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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  Disappointed - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By welz - December 15 - 12:46 pm

  The RAV runs great, but rides like a light little toy, too much road noise, maybe the tires? The hood looks likes its going to fly off going down the freeway, my front bumper popped out a couple of times, cheap plastic clips that melted in the Arizona sun. The right mirror rattled so much they had to replace the whole assembly. My latest disappointment is that my air compressor just went out! Not a good thing in the middle of summer in AZ.

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  Love this car - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By jt - December 15 - 11:40 am

  I just purchased this car a couple of weeks ago and really love it! Its fun to drive, has ample acceleration, and has a great ride. Love the roomy interior and storage in the back.

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  Perfect vehicle - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Barb Lewis - December 14 - 2:20 am

  Weve had our Rav for 2 months and absolutely love it! My teenagers love how the backseats recline and certainly appreciate all the leg room in the back. The gas mileage is wonderful. It has an unbelievable amount of power for 4 cyl. Lots of storage room.

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  great purchase! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By billie72 - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I think the RAV4 is a great purchase. It has a sleek body design and handles exceptionally well. It is very comfortable and I am very impressed with the miles per gallon.

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  New RAV4 AWD - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By dogsofwar - December 6 - 10:00 am

  My Wife just bought the Rav 4 a few days ago..Not even 200 miles on the odometer yet. It rides great and handles well. It has every bit as much power as my 03 VUE with a V6.I was impressed with the standard feautures that other car dealerships nickel / dime you to death on. The steering wheel mounted audio controls is a very nice tough indeed. Finally Toyota has gotten the oil filter placement right..no more busted knuckles trying to change the oil or so it seems. If it gets the mileage that its rated for it will be a very impressive little suv.

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  Excellent vehicle w/ a couple of quarks - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By matt621 - December 5 - 7:43 pm

  Excellent acceleration & good handling. (V6, AWD, w/ sport pkg.) Lots of room, drives very nice. Super nice ride. In fact, maybe too nice. Could use a little tighter suspension. Took on a 10K mile trip and other than sagging, pulling and poor fuel economy (see below) had a very nice trip. Front seats are okay to drive in, but forget about sleeping in them. On long trips we frequently stop at rest stops to get a little sleep and these seats are horrible trying to sleep in them. Dont even think about it. Couldnt sleep in the back, too much stuff. :) Overall a very good vehicle that we use everyday to its fullest.

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  MY FIRST CAR IS FAB! GREAT PRICE GREAT FEATURES - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Abhi - December 2 - 3:37 pm

  Value for money from worlds best selling manufacturer

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  Great Value, Great Looks - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Snowball - December 2 - 12:56 pm

  Even though I got the 4 cycl. it has a lot of pick-up, but still has great gas mileage. I love the looks of it,inside and out. Perfect size for a carseat and two big dogs! Smooth ride too.

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  Powerful performer - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By alan - November 30 - 10:16 am

  I bought a V6 Limited RAV4 to replace a 530i BMWi. I wanted something to perform better in the snow, and I think I have found it. This car is every bit as explosive when you hit the accelerator and it has the benefit of AWD. And the price is right! Handling is superb, cornering is fine and braking is very good. Great combination of features. All in an appealing skin of sheet metal.

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  Awesome Buy - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By LG - November 29 - 4:43 am

  I bought it new 2007 Limited. Love it. If you are talking on phone and Bluetooth is activated. As soon as you start your car your call gets transferred to your car speaker and built in mic. Hands-free driver. No need to turn off or lower the volume, it will switch automatically to call when you receive a call too. Extra storage in the trunk. Cargo net and other good stuff is awesome.