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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  Fun to drive - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Sandee - June 26 - 5:13 pm

  Big but small I dont ever think I will buy a sports car again. Nice car lots of windows and no blind spots.

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  A real value, and fun to boot - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Doug B - June 26 - 2:36 pm

  Finally picked up my new base 2006 RAV4, 4x4 with the 4 cylinder engine. Very happy with the gorgeous modern interior, nice exterior lines. The 4 cylinder is very strong. I traded in a 98 Ford Explorer with the 4 liter 6, and the RAV4 has nothing to be embarassed about. I took a lot of guff from the ladies at work about choosing a "cute" SUV, but I have to admit that its a very pretty car. Couldnt be happier. Ill supplement if possible after about a month.

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  Nice car - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By jeff in ky - June 20 - 10:00 am

  just a great car, I got the v6 which enables it to tow a 16 foot camper.

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  I Love This Car! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By kimsthe1 - June 15 - 11:00 pm

  I bought this car after visiting the dealership 3 times. After test driving the Nissan Rogue, Honda CVR, Mazda3 & 2008 Highlander, I decided this was the best choice for me, my 1st Toyota! Ive owned 3 Mazdas, 1 Nissan, 1 BMW, 1 MBZ, 1 Subaru (I know, Im a car junkie!). I am also very impressed with Toyotas track record & the fact that my car is 100% Japanese. I have owned it all of 24 hrs and have no regrets. The gas mileage seems ok so far, the car is cute as a button. Drives with a touch of sport suspension. Seats are fine with me so far, no long distance drives yet. I am very happy with my purchase!

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  awesome car, glad I got v6 and 4x4 - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By jtreeclimber - June 15 - 11:05 am

  We are a toyota family, going back to 1966 and my dads 67 Corona. I couldnt decide between the forester, rav4 and the honda crv. What convinced me to get my rav4 was that it was the only one with a v6. We just drove our rav4 to Palm Springs, California and back, from Tacoma. We had 4 people and at least 500 pounds of climbing gear both inside the car, and on top of the rack. We averaged around 21 to 23 miles a gallon to LA and back. The car has a ton of power, and can cruise at 80 all day, even uphill and loaded down. With nokian happelita studded tires it is a tiger in the snow. 6000 on the odometer and perfect so far. You can sleep stretched out in the back. Best car Ive ever had.

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  RAV4 Limited Review - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Fred - June 13 - 1:23 pm

  The car drives like a dream and is very comfortable. The V6 provides tons of zip - very peppy. Bluetooth works very well. I like the side-opening rear gate. Test drove the car and it rode rough. I found the tires over-inflated - lowering pressure fixed the problem. The car is quiet and handles better than our 05 Highlander. After 1000 mi., Im quite happy with this car.

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  Wish I had bought one sooner. - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Tricia - June 10 - 3:51 pm

  Every Chevy or Ford Ive owned needed constant repair. I bought this last year, used from a dealer. What a great lil suv. The only thing Ive bought are tires, oil and filter. Its never left me stranded. Ive never had to call my dad to come rescue me. Gas mileage is awesome. Mine is the sport with the Hood scoop. My dads getting too old to keep working on broken down vehicles. I think he loves that Ive had it with no issues. Parking in tight spots is a breeze too. Ive got 149,000 miles and runs like its brand new. If I could change anything it would be the awd to 4wd .. I like to control that myself. But Im not complaining. Ive read they can go to 300,000 so Im crossing my fingers... love this suv!

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  this is a fine car - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By James Giesel - June 10 - 3:07 pm

  ive ony owned my new rav4 for a few weeks which makes many of the above value judgments sort of meaningless. But so far I have no complaints. The happiest aspect of our short life together is fuel economy - 28.5 mpg overall with a healthy dose of town driving and 31 and change on the interstate. My guess is that a light foot is the answer. We try our best to keep the "eco" light on and it pays off. Otherwise, the seating is more comfortable than it was in our 2009 rav an theres plenty of legroom in the rear. Havent tried to load her up for the annual trip to AK and am hoping that the lack of storage space under the rear floor wont be too much of an issue. Cant wait to try the off road performance!

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  Love my Toyota - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Be - June 10 - 2:00 am

  Great compact SUV - Handles great in snow.

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  Great value, super car for commuting! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By dmbourgeois - June 10 - 2:00 am

  EXCELLENT CAR!! This is the BEST by far I have ever owned. I drive 110 miles RT every day to my job, and I wanted something that was comfortable, good on gas and reliable. The Toyota RAV4 has proved to be all of this and more....it was very reasonably priced. The RAV4 drives like a 6 cylinder, is comfortable and roomy and has a great stereo/CD/tape deck. Excellent handling in the winter weather and rain. I would recommend this car to anyone, but especially to those who commute any distance. I get the room and comfort of an SUV with the gas mileage of a much smaller car.