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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  For The Dog - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By For The Dog - September 15 - 12:33 pm

  Traded in a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta GLS for a 2005 RAV4. Got one in Evergreen Metallic with everything except leather. Paid $23700, which was $100 over invoice, which was fair since they had to go 150 miles to get the one I wanted. Needed something bigger for our dog (Akita). The fact that the rear seats come out easily and it gets the best MPG in the SUV market (sorry not buying an Escape Hybrid) make it the perfect vehicle.

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  Great mini 4x4 SUV with Power - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Geoff H - September 8 - 1:33 am

  After owning the Lexus and Infinity SUVs I though the Rav4 was going to be a definite "downgrade". Well it was in price but not in functionality. The 4wd system is great. With 50/50 lock and downhill assist control it works great in the Utah "crawl" down busy ski resort canyons. The V6 performance is also a great benefit with plenty of passing accelleration power. The drive is light and nimble - great for in town driving but not as stable as the heavier full size SUVs. But the storage rocks - hidden bins under the fold flat floor, lots of nooks and crannys for sunglasses, etc. Drink holders for taller bottles. And the seating comfort is quite good too - I regularly drive it on 6 hour trip

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  The Safety Factor - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By gnikgnik - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I have a 2001 RAV4. Last Wednesday night, my brother had an accident on the freeway - he ran headfirst into the center divider doing 70 MPH and walked away without a scratch. If you are looking for a reliable, safe car that gets good gas mileage then the RAV4 is a great vehicle.

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  Who need a Huge SUV? - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By New Toyota Owner - September 1 - 11:13 pm

  This has been a great purchase. There is plenty of room inside. Shortly after purchasing the car, I loaded up my wife, two kids, a cocker spaniel, a llasa apso and a rabbit and set off on a 750 mile trip for Christmas at Grandmas. The RAV4 handled the roof top carrier much better than the Olds Bravada I had had before. I never felt as though the RAV4 was unstable. Even loaded down I managed 27 mpg.

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  impressed - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By chandwerk - August 30 - 5:28 pm

  I have loved driving my 2006 Rav 4 from the day I drove it off the lot! I t has amazing pick up and power..reliability has exceeded my expectations. The dealership played the most important part--outstanding experience in customer service and repair! Thank you Mountain States Toyota In Denver Colorado!

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  Satisfied and pleased with the Toyota RAV4 - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By VONYC - August 26 - 4:43 am

  Had a hard time deciding between the 4x4 Toyota Rav4 and the 4x4 Honda CRV. Test drove both vehicles and Toyota won by features, performance and price. Honda has a smaller cabinet and smaller engine lacking performance. As far as price I was quoted similar price on both vehicle but Toyota now includes the Extra Convenience Package, which includes 17" Steel 5 Spoke Style wheels, Privacy Glass, Roof Racks and Floor Mats as for the same.

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  Great little SUV for the price - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By longlegsguy - August 25 - 3:56 pm

  Lots of pluses for this "little" Toyota (our first new car was a 71 Corolla, now THAT was little!). Traded in a 96 4Runner with the same engine, and were blown away by the performance difference. 4Runner wasnt a slouch, but the RAV4 is a hottie. Even driving it hard on trips, were getting 26.5-28.5 mpg on the road, which is dang good; best we ever got with the old truck was 18.5. My wife likes the way the hood slopes down; says she can see more of the road up front. Im 65" and although it isnt what Id call roomy, the RAV4 is adequately sized; we took a 9-hour road trip with 5 in the car (2 seater) and all came back still speaking. A miracle! Never feels like a truck will blow us away.

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  Really like my Rav - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By LoriLou - August 18 - 1:43 am

  really like the SUV. Even more than I realized I would. Its a little stiff interior wise but could be Im used to car. Handles extremely well and easy to park and manuever it tight spots. Really like the looks of the vehicle. 4 cyl seems to have sufficient pick up necessary to deal with city and highway traffic.

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  RAV 4 6 cylinder - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Happy driver - August 18 - 12:03 am

  Its a pleasure to drive, non-fatiguing. Its get up and go on the highway is great and city driving is very easy. Parking is easy - both parallel and horizontal. In one month I have put on 2000 miles. The cabin is very comfortable as is the ride. I ask myself why I waited so long to buy one. The mileage is way above what it was rated to be - 35 mpg on the open road. Very pleased and would recommend it to anyone.

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  Love It - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Pooter - August 15 - 10:00 am

  I am a Toyota person and I had some reservation about the RAV4 but I loved the body style. I had 184,000 mile on my Camry and I need a new vehicle I shopped until I dropped and Hatfields gave me the best deal I went on week end trip and I love my new RAV4 it has the all wheel drive. I went from a V6 back to a 4 cyclinder and I love it.I cant say enought good this.