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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  Not enough comfort - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Danny D - August 3 - 11:53 am

  I bought my rav 4 2009 base 4x4 because of the toyota quality so far it has quality but it is stiff and my honda civic is more comfortable than the brand new rav 4. I drove it in the snow and it was okay. I am happy with the vehicle but it doesnt drive as I expected.

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  Excellent all around, V6 perfects it! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Chad - August 2 - 2:00 am

  Weve had our 2010 Rav4 Sport for a week now. We did plenty of research on comparable SUVs, but this one beats the competitors. Toyota reliability and resale value. Top safety scores. Great gas mileage. Amazing leg room in second row due to sliding bench. Great storage, with under floor bin in cargo area. Then you add the V-6 and this turns into the sports car of SUVs. CRV doesnt come close!

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  excellent choice - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By colleen - July 31 - 11:30 pm

  Had my new Rav for one week, put 150 miles on it already. Im finding excuses to drive it! I opted for the manual transmission because of the 4cyl engine....feels like a sports car. Very responsive and it is very tight in the turns. Not what I expected from an suv. Being 5ft, it is a pleasure to be able to see out the front and sit up high, and when getting out, you dont fall out! Has all options except leather heated seats. Looking forward to putting 150thousand plus miles on it, and having it still be worth something.

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  Almost Perfect - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By TGIX - July 31 - 2:06 am

  I am crazy about my Rav4! In well over a million miles of driving over the past 30 yrs, & that includes a lot of varied vehicle types, the Rav4 is my absolute favorite. Design is tops (I get stopped/asked about it an avg. of once every few weeks, twice in the past 4 days). Love its exceptionally high safety ratings. No car Ive driven before gets ABOVE the rated miles per gallon as this one does! I average 30 mpg or better of city and highway combined! Got 33 mpg going up and down steep mountain roads with two kayaks on top! Never get less than 27 mpg!

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  Excellent Value - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By Susan - July 30 - 7:00 pm

  I havent had any problems with my Rav4. The only work Ive had done is normal maintainance. The only things I dont like about the car is that it doesnt turn on a dime. It is a pretty wide turn and it is difficult if not impossible to u-turn on a two lane road. You will inevitably need to go off the road a bit. Other than that I love my Rav. It is really fun to drive, has good pick up and is very reliable.

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  Problem with headlight bulbs/burning out - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Terry Bond - July 30 - 1:06 am

  Been a great car, plenty of storage and seating. Easy to drive, and other than Headlight Bulbs, virtually trouble free at 97,000 miles! Gas mileage could be better, but I am not complaining at about 25 mpg overall. Some rattles but not bad, usually able to find and fix-usually a loose screw on interior plastic. Would sure like to know why we seem to go thru 2 sets of Headlight bulbs a year! Started slowly but seem to burn out one side or the other about every 6 to 8 months! Dealer and electrical shop say everything tests fine?

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  Great car, lots of power, high quality. - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Andrew - July 29 - 8:36 pm

  This car will exceed your expectations! You cannot find a better SUV for the price. Fast V6 at 269 horsepower and great fuel economy with 22 MPG city for me and 28 MPG highway. Great quality, no problems, large enough for the family and our Chocolate lab! Great Dog car, great for towing up to 3,500 lbs, great for hauling small to medium size stuff, great in the snow!

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  Lovin my Rav4 - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By matxutca - July 29 - 2:36 pm

  Ive had my 2008 V6 4WD Rav4 for a week and lovin every minute of drivining it. Ive already tested the PSI warning light as I had a nail in the tire within a few days of purchasing. Had the light not gone on, I suspect I would have had a flat tire vs. being able to check it out before it went completely flat. Engine very quiet - to the point it sounds like it stalled. Its the perfect size - takes up the same space in the garage as my Volvo S70 - maybe even a little less space.

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  Decent Vehicle - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By RINNC - July 27 - 12:43 pm

  Drove this car for about 2 yrs. Fabric seats are comfortable on long distances,seat material started pilling shortly after purchased. Dealer replaced but same thing happened. Position of controls well placed. Radio sounds great and subwoofer in rear door does not rattle. Mp3 jack was stupidly placed in the cntr console below the power outlet. Lots of hard plastic but it does not look cheap. Handled well in the snow,only have front-wheel drv. The original tires wore out to fast. Cant see backlit orange temp and radio cntrl with sunglasses on. Back cargo net is cheap. Torque steer when accelerating.

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  monicas review - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By prince - July 27 - 5:00 am

  I love my car. It is dependable and running very well.