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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  rav4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By henry ford nickos - June 1 - 10:00 am

  good car to drive, fun and nice, but too weak, good mileage is a plus

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  U got to love the RAV - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By ozeross - May 29 - 10:00 am

  The performance of the vehicle is excellent and it give a decent fuel economy in its class. Its roomy, has good looks both interior and exterior (with L Pack)and leather interiors and one can surely say that this vehicle could have easily carried a LEXUS badge. Talking about power and torque, in its class its really good. Yes, one can of course argue that the others in the segment have more HP than RAV4, but let be practical, this is a recreational vehicle and not a truck. And of course, the HP was will neve end..., I would say it you can make a deal on this buddy, PEACE OF MIND is guranteed.

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  A Fun To Drive Vehicle - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By William F Doherty - May 29 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle handles wonder at all speeds. I have had forty (40) vehicles in my life time so far, this 2002, 2WD RAV4 W/QP Package is the BEST.

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  A very good small SUV. - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Dale E Faro - May 28 - 1:50 pm

  After owning several Highlanders, all of which were great vehicles, I traded in a Sienna XLE van for a 2015 Toyota RAV4 XLE, silver in color, with a two tone black/gray fabric interior. I have made two trips from Long Island to Rochester, and I am happy with the seat comfort, and how the trucklet handles on the highway. The ride is firm, but not bad for a short wheel base suv, and the steering is superb. It doesnt wander around on the highway. It goes where its pointed without drama, and steering effort is good while giving nice road feel. All the instrumentation is pretty intuitive. My phone paired easily to the Bluetooth, and works well with the in dash controls. With the 2nd seat folded, there is a lot of cargo room, which I have used to good advantage. The 2.5 176 hp 4 cylinder cruises easily, and I keep it between 67 and 72 mph with little effort from the engine. I had reservations about a 4 cylinder, after having many V-6 Toyotas, with around 270hp, but the RAV4 power is sufficient, if not overwhelming. You just have to time your passes a little more carefully. A little disappointed in the mpg, which turns out to be around 24, only about 2 to 3 more than the much heavier Sienna. I specifically did not want a CVT transmission, and the RAV4 delivers with a conventional, very smooth 6 speed automatic. I also considered a Subaru Forester, which I test drove, and has a nice exterior, and comfortable, well designed interior, but did not like the CVT, and did not like how it moved around on the road, unable to hold a straight line without constant little adjustments. I did not test the Mazda CX-5 or the Hyundai Tucson. I drove the Honda CRV, very nice vehicle, but did not want a CVT transmission. That said, I was disappointed that the XLE does not come with a power drivers seat or even synthetic leather. The Sienna XLE had both. I believe every vehicle is a compromise on some points, and I got the RAV4 because its been in production for years, and has great reliability. So far Im not disappointed.

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  HAVING A HARD TIME PARTING WITH MY CAR - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By meleirs - May 28 - 5:08 am

  I HAVE HAD MY rav4 FOR ELEVEN YEARS, IT HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD TO ME THAT I AM FINDING A HARD TIME BUYING A NEW VEHICLE. I AM NOW A GRANDMOTHER AND NEED SOMETHING MORE SPACIOUS AND MORE NEW.

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  My 2004 Rav-4 4WD SUV - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By NH Real Estate lady - May 26 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love my little "Jitney"..!! This is the greatest car; economical to run, reliable, good looking and handles beautifully, on a dime. I am a Realtor, and it goes right out there with the best of them !!!! They can have their "Volvos" !!! cbennett :) Buy a 2004 Rav-4, youll just love it. PS: No need to get the "L" package.

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  2006 RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By MCP - May 26 - 1:33 am

  Lots of fun to drive! An SUV that drives like a sports sedan. Very comfortable, roomy, exceeds all expectations. Decent fuel economy.

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  Just out of college car - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By VT - May 22 - 3:36 pm

  This was a very generous gift from my parents for college graduation and although I would be happy with any car given to me, I am overall very pleased with this car. Its an SUV but doesnt necessarily drive like one. It accelerates fast and handles well around turns, it is not top-heavy like many SUVs. The storage is great! Ive had that thing packed with 5 adults and enough luggage to where Ive had to rely on my side mirrors to back-up, but everyone was comfortable and I heard no complaints, to my face that is. Fairly fuel-efficient for an SUV. Although if thats your priority, I would suggest a Ford Escape or Mercury Mariner.

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  Dependable - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By C G - May 21 - 3:27 pm

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  From V6 to I4, no regret yet - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By lanpingd - May 21 - 2:27 pm

  I "downgraded" myself from a V6 2006 Escape to this I4 2012 RAV4 and so far so good. I am living in NC bay area but purchased my RAV4 from a dealer near LA downtown during my July 4th trip (a totally unplanned purchase but David in Buena Park Toyota gave me a great price plus reasonable trade-in, highly recommended). Two weeks with two tanks of gas, hwy/local 50/50, the avg mileage is ~24, which is way better than the previous Escapes (17-18). The Escape is really a reliable small SUV which gave me zero problem, but with the increasing live expense in bay area, some trade-off has to be made.