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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  Dude, wheres my gas? - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Kelly - December 18 - 7:36 am

  We bought the 4X4, V6 in Barcelona Red. We wanted the I4 but the salesman persuaded us to go big. Cant say Im sorry except for the fact that the gas mileage is terrible. I am impressed with the fit and finish and anticipate years of Toyota reliability. Lots of cargo room so we may be able to ditch the roof rack/box. We love the dual climate control and the CD/MP3 player.

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  We RAV Toyota - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Faithfully Yours - December 16 - 10:40 am

  My wife and I drove no car but Toyotas in last 30 years. RAV4 AWD is another great hit. Traction is so good that we no longer shovel snow on the drive way. Acceleration is remarkable given the size of the engine. Antilock brake is so effective on all road conditions, shine or rain.

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  Speedometer purposely inaccurate - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Joe - December 15 - 11:50 am

  My speedometer is reading 3 to 4 mph below actual speed according to radar and confirmed by the dealership. An average speed of 40 mph is a 7.5 to 10% discrepancy. The warranty is 36,000 miles. That equals to a loss of 2,700 to 4,000 miles of warranty. Actual warranty miles will be 32,000 to 33,300. Toyota refused to fix or replace the speedometer. I went through arbitration on July 8, 2015. I lost because there are no laws governing the accuracy of speedometers and that the 3 to 4 mph is within Toyota specifications. In other words, Toyota dictates the accuracy of its speedometers and can therefore reduce the mileage warranty without the buyer being aware that this is happening. In my view this is corrupt as I would not have bought the RAV4 if I had known that Toyota is actually selling me a lesser warranty. Otherwise the vehicle operates fine. However the screen is very touchy and has a habit of going bonkers. I recommend using the tip of a pencil or a similar device. Discard the navigation and have a separate GPS handy. Great for hauling stuff. Again if I had known about the speedometer, I would have purchased an alternate brand as there are many out there. Have taken a couple of 3,000 mile trips: Speed averaged 75 on one and 83 on the other over plains and mountains. RAV4 performed flawlessly and had no problems passing other vehicles. MPG was anywhere from 27 to 29. JOn secondary roads on trips the gas mileage averaged 33. Very quiet engine but outside road noise was very pronounced (loud).

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  Great Car...our 1st Toyata - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Larry Floyd - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Thought we wanted another CRV Honda....didnt get a good feeling when calling around about stock...bought new RAV 4 instead...our first Toyota...we love it...wish Toyota made motorhomes...our Damon Ultrasport is a piece of junk compared to the Toyota...from now on...its only Toyota for us...

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  SUV Heaven - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Cindy - December 14 - 5:16 am

  Ive wanted an SUV for a few years, but I didnt know if I could handle an SUV, being only a little over five feet tall and driving only small cars. The Toyota Rav4 is the one I settled on once it was time for the big purchase. Driving a Rav4 is like driving on a cloud. It handles smoothly, maneuvers effortlessly and is a joy to drive. I would recommend the RAV4 to anyone contemplating that first time SUV purchase.

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  Trustworthy Toyota - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Trustworthy Toyota - December 12 - 7:20 am

  Weve now had our RAV for 4 years and its still running like new. We had a Corolla before this that had absolutely zero problems. I perform my own mechanic work so I thought Id give some feedback in that respect. 55,000 miles with no oil leaks anywhere. Oil filter location is the easiest Ive ever experienced. The motor has a timing chain, not a belt. Annoying rattle developed around the glove box and finally narrowed it down to plastic grommets that hold plastic panels under the windshield wipers. A design flaw in my opinion. The battery is tucked under this area which makes it difficult if you ever needed a jump start. We invested in a Black & Decker jump starter just in case.

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  Good compact SUV - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Fortune cookies - December 10 - 8:46 pm

  I have owned my RAV4 for over 2 months. I have been comparing RAV4 with CRV and finally got the RAV4 due to the outlook and the safety issue (CRV engire fire scared me!!). Its running great so far. one complaint I have is the car seat not really comfortable due to the headrest leaning forward and back support is not curve enough to support my back. I have to shop around to find a back rest to put it on my car seat :(

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  18-Month Review - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Karen - December 8 - 10:16 pm

  Im coming up on 15000 miles, love this SUV. Drove from NoVa to NC beaches (10 hours) with 4 adults, 2 dogs, luggage, boogie boards, beach chairs, etc., plenty of room, everyone comfy the whole trip. Temp over 100 degrees, had no problems with AC. I like the side-hinged rear door; when installing the cargo carrier on the roof rack, I was able to stand on the rear deck and install the back end of the carrier, also the carrier could stick out further than the back of the car and we could still open the rear door. This SUV is so much fun to drive, it handles beautifully, its powerful, I still love driving it after almost 18 months. Only maintenance so far: oil changes.

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  Great vehicle - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By lisandjerr - December 8 - 9:40 am

  Lots of power, great handling, very comfortable, excellent build quality, plenty of head and leg room, good access, based on previous Toyotas weve owned great reliability, terrific styling and my wife and I love it.

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  Toyota good but certainly not perfect - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By TJ - December 4 - 8:43 am

  Original equipment tires wore out at 40000km (even though they were inflated and rotated at factory specs). Paint damage at 75000km is terrible. Rocker panels and lower door panels are full of rock marks (factory mud guards too small). Gas mileage has never come close to high end of rating, stays around 26- 27MPG (imperial gallons) regardless of city or highway driving. It is dependable but the worst, most disappointing thing is looking at the amount of paint damage on a 3 year old vehicle...unbelievable.