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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  Wow - much better than I had hoped for - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Andy - July 1 - 11:16 am

  Just returned from a trip from New York to Rhode Island with my brand new RAV4 4-cylinder - was not sure whether to buy the 4 or 6 cylinder and did much research, as well as test drives on both. Got caught up in all the Cash for Clunker garbage and purchased the 4. I am normally a bit heavy on the pedal, and this baby did not let me down. No problem whatsoever. She was a rocket - plenty of nerve. I had test driven the V6 - good, but no need for such a large hsp engine in such a light vehicle. Save your $$$$$. Vehicle was tops in every meaning of the word and I am very picky - an excellent driving experience. Cheers to Toyota.

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  A RAV4 for Retirement - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Titanic - June 29 - 9:40 pm

  We bought it to explore the US, Canada and South America. It has ample room for luggage. Its all plastic interior is well designed and built. The V6 is powerfull yet economical. The climat control works well yet the display can not be read in bright day light. As the RAV4 is defined as a truck, we expected it would have strong bumpers. When backing up into a light pole at 2 miles per hour we found out it has no bumper, just a cover. The damage was $2300, it damaged the rear door! The 4 wheel drive is great and fully automatic. The seats are firm but comfortable for long trips. Road noise is high on rough roads. Options are very expensive.

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  Im gonna RAVE about my new RAV!!! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Bella0724 - June 29 - 2:00 am

  I have only been driving my new RAV for a short time, but I am already impressed by its power, roomy interior, and thoughtful cabin design. I zip around town and on the freeways, all with little interior noise. The car has great pickup...much more than youd expect for a 4 cylinder. Its so much fun to drive and kind to your wallet at the gas station.

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  Toyota Reliability - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By sqwerty - June 28 - 5:32 pm

  The best thing about the 2011 Rav4 is the smooth ride. Getting the 4cyl means it drags quite a bit. This is good for drivers like me who like to hang back, but makes me nervous if I ever need sudden power to escape a reckless driver. Fun is gone forever driving this vehicle, but I am hoping to make up it with famous Toytota reliability. I get compliments on the exterior a lot, which is a plus. Overall, I think it was a wise purchase.

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  Love my car! - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By MinneGirl - June 26 - 5:40 pm

  I just bought a 2009 Rav4 because my Nissan Sentra didnt handle well in the snow. I am in love with this vehicle. It is a fully loaded, Limited edition with a powerful V-6 engine and a navigation system. This car is fun to drive! When I want to get around annoying drivers on the highway, I just tap the pedal and I shoot forward. I also have the smart key entry system, which sketched me out at first, but I find that I like not having to take my keys out to get into my car or to start it.

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  Good long trip SUV - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Leo J. T. - June 24 - 11:55 pm

  The Rav4 limited is a rare compact in that it is comfortable for long drives, both front and rear. Braking is about average as is the shift of the transmission. Road noise is average and some holes in the road were felt with the 18 inch tires. Emergency handling is great as I unfortunately had the experience of finding out. A truck pulled out in front of me, I was at about 55mph and the swerve I took to avoid the crash was quite radical and the Rav 4 held the road and felt as if it was in control. The EPA estimates of 23 city and 30 highway were just about accurate, however in steady highway driving my mpg was holding at about 35. The technology takes some time to master especially the navigation system, it is confusing at times, too many options, and when vehicle is in motion many options are grayed out and are unusable. My wife could not enter a point of interest where we wanted to stop on the way without pulling over to a complete stop. Toyota dropped the ball on this system and I would recommend not wasting your money and buying an aftermarket hand held unit such as a Garmin instead. The load floor in the rear is low making it easy to load heavy items and the cargo area is huge for a compact. If not for the navigation and some road noise, I would have given this vehicle a full 5 stars. The price I paid was $29,716 plus a $995 dealer fee.Try negotiating the dealer fee and even eliminating it at some dealerships

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  Excellent Automobile - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Lynn Hollenbach - June 24 - 9:30 am

  Previously purchased an 07 Subaru Outback and disappointed with the interior space, although a great driving machine. Have had the Rav4 for 3 weeks and my wife and I absolutely love this car. Excellent driving position and front seat comfort and visibility while the 4 cylinder engine provides more than adequate power. If we lived up north I would recommend the all wheel drive, but in Maryland and/or further south the FWD is excellent since EST and traction control are standard. The 6 cylinder only truly necessary if one lives in a hilly area. Averaging 25 MPG. Our favorite car in 40 years of driving.

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  NOT a 4Runner - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By MARIA - June 21 - 10:13 am

  I drove an 06 Sr5 4Runner prior to the Rav4....and how I miss it. The Rav4 is cute...not really meant to be an off-road vehicle. The v6 is quick but the engine does whine slightly. I expect my MPG will increase as I only have 800 miles on the SUV (21 combined currently). Styling does need an upgrading and is expected in 2012. Some interior features need more strategic placement.

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  Good car with a few flaws - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By stego1 - June 19 - 7:23 am

  We bought this car to be able to take our dogs along with us as they love to go for rides. We also use it for daily transportation to work. The gas mileage has been great averaging between 28 to 29 MPG on winter-blend gas. (I expect the mileage to go up with summer-blend). We drive mostly city and 2 lane highways on our 32 mile round-trip to work. The ride is rough and we can feel every road imperfection and there is excessive tire noise. But, the car drives well with good power and smooth shifts and we are enjoying owning it. Would recommend this car but keep in mind its shortcomings. Even with these imperfections, it is a better car than the others we looked at: Ford Escape, Honda CRV, Kia

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  raving fan - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By rav4fan - June 17 - 10:30 am

  unbelievable, the standard model is like other manufacturers limited additions.