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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  My Purple Tortoise - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By hotbite - September 16 - 1:03 pm

  Ive had my 98 RAV4 since 2004. Its ridiculously reliable...no repairs needed, just maintenance and its got over 130,000 miles on it. My only real gripe about the car is the mileage. Im surprised to read several reviews that praise its mileage! For a 4-cylinder that has zero power, I am disappointed that it only gets 18mpg. I would have expected more. The cupholders are also not really usable. Not in a good location or capable of holding tall cups w/o spilling. Dont get me wrong...I love my RAV. It gets me from A to B with no problems. Knock on wood!

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  4 yr. review - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By harshad - September 15 - 8:06 am

  I bought my Rav4 in Feb 2005. its my commuter car. Its trouble free so far after 45000 miles. Manual tranny is great. I still get 25 mpg in Minnesota winters and around 28 MPG in summer. I take a seat out in summer and can put 2 road bikes easy. This vehicle has to be top 5 reliable fun to drive on consumer reports.

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  toyota fan - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By arns toy - September 12 - 10:00 am

  great vehicle,the usual toyota build quality, great gas mileage over 30mpg on the freeway ,standard abs , traction control and stability control WOW! try that in honda cr-v

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  2016 RAV4 - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Allen Brady - September 10 - 11:48 pm

  Anyone that believes in Toyota, like I do, and wants a small crossover SUV

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  Toyota Quality??? Yeah Right - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By neveratoyota - September 10 - 10:00 am

  Biggest piece of junk ever produced. Wish I had driven it longer than the test drive. Nothing but problems. Underpowered, overpriced, holier than thou attitude at the dealer. Conned into buying one because of claimed reliability. Traded it in for a Saturn Vue V6 AWD a far better car in every respect.

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  Expected a little more! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By cayugajim - September 6 - 12:56 am

  Ill begin by saying that my RAV4 was purchased to replace a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. So for comparison purposes, the RAV is a far superior vehicle. However, the 4 cyl in my base model is underpowered and hesitates when cold. According to the dealer, this is normal and part of the vehicles computer program to maximize efficiency. Fuel economy is also a bit disappointing. With a ratio of 70/30 city/hwy driving, Ive never exceeded 22 mpg (usually around 20). On the plus side, the all wheel drive is great and the vehicle is very reliable. Its also quite roomy and easy to drive. The hard plastic spare tire cover looks great, but is a bear to put back on!

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  RAV4 Seats & Head Rests - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By ann - September 5 - 5:33 am

  I recently purchased a 2009 RAV4 and love everything about it except the seats and head rests. The seats have very little support and the head rests tilt so far forward my neck hurts every time I drive. I have read many complaints about the uncomfortable seats and head rests and dont understand why Toyota cant change them. I wont buy another Toyota until these features are changed.

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  Very Disappointed.... - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Don Robitaille - September 2 - 7:17 am

  Do your homework and dont trust the brochures. First of all this is a hybrid XLE. I was the proud and happy owner of 2 Camry hybrid XLEs since 2006. Both of the Camrys had automatic headlights. The brochure stated that the 2016 RAV 4 also had automatic headlights and I also expected that in the XLE model. To make a long story short it doesnt have automatic headlights. The gas mileage is horrible for a hybrid at 24-25 mpg. The on board computer shows 27.2 mpg. But when you divide total mileage by gallons of gas at a fill up it comes out to 25 mpg give or take a few tenths of a gallon. Never comes close to the alleged mpg on the display. The road noise at 50+ mph is very poor. I have to keep checking that all the windows are tightly closed and they are. The contacts in the telephone display disappear at random, usually once a month and I have to reset my phone to the vehicle via bluetooth. Toyota did an update to fix the problem and a month later all my contacts disappeared again. There are other problems, but this is enough for now. I loved my Camry Hybrids and I cant wait to get rid of this RAV 4. I dont think I would even buy another Toyota after this experience and I was their best ambassador as a Camry owner.

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  I love Toyota! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Marlyss - August 30 - 8:00 pm

  It does about 22 miles in town and 28 or 29 on the highway. It has a real smooth ride, and we do like Toyota. This Rav has been really good mechanically and visually. Mine is an automatic, 4-door, with sun/moon roof. What sold me was being able to take off from a dead stop, into traffic, without hesitation. Thats important to me, having driven so much in Milwaukee and fast traffic. It also turns on a dime. The steering is quite excellent, and I can turn really sharp, to fit into and get out of tight spots when parked parallel. People are always stopping me to ask about mileage, maintenance, and how much I like it. I tell them I love it! It is fun to drive and we think its great!

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  New Buyer Reflection - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Dan - August 29 - 2:20 am

  Just purchased a Rav4 with a V6. Given the size of the vehicle I had lowered expectations on comfort/ergonomics and general features. Pros to date - * Its quick. The V6 does indeed pack a punch. * Much roomier inside that its smallish outside might suggest. Cons to date - * Steering wheel is small and only telescopes a couple inches. When I move the seat to a comfortable position I feel like I am leaning forward to reach for the wheel. * Seats are small, compared to the larger SUVs. A sore posterior on longer trips has been the result as the body weight is less distributed.