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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  rav4 L - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Noelle Lawrence - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Terrific in snow and bad weather. Great get up and go. Lots of storage space. I like the rubber coating on the back of the seats, protects from dirty little feet.

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  Buy V6 youll be glad, but beware... - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By steve - October 24 - 6:00 am

  Dont hesitate to pay the extra bucks to buy the V6. If you dont youll wish you had. On automatics, make sure you put the automatic shift lever in D not 4th gear. When a driver pulls the lever into drive, the shift gate tends to lead you to 4th gear rather than D and I suspect drivers who get low mileage are doing this because the engine doesnt rev that high in 4. When we first got the RAV4, I drove many highway miles in gear 4 without realizing it and my mileage suffered badly.

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  Frans SUV - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By frances - October 23 - 8:30 pm

  Very happy with purchase, only drawback is the noise in the cabin, plenty of sitting room and storage, easy removal of seats for all storage, decent mileage for an SUV.

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  Dicks car - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Richard - October 22 - 6:35 pm

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  Great Value Vehicle-Terrible Bluetooth Instructions! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By hysteria - October 22 - 12:28 pm

  My wife and I both love this vehicle. Weve taken it on 2 very long trips and it perfoms great. We get over 26 mpg. Our only gripe is that the bluetooth instructions in the owners manual are complete garbage! Ive had to take it to the dealer 3 times to get the bluetooth working. The rep at the dealership (who told me she had to "go to school to learn how to program phones for Toyotas bluetooth technology) had major problems trying to get our phones synched up. It took her over 40 minutes to get it working. She also stated NOT to follow the owners manual instructions. What should be an easy application made difficult by Toyotas good for nothing instructions.

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  Ultimate Q-Ship - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Mark - October 19 - 9:26 pm

  I highly recommend this vehicle. I purchased the V6 Limited 4WD with leather, all accessories. Competition was the Honda CR-V which was, finally, no competition. Toyota V6 engine is effortless and power is remarkable. 5-speed transmission is smooth, quiet, unobtrusive. Transmission does not hunt. With V6 engine there is some torque steer, not much compared to other 270 HP engines. Interior is quiet; leather stitching is precise; beware: rear door is very heavy. HVAC is excellent. Real world MPG: first few tanksful of gas, 24.0, 24.6, 23.2 and 26.1. Conditions: Fresno, 95 to 106 degree heat, air conditioning, some freeway, some street. Be very judicious with throttle. 4wheel discs excellent.

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  Get the CR-V - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By palaginghuli - October 15 - 8:56 pm

  I got the front wheel drive Limited. This was a replacement for my 2008 Honda CR-V. Ive always been a Honda customer. I thought Id try the Toyota after seeing a brand new exterior and the spare tire is no longer visible in the back. Ive had it only for a little over a month. Although it is nice to look at (exterior and interior), you can tell it is the cheaper version of the CR-V. The handling feels like a toy car. The ride is also bumpier. The "leatherette" I am sure will wear off much faster than a leather. It also stains very easily especially if oil based. Even pens stain and is very hard to remove. Also not as good visibility. Women will find the CR-V much easier to drive

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  RAV4 - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By AndreaH100 - October 15 - 2:00 am

  I had one problem with the gas cap spring about a year after I bought it, but I took it to the dealership and it was fixed easily. Right now, I am having a problem with my auto door unlock and the auto windows that I need to get looked at. Aside from that, it has been a great car.

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  Bad Engine - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Tracy - October 14 - 1:50 pm

  I was having some issues regarding quality - replaced ECU and water pump and for the last 25,000 miles Ive had an oil issue and was told last week that I need a new engine. A new engine with less that 100,000 miles. Dont buy a Toyota.

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  VVT OIL hose Failure. Engine replacement - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By West Coast Toast - October 11 - 5:40 am

  Just like the post from Deb on 05/05/2009, last month my 2007 Toyota rav 4 with v6 and 38,000 kms had its vvt hose break spraying oil in engine compartment but no engine light came on. Caused engine failure. Had to replace the engine - wasnt easy but they did it under warranty after pushing them hard.