 3:01 am

  I gave my reliable 10 year old Lexus ES330 to my son & bought the 2015 Rav 4. I have been driving my Rav 4 for almost a year now and so far reliability has been great, its what I would expect from Toyota. I chose the 2015 Rav 4 over the Honda CR-V for the Rav 4s exterior styling although the CR-V that I saw at the Honda dealership had a nicer interior. I must say I am quite dissapointed with the 2015 Rav 4s rough ride and engine noise in city-suburban driving but highway driving is a lot smoother and quieter. I am getting around 20-21mpg in suburban driving, and around 25mpg on the so-called real life highway driving with most of the time just me and my wife in the vehicle. City Toyota Dealership Service Department in Daly City, California is fine, but it is not the top notch, luxurious and quiet Lexus Service Department that I had gotten used to. Overall I am pretty satisfied with my purchase of the 2015 Rav 4 but I must say I cannot get used to the 2015 Rav 4s rough ride in suburban driving.

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  2010 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (3. - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By manu_nis - April 4 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought this vehicle from Napa, CA and I love this one. It has a great pickup and power. 269 bhp is not too bad. Unknowingly, I bought the one with built-in GPS and I regret to buy that. I didnt know that it wont speak street names and when you move, you cant select another destination until you pull over somewhere. I was very disappointed with this GPS overall.

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  fun to drive - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By harshad - April 3 - 5:13 pm

  I finally caved in to buy SUV due to my bad back and trying to put 2 carseats..This was the best compromise of carlike handling and fuel economy and ofcourse toyota rep.(we also have 03 sienna). I have thrown this SUV at 65 mph on corners and it did as well as my 99 altima..it also returned 27mpg on my first fill up. I paid $20000 all inclusive for basic 5 speed, FWD. It also did well in snow with std. VSC, and traction control..hopefully I will have safe winters with this car in Minnesota..

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  Now We Have Two RAVs - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By George - April 2 - 11:13 pm

  My wife already has a 03 RAV already that we both enjoy. When the opportunity presented itself to purchase a second we jumped at the chance. These RAVs are the greatest. With a herniated disc, getting in and out of the car is easy. Has loads of get up and go and I love how you sit up high enough to see everything.

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  Just Bought - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By grinchmobile - April 2 - 9:31 pm

  Just bought this vehicle for under 4k. Have had it for a couple of weeks and am amazed. Over 142k on it and all it needed was a new windshield and battery. The drive is excellent and the quality of the interior is amazing for a vehicle this old. No squeaks or rattles. I am looking forward to having several great years of driving this vehicle.

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  I Expected More for a Limited - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By debkitty - March 31 - 12:00 pm

  Drove a Rav4 2005 sport that was more fun w/nicer console than 2006 and newer. It drove like a sport car. This model feels heavy, though its nice to drive/missing the same zip. I take very good care of my vehicles. Beware of those who complain & dont maintain. Paint job less than I expected. I live in the country. When I put in reverse about 30% of the time it chokes/knocks about in backing up. Rear Door should have been corrected years ago, opens backward would prefer up. Loyal to Toyota/ 4th Toyota, not enough bang for the buck compared to USA mfg.s w/luxury models and opts. Driving light lives up to the 24 MPG, however, previously all my Toyotas did better than they claimed.

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  120K miles and still purring like a kitten - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By cinderella123 - March 26 - 7:17 pm

  Im the 3rd owner of my 06 4cyl 4WD, base model RAV, which had a 110K miles on her when purchased from a private seller. She was well cared for by her previous owners, with the replacement of the rear window wiper motor as the biggest issue. Since owning her, Ive maintained her well and she purrs like a kitten & runs like a race horse. Ive read a lot of negatives reviews here, but neither I nor the previous owners (judging from car reports and Toyota service records) have encountered any of it. I couldnt be happier with the continued solid & reliable performance of my Made in Japan RAV4, and look forward to years with her. Its all in the personal care and maintenance you give them.

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  27,000 miles so far and all good - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Geo - March 26 - 6:53 pm

  We travel a lot and wanted something decent on fuel economy and something that would have some guts when needed (passing trucks, etc.) We really like the RAV4. We have over 27K miles and have not had any issues (I know, still under warranty). We travel at speeds of 80-85 miles per hour, with the AC on and this thing cruises all day....and still has plenty of passing power at 85 MPH. The interior is comfortable (Im not a big guy) and we have plenty of room for our luggage and other items. Seems very stable and has a quiet ride. The AWD is great in the snow. So far, very happy.

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  3 yr. review on 05 Rav4 - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By harshad - March 26 - 6:53 pm

  I just had third birthday for my 05 Rav4. With new Michelin LTX tires this car drives well in Minnesota. So far no issues. I am still getting 26 to 27 MPG in mixed driving. I have got 34000 trouble free miles. I like this body style than the new one. Its much slicker and compact.