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 on - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By tommygun - May 29 - 10:00 am

  it is fun to drive looks good and as are all toyotas wellbuilt buy

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  RAVI! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By carman - May 29 - 9:30 am

  This SUV rides somewhat firm, but handles like it is on rails. The handling is great, I get the same feel as driving an Accord. Just took a mini road trip and avg mpg was 25, was hoping for better, but would trade for the AWD performance. The AWD system is awesome, have driven in serious snow/ice and feel like I am invincible, unbelievable traction. Plenty of power and tranny is smooth, overall this is a pretty fun vehicle to drive.

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  A New Redesign is Not Always Better - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Nesser - May 28 - 8:53 am

  I purchased a 2006 Rav 4 6 months ago. When looking around I thought that this since it’s new redesign it was the best for the dollar. I was wrong. At first we loved it until a smell got really bad and we saw water in it. Due to the redesign I know that there is a design flaw in the air vent (Admitted to my husband and I by Toyota)It allows rain water to get in and collect in the floor of the front passenger side. We have had it in multiple times to a local dealership and each time they patch it which the patch never works. We are going to try again and fix it again this week. I am trying to tell of my experience so others will look out for mold, smell, and puddles on their carpet

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  Love my RAV - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Chrisa - May 26 - 4:46 am

  We love our new 2010 Rav4 limited. In spite of the recent Toyota recall, we would buy again as theyve handled the situation well so far. This car just drove better and had better visibility than the CRV which was our #2 contender.

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  Lower gas mileage than stated - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By mythai - May 25 - 12:33 am

  Ive owned 10 Toyotas in 23 years and Ive never had any problems with any one of my cars/SUVs. I leased the 2010 Rav4 Limited V6 because I wanted a small roomy SUV with good gas mileage. The good: Its roomy, has great power, its comfortable, good options, and handles very well. The bad: Lots of road noise (my 2009 Highlander is nearly silent). You hear just about every noise on the road. And so far, the gas mileage stinks! I have almost 3,000 miles on my car and the mpg has never been more than 20.3 mpg. I drive 85% hwy, no traffic, between 65-70 mph, and Im not hard on acceleration or braking. My tires are normal & the dealer tells me the car is "just learning my driving habits", huh?!

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  Mostly good - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Mick "The Kid" - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Really like my RAVA4 for the most part. Rides and handles nicely and is very sharp looking. Does lack a few features that most vehicles have by 2003, such as compass, thermometer, self locking doors etc. Unlighted clock is rather difficult to read in daytime.

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  RAV4 loves the snow - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By rustinginvermont - May 23 - 9:03 am

  The day I bought our 2006 RAV4, brought heavy wet snow. I momentarily got stuck in the driveway in nine inches of nearly frozen slush. It took the 4WD LOCK switch to get out but it worked like a charm. It snows nearly every day (during winter of course) where we live in Vermont. This vehicle makes you feel like you can go 100 mph on snow and ice covered roads. (no were not that dumb) Now that it is big enough for us (two carseats) we are happy to be driving a RAV once again. My six foot three inch friend was very comfortable in the back seat behind my drivers seat which was slid all the way back.The 4 cyl. is more engine than anyone would ever need. Get an 8cyl. truck if you want to plow snow

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  Step Down SUV - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By mikec - May 17 - 5:46 am

  Had my RAV4 for 1 week and am pleased with the vehicle. I bought this car for my wife who has been driving a Yukon for the 4 years. Traded down to a smaller SUV due to mileage. Initial mileage for local driving at 21 MPG for the V6. I like the Bluetooth, JBL sound system is nice. Overall my wife is happy with the car.

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  great SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By photini - May 15 - 4:06 pm

  Toyota did a great thing with the redesign, it drives like a car but preforms like an SUV, had no trouble in the snow with it

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  Great - Practical CUV - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By ironjasper - May 15 - 11:35 am

  After six weeks with my new RAV4, I remain impressed. The car is comfortable, handles well, and has more than adequate pick-up. There is plenty of room in the back seat for my three boys and the cargo area seems big for this segment. We took the RAV4 onto the beach last week and it handled the deep Delaware sand like a champ. I have been averaging 23.7 - 24.6 MPG around town and rural back roads. During highway trips, I have averaged 26.5 - 27.3 MPG. When you have the sunroof open (even with the windows closed) the car is still fairly quiet, there is no loud resonance you sometime get in cars equipped with sunroofs. By the way, Im 6 1" and I have plenty of room in the front seat.