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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  rav - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By hadi - December 29 - 10:00 am

  Its my wifes car,but i drive it sometimes she loves it. I think its not a bad car it drives good. I mean its toyota.

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  New Buyer - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By LJennetti66 - December 28 - 8:16 pm

  The 2002 Toyota RAV4s exterior on the L-series model is the best around. It truly looks similar to a BMW from the side and is inexpensive to boot. I have found nothing but good reviews on the vehicle and it is fun to drive! Its spacious and fuel efficient and I cant think of a better small SUV to make it through winter and cruise through summer in!!!

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  Will Never Buy A Toyota Again - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By ToyotaNeverAgain - December 28 - 9:36 am

  Car handles great in snow, rain. It is SEVERELY underpowered and I had to replace the catalytic converter at 62,000K ($2200). Transmission started slipping shortly after at 74,000K (new ECU, $2800). My average mileage is 20.8, so no sipper at all. Now at 100K the transmission is starting to act up again so its going out the door before it becomes my issue. Will never buy a Toyota again.

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  I love my Rav - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By ladym/Marilyn - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 4 types of Toyota dating back to a 1994 Corona, a Tecel, 2 Camrys, now the Rav and I love it. I just wish it had a V6 engine. But, I can live with the 4.

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  Blown up rav4 @ 90K - Not recommended - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By nomorerav - December 22 - 11:17 pm

  Just paid off my 2007 rav4 when it blow a motor. The water pump is located in the back and it broke. My wife drove it and blow up the motor. 8 grand for a new one. Even if she did not blow it up, the water pump is on the back of the engine. This requires the motor to be pulled to change it out. A $2000 to $3000 job depending on where you get it done. I had electrical problems. Tire wear issues, brake problems. All the senors would randomly go off on it. The Tire pressure senors where always needing replaced. I ended up junking the car, basically threw 20K down the drain. I know 2 other people that have had issues with water pump or rear main seal. And they all had there engines blown.

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  Drives like a 09 Corolla - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By regmeister - December 19 - 2:13 pm

  Averaging 28 mpg. RAV4 reminds me of a Corolla I had for a loaner for a month. Similar driving dynamics & lots of road noise & booming exhaust. In the morning the tranny has an annoying 2-stage takeoff from park, it engages 3/4s then full lock even when rolling. Once warmed up the hiccup goes away. Although the interior dashboard is not as cleverly designed as a CRV (not enough cubby compartments) the center armrest/console is a welcome feature. The rear side doors have only a molded cup holder for a small H2O bottle. The back door is a disappointment too. Just a fishnet and no cubby holes molded in the door like the CRV. Audio loudness feature is good because of the road noise.

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  Proud to Own My Rav - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill - December 19 - 3:33 am

  I own a 2008 RAV Sport V6 with 4WD. I love my new vehicle and hope that it will be as reliable as I have read. Full economy is currently about 21.5 avg MPG to 24.5 MPG. This is driving gently while trying to avoid quick starts and hard stops. I would like better fuel economy but the RAV is still a best in its class. I had body moldings installed as I was worried that the unprotected doors would get dinged to easily.

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  A very fun and reliable SUV - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Diego - December 18 - 6:53 am

  Purchased in Nov 2007 and simply love driving my new 2008 RAV4. Im amazed at how agile and fun this thing drives. Its like driving a peppy little sports car that sits high off the ground. The vehicle is well engineered and the traction control and 4wd provide impressive handling in the snow. The only downside I see to the vehicle is somewhat lower mileage than I had hoped for/expected. I get around 23-24 mpg on mixed city/highway driving.

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  sporty and fun - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By ChiSox fan - December 15 - 3:16 am

  We just traded in our "old man" Malibu for the Rav4 with sport package. Its very stylish and the ride is surprisingly smooth for an SUV. We needed a car that could transport our full-size cornholio (beanbag)game to tailgates outside the ballpark. The Rav didnt come with security/keyless entry, so we went to Bestbuy and had them install the complete keyless entry/security/remote start system which will be nice to have during the Chicago winters. The gas mileage is about the same as we had with the 6 cyl. Malibu. I love this SUV and look forward to many years of driving bliss!

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  2005 Toyota Rav4 - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Frank - December 13 - 11:50 pm

  Never did I think I would buy foreign, but at the eight thousand mile mark, I am still happy with the purchase of the Rav 4. Gas mileage is great. Averaging 28 miles around town. Ride is good. After owning Chevrolets for two decades, there is definately a different feel. I am pleased all around with Toyota.