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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  LOVE MY RAV 4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Carol - February 17 - 7:56 pm

  Traded in my 2003 Highlander Limited for the New Generation. I notice very little difference in size. Has a lot more pep than the Highlander. I loved my Highlander - but this is a great RAV 4

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  Big Fat Disappointment - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Steve - February 15 - 3:01 am

  So this review spans over about 10 years and three different Rav4s. Ill start with the 2006 Base V6 4WD. We bought this new 2006 and it served us good for a number of years. When the miles got closer to 100,000 miles we started developing some problems. The first thing that happened was the intermediate shaft starting clunking. This is a very normal thing for most Toyotas of this generation. My 2005 Avalon did it and all three of the Rav4s did it. Toyota will not offer any help replacing the defective part once your out of warranty and its about 500 bucks to have it done. Toyota has even come up with a new part that doesnt have this problem. There is a TSB that says to lube it and the problem will go away for a few months but ultimately it needed replaced. The next problem came at about 80,000 miles and keep in mind Im very particular about the maintenance on my vehicles. While driving on the highway we started to develop a roaring noise from the rear end. I put a set of tires on it thinking that we had a bad tire or even a wheel bearing. After a new seat of cooper tires we found that the noise was still there and that the rear differential was going out. Again another common problem for the Rav4 with 4wd. Toyota in their great wisdom came up with a repair kit to rebuild these rear ends as it was a common problem. At about 110,000 miles on our way home from picking up a motorcycle in Arkansas we starting noticing a strange noise from the engine. The bearing on the water pump was going out. Just the water pump ended up being about 500 bucks and its not an easy repair. I think the total came out to be around 1100 bucks to replace the water pump due to the amount of labor there was to replace it. The final straw on this rav4 was the alternator, the cam seal, and the front shocks. These all came at once and we where looking at around 3000 grand to have this vehicle fixed correctly. Ill start with the alternator. The alternator is very hard to get too and requires removing the passenger front wheel, and the radiator to remove it. I found out that this is yet another $500 dollar part and $200 with of labor. During this repair we found out that the cam seal was leaking. This is not an easy job and Toyota does not have a real good fix for it. In fact the TSB says to remove the cam seal cover and apply more sealant. To replace this cam seal you have to drop the entire motor out of the bottom of the car. Ive seen prices from 1800 to 2800 depending on where you take it. Since you have the entire front of the car on the ground we were going to go ahead and have the front struts replaced because they started popping and making noises while driving. We ended up driving this turd to the nearest car lot and traded it for a Lexus so we didnt have to put 3000 grand into a 5000 dollar car. Now the other 2006 and the 2007 were 2WD 4 cylinders. All of them had the same issues with the exception of the cam seal. The 4 cylinder on both of these vehicles had a significant problem as well. They both started consuming oil that was acceptable by Toyota. We were adding about half a quart every 2000 miles. Toyota did extend the warranty to cover this problem but according to the forums most of the them did not consume enough oil to be covered under the warranty which would require and engine replacement. Both of our Rav4s did not consume enough oil to be covered under warranty. My 2007 actually ended up messing up a vacation I took it on. Up until this trip it would never consume more than half a quartof oil every 2000 miles. I checked the oil on the 2007 before I left and the next day I found my dip stick to be dry after 400 miles. This is was very disappointing and didnt feel comfortable driving it home. To be covered under the warranty toyota charges you to change the oil and then bring it back after 1000 miles to check the oil and change it again. Standard oil consumption test but I have seen reports of this process taking a few months and I didnt have time to deal with that. So i traded my 2007 while on vacation. Other than these major mechanical problems we actually enjoyed the cars. They drove good, the V6 had lots of power and the 4WD was epic in one of our foot deep snow storms. Being a huge toyota fan I think my 2016 Rav4 is my last ditch effort to give Toyota once more chance. Nothing is cheap to repair on these cars. Even replacing the front suspension the 2007 cost my 500 bucks. On most vehicles when you replace suspension components you can buy a quick strut kit which has the spring already around the strut. You cant find those for this generation so be ready to pay big money when you have to replace your front struts. I dont think I would buy this generation of Rav4 without an extensive service history.

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  The Getaway Ride - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Ronaldus - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Great small truck to get away for a quick weekend trip with just enough room for 4.. and it saves you money on gas!

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  great SUV for the price - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By shao - February 13 - 8:20 pm

  I got my Rav4 yesterday, 2008 4 cyl base model with roof rail and 17" wheels. Today I added 250 miles on it through moutain roads and freeways. The 4 cyl responses quick and provides sufficient power. The enginee is not quiet but sounds sporty. Handling is fantastic for a SUV at this price. It actiually handels much better than many sedans i drove. The ride is a little bit stiff tho. I think its the trade off of good handling. Interior space is bright, roomy and functional, the design and materials are nice but not the best in class. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase.

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  Excellent Midsize SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Socal Guy - February 12 - 3:30 am

  Test drove the 4wd and 2wd versions and after all was said and done the 2wd sold me. It was just smoother and felt more precise. When you live in socal you dont really need 4wd I guess. Overall quality, performance, and build is just superior for a car that is just under $30k. No issues with noise, rattling, comfort, or performance. I also have a 2005 4Runner and this RAV4 totally beats it hands down! Im selling my 4Runner tomorrow!

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  This SUV is great!!! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By syd1977 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  Its a womans best friend!!!! I like the smooth drive and the engine is not noisy. Its compact, but hey, its good for a single person who travels alot.

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  I got what I paid for - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By norm - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I paid 19750 for my RAV 4. After spending over 27000 on a 96 Grand Caravan it felt great to spend less for greater quality. My 2WD has performed well in heavy snow. Gas mileage has been almost 30 on the highway. The car handles responsively and has enough pep to get me up hills. The AC is ice cold and for a small vehicle the front interior is spacious. Ive owned eight vehicles and this is my favorite. No need to get 4WD - the 2WD will take you just abo

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  Love Love Love! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Love Love Love! - February 7 - 11:03 am

  I had this car for almost two years and I loved it. I drove back and forth from school and back about two or three times a month. It is the best on the highway with gas, dependability, barely any noise, smooth driving and so many more things to love about this car. This car was very reliable and saved so much money on gas. I went to the mechanics only for oil changes and that is it. This car is by far the best car I will ever have. It is pretty cute as well. SADLY, I had to give it up because we got into an accident but besides that it was the love of my life. If youre looking for a safe, good on gas, and dependable car this is the one for you.

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  Overpowered - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Eugene - February 7 - 9:26 am

  Its one the fastest SUVs you can buy, it can go 0-60 in under 7 seconds. It is also a great example why horsepower isnt everything. You hit the gas pedal on your RAV4. Front wheels start to spin. Traction control light comes up. The entire vehicle leans backwards. Finally it lunges ahead, shaking and ignoring the steering wheel input. Theres a lot of passing power, but the vehicle is not designed for high-speed turns and does not feel confident above 80-85 mph. If youre interested in RAV4 V6 because of its power, Sport edition 4WD might be a better choice. Theres no cure for high center of gravity, but stiffer suspension and proper drivetrain should help a bit.

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  Beats the others - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Safetymel - February 3 - 2:30 pm

  We drove the CX-7 - Sluggish turbo engine, the Santafe - no towing package and very heavy, the CRX - overall yuck. The RAV4 beats them all hands down, gets good mileage, doesnt have a turbo to break, runs on regular gas, has a decent towing cap for the size, and just runs great. This is the best deal.