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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  Excellent Vehicle - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By Thomas Michlovitch - April 20 - 3:36 am

  Overall the car does a great job. I live in the North East and we get our share of snow. The car handles great in the snow. Sometimes we will get 6 to 8 inches overnight. I dont have time to clear my driveway in the morning and the car cuts right through the snow. The car is roomy, handles great, and is fun to drive. There are however some minor annoyances with the car. For example, I would like to push the key-fob lock and lock the doors before closing them however the car does not allow that. If you leave the hatch open while driving the car will continuously beep. Very annoying when you moving something and cant close the hatch. Theres no lock for the glove compartment.

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  Basics - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Barry toms - April 17 - 2:53 pm

  MPG, power, options.

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  GAS GUZZLER - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By THOROUGHBRED - April 17 - 10:00 am

  THIS THING IS A LITTLE PORKER..I AM LOOKING FOR A HONDA CRV FOR BETTER MILEAGE.DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTION FOR IMPROVING FROM 15-17 MILES PER GA.1997/4DOOR AWD?DOES TIRE SIZE MATTER?

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  Best SUV ever!!! - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Shahbaz Sakhi - April 12 - 6:46 am

  We just bought our 1st SUV, and we are loving it! We bought it in white, Sport, 4X4. The RAV4 rides smooths on 18" alloys, and despite having great power, it is still a gas sipper. Our kids are loving it, too. With a high wheel base, and 4X4, I am looking forward to the snow. Love my snow white RAV4!

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  Great little suv - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By nancy - April 8 - 5:20 am

  I like everything about the rav 4 very comfortable nice looking and easy to drive. Lots of space and storage galore.

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  $mart Choice - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By stephen - April 6 - 8:23 pm

  Purchased vehicle new w/ leather, sunroof, JBL, 30 months/21K ago. Choice was based primarily on "return of investment" having shopped for used versions (CRV/RAV) realizing their high resale values. I am still pleased with my choice, my RAV is roomy, rattle free,comfortable, easy to live with, nimble, relatively quiet, dependable, versatile and averaging 23 mpg in mixed driving. Sure I see more exciting, faster, sexier choices out there (I still struggle with the tire on the back) but whether hauling 4 adults to the airport, 3 dogs to the groomer or 30 bags of mulch I am hard pressed to find another vehicle that comes close to doing them all as well. The RAV has been a $mart choice.

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  Very reliable AWD car - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill - April 5 - 9:00 pm

  I actually own 2 1997 RAV4s. These cars have been very economical and no problem mechanically. I am in the mountains of North Idaho where there is lots of snow and ice. They perform very well on all-season tires. I am now looking for a third RAV4 and I will pass the older model off to another child of mine.

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  SUV sports car - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By rick kinn - April 5 - 5:03 am

  Have had the Rav Sport V6 4x4 for 5 weeks and 4000 miles. This vehicle is fun to drive, fast, gas mileage within stated range and Impressive safety features. We added Leather and heated seats locally which gives the RAV a Lexus look for a Toyota price. Back seat has room for two adults with amazing back seat room. Seats are comfortable, ride is firm, the Limited may provide a softer ride with the 17 inch tires. We prefered the exterior and interior styling of the Sport over the Limited. I would have liked the Bluetooth JBL stereo system, power seats and the automatic air which are standard or common options on the Limited models. Overall the RAV V6 Sport is a great value and a great SUV.

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  Absolutely in love - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By leeharvey418 - April 3 - 2:30 am

  We took delivery two days ago, and we just completed our new vehicles first road trip. After 400 miles in all types of driving, I am happy to report that our new RAV4 meets or exceeds every expectation that we had. Ive seen several reviews that cited poor front seat comfort, but after two and a half hours each way in the drivers seat I didnt feel the slightest bit of fatigue. The front seats could stand to slide back another inch or so, and they maybe could use more side bolstering on the seatbacks, but overall they are very comfortable. Fuel economy for the first tank came in at 24 mpg, which I find spectacular in light of the available power. In short, its a great ride.

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  Toyota has a lot of nerve classifying this as a 4WD - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By susandreak - April 1 - 4:40 pm

  Love the dealer. Hate this "SUV". I live in the northeast; Ive always owned a 4WD to insure mobility in the winter months. This vehicle does not fit that bill, in the least. If you need a vehicle that needs to be functional and not just cute, find something else.