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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  TASHAS RAV4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By cameron - May 20 - 4:30 pm

  So far put 8600 miles no problems to report to date, Awesome fuel economy for the type of vehicle avg 26mpg. Typical Toyota fit and finish and quality. Previous Toyota had 180000 miles without breakdowns and parts from the factory are very reasonable certainly cheaper than our Honda, also lot easier to maintain, dont have to take half the dashboard apart to change the a/c filter like our previous CR-V.

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  New Rav4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By smllfry1 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  Just bought. Fun to drive..Very good looking Have only one question. I hear a squeal at low speeds, with the window down. Is this normal., or should I be concerned. Email me anyone with help Otherwise wonderful car smllfry1@aol.com

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  Great vehicle!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By leaf74 - May 18 - 2:26 am

  Picked up a 3.5l Sport AWD Rav4 recently and couldnt be more impressed. This thing is an absolute missile in a straight line and handles very very well with minimal body roll. Its quiet inside and out (lets not forget this is the 3.5l drive train from the Lexus RX 350 so its no surprise really). Its roomy comfortable and I have really no complaints about this vehicle to speak of. Very solid high quality Not-so-little-anymore SUV. I love it.

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  No recall but beware - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Ricky - May 17 - 3:46 pm

  My wife was picking up son from school in this vehicle and car accelerated with her foot on the brake. Took car to dealer and was told it was from Japan and no problems had been reported and no recalls we in effect. They did mash brake to try and duplicate problem but refused to replace anything. My wife and daughter get carsick so I have to ride in back seats when we travel as a family. Front seats are comfortable but rear is stiff and hard to adjust. We have bought 3 new Toyotas in our lifetime but this was our last. My wife was mad and scared after her experience so we traded for a Chevy the next weekend.

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  A Pleasant Surprise - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By BladeRunner - May 13 - 8:23 am

  After driving a V8 powered 4Runner for longer than I should have, I needed to find a better MPG for my commute. The Rav4 was a pleasant surprise. I never thought I would fall in love with a small SUV. The ride is smooth yet powerful with the V6 engine. Im averaging 23mpg which is a big step up over the 15 I was getting before. Handling is superb, although the electronic assisted steering takes some getting used to. At 61 space is an issue for me and I have plenty in the Rav4. I have a ton of shoulder, leg and head room and the storage bins under the cargo area are a nice feature. My road bike fits with ease with the seats folded down. I highly recommend the Rav4.

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  Im thrilled with my RAV4! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Elliebird - April 30 - 12:13 pm

  I was hesitant to buy an SUV because Ive had small cars all my life and had trouble maneuvering and parking the SUVs I had been test driving. My first time in the RAV, I did a tight U-turn and fell in love! The RAV is small enough to easily handle, and when we packed for our first vacation, we had cargo space left over! The fuel economy has been as advertised, if not better. However, I dont drive aggressively, and I followed the "first 1000 miles" recommendations. The first week of ownership, I was aware of slight road vibration under my feet (I was coming out of a luxury sedan) but I no longer notice it. I highly recommend the RAV4.

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  Very Reliable - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By Len - April 29 - 9:40 pm

  I have had my 1999 RAV4 5 speed for 5 years and I would buy another in a heartbeat. This has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I bought it with 41,000 miles on it and have added about 100,000. I transferred to a new job last year and now commute about 130 miles per day. I never worry about whether my car will start or not (unless I run the battery down by leaving the lights on). I had some major maintenance work done this year (tune-up, timing belt, etc.), but other than regular maintenance work, I have had no other work done on my car. It runs great, has the Toyota reliability, and I fully expect it to keep going for another 200,000 miles. My gas mileage is about 33.

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  Great Ride for Family - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By Joan D - April 24 - 8:22 am

  Reliable and high resale Toyota Rav4, low miles

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  RAV4 L - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By lbmcc - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle for the price. Great look inside and out. Good MPG. AWD a plus in Buffalo. Peppy engine. Could use a bit more room but keep it in the small category.

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  1999 Toyota RAV4 - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By oble95 - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Being a Toyota, it has definitely been reliable. The handling is excellent; you really dont feel youre driving a truck. Gas mileage is also excellent.The only complaint I have is the lack of power. Changing lanes or passing other vehicles will require some planning.