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, I am Impressed with the RAV4 - 2009 Toyota RAV4
By Hal - March 30 - 7:56 pmOur family decided on the 2009 Limited RAV4 after the first test drive. We were impressed with a quiet, smooth, and comfortable ride. We also enjoyed the extra space the vehicle provided. We doubted the gas mileage ratings, but after 2 months we believe! We live in a rural area of PA and are getting 28 mpg. On our first 12 hour trip, we got close to 30 mpg. We find the leather seats very comfortable and enjoy the bluetooth phone capabilities....no more worries about getting the phone up to the ear! Keyless entry is nice but can be confusing. I researched just about every available source and they all pointed to this vehicle. Limited with leather is more comfortable than the Base.
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donna mama - 1998 Toyota RAV4
By mama donna - March 30 - 2:00 amI liked the way the rear door opened from the side.......very easy to get groceries, luggage etc in and out. It has been a great vehicle to own and has been totally free of any mechanical problems.
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Great compact SUV for the price - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By gregpro50 - March 29 - 11:56 amWe basically bought the RAV4 to be able to tow a boat and haul the family on a 4 hr trip to the lake every weekend in warmer weather. It is worth it to upgrade to the limited package and the V6 which still gets pretty good gas mileage especially for having 269hp. Plenty of room for the kids in the back seat and the dog in the back. The under-floor storage area in the back is very handy too. We were very happy with this vehicle.
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Love It! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
By fourthrowe - March 28 - 3:16 amI recently purchased this vehicle with 67K miles on it. I love it. First, for a tall wagon it gets great mileage (I see 24 in reality, mostly city driving). It has cargo room enough to haul most practical loads. It is also very quick considering its a 4 cylinder suv. Brakes, steering, suspension all very responsive. Not great for stop and go traffic because it makes almost no power below 2500 rpm. Took me a while to not spin the tires on startup. Very practical vehicle with few compromises. The perfect cargo loading height means no rear bumper though.
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What happen to Toyota quality - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By AlexGmac - March 25 - 3:53 am2000 miles and I have windows that rattle, pillar squeaks and now water leaks.
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RAV 4 RULES - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By tristud2002 - March 24 - 2:00 amIt is a lot of fun to drive and has tons of extras. Great power and great steering.
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Great Crossover None Better! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By BBS - March 23 - 4:56 pmWeve had our RAV4 Limited about four months now and get 28 to 30 mpg, its roomy, lay the seats down and carry a lot more than you can imagine. We got the limited with the JBL radio which sounds like a concert, awesome sound. The only complaint is the toyo tires they make some road noise which I plan to change to the Goodyear gas mileage saver tires. Highly recommend the RAV4 you will not be disappointed. We have the 4 cyl and it has plenty of pep. Its simply a "Blast" to Drive!
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Oh what a feeling? - 2008 Toyota RAV4
By Brad - March 22 - 9:36 amWe purchased the RAV specifically for gas mileage when the price per gallon was near $5. It has delivered high 20s on the road and around 20mpg in town. Ho-hum. The engine pulls like a freight train and easily tows up to the 3500# limit. Unfortunately, the engineers didnt sort out the torque steer problems under heavy acceleration, it can be very darty. Also, notice the acceleration rate keeps coming on even after I stop pushing on the gas any harder (like a turbo). We bought the Sport to get the darker interior, but the ride quality is too harsh for commuter style driving. And, worst for last, the AT has an irritating whine at 25-35 mph that is louder after warmed up.
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Read This Please - 2008 Toyota RAV4
By Mike S - March 21 - 7:50 amDont know if I would recommend. Virtually all the "crabs" I read pre-purchase were true. Drivers position is tight (Im 6,2) uncomfortable, yields backaches, plastic edges in door panels cut into the legs, radio whines if iPod/satellite radio is vehicle powered, dashboard info difficult to see in daylight, overhead lights blind driver at night, cup holders are dumb and restricted, rear seat does not fold down completely, front passenger seat does not fold down, the cargo area light is a joke, rear door hinged on wrong side, rear glass does not open, etc. Sport suspension is excellent, brakes are reasonable. Gas mileage is disappointing at 21/24, power is fine with 4 cyl in flat areas like FL.
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Luv my Rav4 - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By Toadman - March 20 - 10:33 pmI turned in my AWD GMC Acadia and leased my Rav4 Sport w/V6 in January and just love it. Had two major snow storms (20-24"+) just after purchase and this thing cuts right through the snow with no problems. AWD system performs much better than my old GMCs did. V6 engine is great. Sports Appearance Pkg. is great also as I cant stand having a spare tire on the back door. Mileage on the Hwy is 25 mpg about 19 mpg around town. Very roomy for a small SUV.
