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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  A great and fun vehicle to drive - city or hwy - 2014 Toyota RAV4
  By fray1 - January 15 - 5:23 pm

  I got the top trim level and added remote start, homelink, and a trailer hitch. Remote start and heated seats are great on those chilly, Midwest mornings. I am a conservative driver, having traded in a 2008 Prius, and I am routinely getting between 32-33 mpg on the hwy, and about 27-28 in city driving in Eco mode. This vehicle is fun to drive, and dollar for dollar is the best deal on the market. I test drove the Honda CRV, Subaru Forester and Crosstrek, and the Mazda CX-5, and none could compare pricepoint and features. Reliability and comfort have been fantastic!!

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  Love this Car---So much better than CRV - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Mar - January 14 - 3:10 pm

  For a long time I could not decide between the Honda CRV and the Toyota rav 4. I loved the test drive, the interior, exterior, and trusted the Toyota name above all. Had this car for over a month now and love it. So happy with this vehicle!!!

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  DISAPPOINTED - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By mechanic46 - January 11 - 11:52 am

  I bought this Rav4, AWD about 10 months ago. It is great to drive, ride and handling are good for its size, power could use lot of help, and the economy has yet to break 25 MPG-it has dropped since we bought it, it is now down to 19 to 21 MPG. I removed the PCM and sent it to a repair facility to get the transmission problem corrected before it actually failed. The man who is repairing is said that the poor economy could be part of the PCM failing, even thought the transmission area had not failed yet. The outcome of this repair will be the deciding factor whether I keep this car or not.

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  Just Great! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By laureb - January 9 - 2:00 am

  Fell in love at first sight and after several days, I am still in awe when I consider the total perfection of this vehicle. The exterior design has much appeal as has the interior. Further, it has plenty of pep and handles beautifully in all traffic conditions. I like the 2-wheel drive as it burns less gas.

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  20 Year Toyota Owner - Cant Beat It! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RIder - January 8 - 9:23 am

  Had it for about a month now... great to drive, very comfortable, smooth handling, roomy, great style, everything I wanted with great quality and workmanship. I would recommend this SUV or any Toyota for that matter to anyone. The 4cyl I think is fine and personally, I didnt see the need for the 6cyl. In any case, cant go wrong with a new 06 RAV4! Good luck with yours if you buy one!

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  rav4 - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By quickyman - January 3 - 10:00 am

  great vehicle--fun to drive--no flaws

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  Love My RAV - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Pleased - January 2 - 10:26 pm

  I have owned my RAV4 for only three weeks but I feel it is a vehicle that I will keep for many years. I love nearly every aspect of the vehicle from the power of the six cylinder engine to the ease of handling. Theres plenty of storage area and ease of accessing materials. The quality of the materials appears to be excellent - I have perforated leather and heated seats. The smart key entry is wonderful since I just leave my keys in my pocket for entry and starting the vehicle. I do not find the swing door on the back to be a problem at all as it opens widely for easy access. The rear step bumper is also handy. To conclude, I am very pleased with my purchase and would recommend the RAV4.

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  Old Faithful - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Carol - January 2 - 7:53 pm

  Finally replacing Old Faithful after over 10 very reliable years. Seats are losing their bounce and its showing its age a bit, but still runs like a charm. The 2.0 4cyl is a bit wimpy for hwy driving, but MPG is great. I truly wish the US would build affordable quality products. The materials/fit & finish are so chintzy in comparison, or incredibly overpriced. Looks like another import vehicle again for me.

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  RAV4 Great! until water pump problem - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Alex - January 1 - 9:53 am

  The RAV4 is exceptional in handling and driving, I love it! CAUTION: One major downfall, I have to replace the water pump. Well in order to have the water pump replaced the engine has to be taken out, 14.5 hours of labor! The service guy quoted 14.5 hours labor! That totally crushed my opinion about the RAV4, its bad for the engineers/designer to place the water pump where the engine has to be removed to replace a simple device such as the water pump.

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  Never thought Id love an SUV! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Withbellson - December 30 - 9:00 am

  I bought this car to replace my 97 Honda Civic. I have owned Toyotas in the past and I have always loved them. However, I was not prepared to fall in love with this car before I had even driven off the dealers lot for the test drive! Some have mentioned it being underpowered, but I dont find the manual shift to be underpowered at all. It is a little noisy in the cabin, but this is an SUV, not a Lexus sedan.