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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Awesome 6 and economical milage - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By toy truck 2 - June 30 - 5:06 pmPicked up at Fitz Mall 200 miles from home, not too thrilled about the ride to pick up this vehicle.Wrong! Fun to drive and quicker than my V8 Forerunner though not as smooth and refined.JVC sounds better in Rav.Sunroof needs wind deflector,minor issue.Driving same speeds 55 to 75mph Forerunner got 19.0 mpg and Rav got 26.9 .40% better and exactly what I wanted,may even improve.
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Love the look - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By Katfncy - June 28 - 10:30 amI was a Honda CRV owner for 6 years. I didnt like the new shape for 2007. I drove across the street to look at the RAV4. I was quite surprised by all the changes since I first looked at the RAV4 in 2000. Love the body style and the way it handles. It beats the Honda 2007 CRV anyday.
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Car feels Cheap. - 2016 Toyota RAV4
By Jimmy S - June 28 - 3:08 amDont be fool by the look of this 2016 rav4. Car feels very cheap. Try closing and opening the door several times, changing volume knobs, temperature knobs, and adjusting the air vents , you will know they put a lot cheap materials in this car. Car makes loud noise when shifting from P to D. It also makes weird noise in the back of the car after I stop the car completely.
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I love my new Toyota Rav4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By ravgirl - June 28 - 1:00 amThis was my frist new car. I have always liked my 99 toyota corolla, but when I test drove my rav4, I was sold. There is a lot of space for your back passengers. They can adjust thier seat and recline to a comfortable position. I love the hidden storage. Car drives nice and smooth. I feel safe in this car!
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2010 Rav4 Sport - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By Greg Wilson - June 27 - 11:00 amI have the run flat tires and the Sport package. I am getting 25.2 mpg ave. for the first 2000 miles. I am a handling nut and this car is very stable, has a very good steering feel and good brakes. The V6 has excellent power yet as previously noted gets excellent gas mileage. Overall I am very impressed.
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I Love This Car - 1997 Toyota RAV4
By Olympia - June 25 - 11:56 pmEasy on gas, fun to drive, roomy, sporty and everything (almost) works well. Whats not to love? Even the paint looks great after 8 years (and no garage). I had a dead battery once, big deal. The biggest problem I have had were lame brain other drivers bumping into me in parking lots. The doors had bad problems with not wanting to open in the winter and one door lock stopped working altogether one summer (had to operate on it and fixed it). If that hadnt happened, I would have kept this car for ever. However, I am buying another one, so that shows you how much the positives outweigh the negatives.
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A Little More Engineering! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Mike - June 22 - 12:36 pmLove the design. Classic Toyota attention to detail. This is the 6th Toyota I purchased since 1989. You just cant be the quality and dependability of a Toyota. Also like the amount of interior room, very spacious. I am 6-4" and have no trouble getting comfortable in any seat.
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Rav 4 Consistent reliability - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By Keith - June 20 - 8:00 amOverall, for the money, the Rav 4 is a great investment. I drive 40,000 miles per year. It has great cargo room, and good flexibility with back seat adjustments. The blue tooth phone is a must. Rides good on the highway with some road noise. Street driving in town can be a rough ride sometimes. The smart key is a big convenience. I average 28.6 mpg overall.
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Barely average - 2013 Toyota RAV4
By katekebo - June 19 - 5:15 pmI have owned the RAV for about one year. I bought it based on previous experience with Toyota vehicles and a good trade-in offer I got from my dealer for my previous car - my net-out-of-pocket on the RAV was ~$2-3k less than other comparable CUVs. After one year of ownership the best I can rate this car is "average". The only real positive is the amount of cargo and passenger space. In every other area the car falls short, especially comparing to competition. Its noisy, has a very stiff and uncomfortable suspension, safety ratings are mediocre (below key competitors), transmission behavior is strange and disconcerting, mileage is OK but not outstanding. Bottom line - just average.
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brake noise sometime - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By binh nguyen - June 18 - 10:00 ammy 2003 rav4 has alot of noise from every time i step on the brake,it happen after two weeks from the i purchase,i brink back to dearler to comppland,i come back after five houres my encer is ,we cant find the proplem sorry,my name is binh nguyen recomment not to buy toyota rav4 untill toyota recall all 2003 rav4 and fix that
