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 a great SUV as first thought - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By nitkad - February 20 - 5:36 am

  Frankly, I got fooled by my purchase. I realised after the purchase that I have bought a low end SUV even though it costs more. I used to own a camry and I thought that as Rav4 is little expensive it will be better comfort wise. But that is not true. It feels like you are driving Corolla. No power (4 cyl). Lot of external noise. Lot of shocks. So, basically it is not a smooth as Camry. I got a factory installed remote start which stinks. My problem might be that I was thinking it will be similar or better than Camry but it is absolutely not the case.

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  Three Months and Going Strong - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Linda in RI - February 17 - 9:30 pm

  We have now owned our RAV4 for about 3 months and I love driving it! We were seriously looking at the Honda CR-V also (I was replacing a Honda Accord which I loved) but frankly didnt think the interior CR-V features were up to speed with the RAV4. Only issue we have had is a problem with tire inflation on driver side. It keeps losing air for no apparent reason. This is a great vehicle for moving or purchase of large or awkward items which cannot easily fit in a car. Sure do love it!!

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  2014 RAV 4-XLE-FWD Gas Milage Terrible! - 2014 Toyota RAV4
  By terryljam3 - February 15 - 6:56 pm

  I purchased a new RAV 4 in April of this year. My 2014 RAV 4 was the XLE with front wheel drive only which was rated for 24 city and 31 hwy mpg. I have over 5000 miles on it and have taken multiple highway trips and driven it to work locally each day. No mater what driving condition, I have only achieved 24 mpg. I tried different gas octanes and no difference. My Mazdas always achieved there rated mileage so the idea of my driving habits have nothing to do with it. This car is a lemon and the dealer will not even talk to me about it. I cannot promote this car that does not do what it was advertised to do.

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  Love My RAV4 Sooo Much - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Excellent Crossover - February 11 - 11:30 am

  Been owning for about a month now and put about 800 miles on it. All I can say is nothing but good impression of everything that comes with it. Plenty of power to fool around on the road, handling is just like a car, gas consumption is impressive for a 3500 lbs crossover SUV(got average of 21 miles/gal). Design of the interior is as good as sedan but too much plastic materials used. Toyota did a good job to fool your eyes (youll think its a leatherette from a distance). This is the reason why I took 1 point off the interior design evaluation points. I love how the exterior look, from the headlights(resembling BMW headlights) to the curve line on the sides, side mirrors, but weird rear-end.

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  Joyce and Jims Rav 4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Joyce & Jim - February 11 - 10:30 am

  We were recently in a serious accident on a local freeway in southern California in our RAV4. The car is totaled. We were struck, tipped over and slid across 2 lanes. Because of the safety features of this car we walked away with a few bumps and bruises. We strongly recommend this car and are in the process of buying a new 2007 model.

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  Great little SUV - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By nana - February 11 - 8:23 am

  Searched and researched for 10 months before purchasing my Rav 4. I havent regretted buying it for even one second! Average mileage is 27.7 combined over the life of the vehicle. Four cylinder has plenty of pep. Love having a hatch that hinges on the side as I am very petite.

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  5 speed shot after only 73,000 miles! - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By NJmike1234 - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Well just as the 70,000 mile warrenty ran out so did the 5 speed on the car. Dealer no help-3,300 for new trans- local repair shop fixed it for 900.00 Do Not get the 5 speed

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  I will never sell!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Love my RAV4 - February 9 - 9:33 am

  I have loved every momemt of my RAV4 ownership. There is plenty of power for zooming around, the sport suspension makes driving on bumpy dirtroads smooth, and the 4WD has already gotten me out of a couple of sticky situations like it was nothing. Perfect blend of fun and utility, exactly what I was looking for.

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  Poor MPG - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By ocal - February 7 - 8:13 am

  Biggest problem is poor MPG. Bought becuase of the published MPG range. Actual MPG is consistently on the low end. We live in flat Florida. Most driving is rural and occassional light city traffic. 3rd row seet is soo cramped my 6 & 9 year-olds have to sit sideways, if any-one is sitting in 2nd row. Took to dealership (Deluca) to have MPG checked. Service lady treated us like were idiots and later lied to us about how they checked to see if there was any issue (told us a mechanic drove it of 30 minutes continuously at 35mph and MPG was 28MPG). Impossible test. Wish we had bought the Durango or the CRV. Will trade this off soon! (Previoulsly loved our Corolla!)

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  Not quite happy with my RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By joelh1 - February 6 - 9:16 am

  The car is great looking, solid and is fun to drive. It has lots of storage and seems to have been designed with the drivers comfort and convenience in mind. MPG is a little disappointing as is vibration at idle when the air conditioning is on. The road noise is noticeable but not too annoying. The suspension is stiff and you feel the road but that may be part of the fun.