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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  perfect for me - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By larry - October 24 - 4:20 am

  very fun to drive and very important to me is that it is easy to get in and out of. i have a fused spine and the seat height is perfect for . easy to park and a good 4 wheel drive system for snow and some light off roading.

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  Quite possibly the Perfect Vehicle - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By sp33dy_gr33n - October 23 - 8:00 am

  Absolutely love this vehicle. It is very quick with the V6 engine, and gets great gas mileage (25 mpg) for a 4wd, V6, SUV. The dimension of the vehicle are great too. Not too big, and not too small, and looks great.

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  Bad Trans/Differential - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Charles - October 22 - 10:00 am

  These SUVs develop an annoying differential whine at about 40 MPH and up. There is a Service Bulletin #TSB- 0192-10 that addresses the problem. Problem is it simply tries to cover up the problem by dampening the noise - hoping the owner will go away. Also the engine has to be pulled to simply replace a water pump. The Service manual also states that the engine needs to be removed for spark plug replacement. It could really get expensive to own this vehicle for the long term.

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  2015 RAV 4 HAPPY HAPPY - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By kell3 - October 20 - 5:31 am

  I have a 2015 Rav4, and I am very pleased with everything about the suv. I choose this vehicle for the reason of previously owning a 2007 Rav4. I loved it so much, and had no issues what so ever. My family was in a accident on a major interstate in Georgia, and we were hit in rear. The person who hit us at a speed of at least 60mph. We were protected by the air bags, and the built of the Rav4, and most of all protection of God. The car was totaled out. People stopped to take pictures of our car with our family of 4 standing outside after the accident. I know the safety of this suv is EXCELLENT. We love Toyota!

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  Its what i expected - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By darksecret - October 18 - 2:33 pm

  The look of the new RAV4 is very nice, much better than the previous models. The fuel economy is great.

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  rav4 suv 2004 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By robledocharles - October 18 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive,and has enough power to get me from point a to b. with no problems. very happy with this suv.

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  Almost perfect... - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By stephanie - October 17 - 2:33 am

  Wanted a mid-size SUV and hated everything out there except Rav4. Stylish outside and high-tech inside. Other comparable vehicles out there did not match up. I wanted a luxury vehicle without the luxury price. The Rav4 is almost perfect.

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  2016 RAV 4 LE FWD - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By CFT - October 15 - 9:20 am

  I have had this car a month today and it just reached 1,000 miles and I am overall very happy with it. The acceleration is great especially since I just traded in a 2005 Toyota highlander with a V6 figuring that I would have some adjustments to make. The interior is overall spacious and comfortable but yet it does feel a bit cheap. The carpet in the floor board and a bit too much plastic looking in the interior. I would imagine over time with a family it may start to look a bit banged up but it is just me so hardly anyone will ever sit in the back seat. The rims are nice and sporting looking but are plastic and I wonder how they will hold up especially since I keep a car for a long time. A bad safety feature is when you put the it in park all doors seem to unlock instead of just drivers door. Over all do recommend for sporty styling and comfortable ride.

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  Sweet replacement - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By kathy soltero - October 10 - 7:58 pm

  Bought the car after being in a wreck.. my chevy volt was totaled by the drunk driver that hit me .. looked for a little bigger car with four wheel or awd and fell in love with the rav 4 ... thank you Toyota for making my Christmas wish come true !!!

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  Love My Rav! - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Rahooligans - October 10 - 10:00 am

  Wow what can I say!? I love my silver RAV4. Its been a pleasure to drive around the city and on the freeway. Initially I was a bit worried about the 4 cylinder engine, but Ill tell you that evn weighted down with apssengers and cargo Ive been able to climb hills EASILY! Mileage is great in the city I get about 22 mpg. Dont listen to people who complain about this csr, I mean CONSUMER REPORTS RATED IT BEST FOR COMPACT SUVS! Thats right ahead of Ford Escape and even the new CRV!