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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  Its a Screamer!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Mark A Probus - May 15 - 2:26 am

  I absolutely love driving this vehicle. I cannot imagine why anybody would buy the 4 with the amazing V6 performance that is available for a few $k more! MPG is pretty good, and on regular.

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  My RAV4 - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Tom Cordio - May 12 - 7:38 am

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  Fun Car but it rattles! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Cran - May 11 - 2:00 am

  This is my first SUV and I love it! It is tight on the road not matter what the weather and is just plain fun to drive. However, since Day 1 there is a constant rattle coming from the front. The dealer remove the front end - could find nothing loose and sprayed the entire area with foam. This took care of the problem but it came back after 2 weeks! Unfortunately I will have to make the time to bring it in again and I only have 1000 miles on the car! The service manager said this was the 2nd RAV4 with a mysterious rattle.

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  212000 and goin strong - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By over200000 - May 7 - 9:14 am

  Ive been through 3 sets of front brakes 3 sets of tires, 2 water pumps and I think thats it. Just regular maintenance keep this little guy going. Oil changes every 7-10 thousand miles, radiator fluid flushed once a year, trans fluid changed every 50,000 miles. Thats about it. Just installed new struts and shocks long over due made an amazing difference in the ride. Oh I did have to have the Air Sensor thingy replaced it wasnt cheap like 350. The sensor light kept going on the dash.

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  No More Domestics - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By buddyboy59 - May 5 - 3:40 pm

  purchased a 2011 Base rav4 4 cyl with 35K,traded in a 03 Hemi Ram Quadcab,compared to the ram this is a riding lawnmower on steroids,now i can pass a gas station,the fit and finish is excellent,rides very nice for a short wheelbase vehicle,i find the 4 cyl to be very adequate for daily driving,mileage is good also,the interior is roomy,if you like the glitz and glamour look,this wont do it for you,personally,i prefer basic and reliable,banking on the toyota reliability to serve me well for a number of years,overall very pleased.

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  Rav4 Sport - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Greg - May 1 - 10:00 pm

  I am the last guy you would ever think would drive an import. We looked at the Jeep Liberty and Patriot, the Honda CR-V, the Ford Escape, and the Subaru Forester. Although the CR-V was pretty nice, the RAV took the prize. My wife absolutely loves the ride, acceleration, and safety features. I was rooting for the USA but the reliability, resale value, and safety features could not be overlooked.

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  best dollar value in a SUV - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By ic - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding value.. Terrific reliablity, Gas mileage of 28+MPG. Loads of usable space.

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  Pretty Good Car - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Leslie R - April 25 - 4:40 pm

  Ive loved this car, mostly because its just the right size for me. I can pack up half of my belongings and drive across the country (which I have to do occasionally because of my job), but I dont feel like Im driving a tank around the city. I also feel confident that Im not going to be stuck on the side of the road in the desert. The lack of power is a problem. Accelerating onto the freeway can be a little scary. Driving through the Rocky Mountains, Ive felt like I might start rolling backward. Turning radius is amazing, though. My husband, who is very tall, thinks its horribly uncomfortable to either ride or drive, especially over long distances.

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  Gas mileage rip off - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By NHNancy - April 25 - 12:10 am

  This is my first Toyota. Its been a little over one month. The first week I couldnt believe my eyes. I got 400 miles on the first tanks. WOW! 25 mpg for bumper to bumper traffic. And then it went downhill from there. I am now lucky to get 300 per tank or 19 mpg. Cold weather this week, the back brakes are making a high pitched noise when stopping.

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  loose strip on top of car. - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By Lillian Harrell - April 24 - 1:43 pm

  There is a strip on top of the car under the luggage rack that came off when I took it through the car wash.