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:

• 

  So far, so good... - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Stu Cole - April 3 - 10:00 am

  Just bought this a couple months ago and loving it. A little pricey for the Sport package, considering its all cosmetic, but it does sharpen the looks quite a bit. Rides and handles almost as comfortably as the 1999 Camry we turned at end-of-lease to buy this. A little bumpier, a little noisier, but the plusses far outweight the few minuses. Love the space and ease, very comfortable, almost feels more like a station wagon than an SUV, but so compact and easy to handle.

• 

  Great Car for the Money!! - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By norjud55 - March 29 - 8:34 pm

  This car is really nice. Easy to drive. I got the XLE model from Mark Jacobson Toyota in Raleigh/NC. They were nice to deal with. I like the drivers seat, it is very comfortable. The electronic gear shift, is also very handy. I got 32 miles on HWY. I had the front windows tinted and that helped out from the heat. I think Toyota builds the best car for the money. The one thing I would change is when you open the hood, you have to use the rod to hold it up. Not a good idea.

• 

  the best small SUV - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By trebor1511 - March 29 - 10:00 am

  a very good SUV, very stylish and economical.

• 

  2002 Toyota RAV4 - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By MANISH PATEL - March 27 - 6:20 pm

  Excellent Reliable SUV

• 

  Drive with Confidence - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Going Grandma - March 21 - 1:36 pm

  Reliable front wheel drive in all weather but snow and rainy wind storms in particular. Moved from east to west coast -- handles great, climbs mountain passes like a champ. Trac system a plus driving in ice and snow. Can cruise along at 80 mph with the rest of the traffic. Fine for city driving parallel parks with ease. Nice stylish car.

• 

  Awesome! - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Kathy - March 16 - 1:03 pm

  I love my RAV-4! Highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a smaller sporty and functional 4WD/AWD vehicle. The gas mileage with the 4 cyl. is just as good if not better than most cars! This is a great value and a sharp looking vehicle! Although Toyota does not recommend having a remote starter professionally installed, I did and dont regret it! No problems whatsoever. Plenty of room for our bands gear, too. This little SUV is sturdy, reliable, and comfortable. I just LOVE it!

• 

  excellent - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By kalafa - March 11 - 10:00 am

  The back seats are not comfortable for full size adults.

• 

  Best all around value for safety / price - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Cindy R - March 9 - 2:11 pm

  I did extensive research before deciding to buy the 2016 Rav4 Limited AWD with advanced tech package and TSS. The features I needed to have were Blind Spot Monitoring and Topview camera, in a SUV with a reasonable price. The closest competitors were the Nissan Rogue and Mazda CX5. Based on edmunds review of the Rogue with the clunky CVT engine and lesser resale value and reliability when compared to the Rav4, I opted for the Rav4. The CX5 had BSM but didnt have topview camera. The Rav4 has all the electronics I need for the next 10 years. The BSM is incredibly helpful and the topview camera allows me to park in the tightest of spaces. The Lane Departure Alert and Radar Cruise control are awesome, as are the Auto High Beams. Ive never had a Garmin but I do like the Toyota Navigation as it does its job for both giving directions and showing traffic. Some improvements are for the car to have a heated steering wheel option in the USA and to have an audio alert for the BSM. This is a great car for the value.

• 

  Rav 4 in time for the SNOW - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Coon - March 9 - 9:43 am

  Look online and figure out everything you want in and on your car. Talk with sales people from multiple dealerships and then make your choice. We tried all makes and models and narrowed our search. We live in the land of snow (average 30 feet a year, not stacked up). the Rav 4 handles awesome in the snow, icy roads, and the subzero temps.

• 

  Fun to drive - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By larry - March 6 - 4:46 pm

  We enjoy the way the Rav4 handles and the gas mileage. We needed a vehicle that was easy to get in and out of. It is that! The smart key is a lot more handy. You just have it in your pocket or purse. The door locks on the outside with a button on the handle. We have had it one month and 1200 miles and we are very satisfied with it so far!