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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  So far so good... - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By SevanSins - December 4 - 3:10 am

  I purchased this 2012 Toyota Rav4 Sport 5 days ago and am quite pleased that I did. So far the ride has been smooth, telling how well the suspension handles rougher patches of road. The engine is quite capable, making it easy to merge onto the highway. The interior is slightly dated, but some aftermarket products such as nav and higher quality speakers will give the simple interior a good sprucing up. The cargo volume exceeds standards. Im an avid golfer as well as a hockey player, so space was a priority for me. I am quite pleased with the rugged exterior looks minus the tire of the Sport. Havent had any issues yet, and with the Toyota name, hoping to not have any period.

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  Powerless - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Paull - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Inexpensive mini-SUV that feels that way. Lots on interior squeaks and rattles, underpowered. Cant

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  Awesome SUV! - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Ronn - December 1 - 11:26 am

  I purchased my new 2008 RAV4 yesterday, and what fun it is! The quality, fit and finish is excellent! I am 62, and have plenty of legroom. I find the V6 to be very smooth, and the cabin to be very quiet for an SUV. The leather seats are firm, but still comfortable. There is plenty of storage space, and easy access with the fold-down back seats. The options with the Limited are wonderful, and everything is easy to reach on the dash. The exterior is very sporty, and I love the new Savannah color. It is beautiful on this SUV. The safety features saved on my insurance. I added the exhaust tip, rear bumper applique, mudguards, and XM radio which is awesome with the premium 9 speakers!

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  takes a licking...keeps on going! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By debbie - December 1 - 8:36 am

  Wonderful ride- great gas milage- was involved in fender bender and the other car faired much worse.Great vehicle for long distance trips. This car would benifit from Bose stereo as standard equip.All in all very dependable ride for the money.

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  RAVE 4 2007 TOO MANY RECALLS BURNS OIL LIKE CRAZY - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By MARIA GARCIA - November 29 - 5:53 pm

  Don’t buy paid 35,000 for the limited 2007 . I dont even have 100 thousand miles and I have to add oil every month and it’s not leaking.

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  Love my RAV4 - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Caligirl - November 21 - 3:06 am

  Bought my car 2 weeks ago and I couldnt be more happy. It is fun to drive, has great visability, smooth, smooth brakes, unbelievable pickup with the V-6, and great looks too! I also test drove the Honda CR-V and while it has nice looks this year it doesnt offer a V-6 or bluetooth which I have found to be a must buy if you can afford them. I look forward to many fun years of driving this great car.

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  Wifes Choice, Not a Mans Car - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By Rudy2000 - November 20 - 2:00 am

  Great Toyota reliability, excellent build quality. A bit under powered, but OK for daily commute. Great gas mileage.

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  Love my RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Jenny in NC - November 19 - 12:56 pm

  This is a fun car to drive, nice pickup and smooth ride overall. Good gas mileage, and a pleasure to get behind the wheel everyday. Love the design, small but sleek at the same time. Had an issue with the radio malfunctioning, but Toyota took care of it ASAP - customer service at all the Toyota dealerships Ive been to has been top notch. My first Toyota, and definitely not my last.

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  A Rav4 Cant Start - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By ToyotaNoMore - November 17 - 6:03 am

  I have owned many Toyota (4Runner, Camry) - this is the third one and the last one - quality control has been an issue for my Rav4. There were quite a lot squeeze noise on the plastic part in the interior even when its brand new. Spent some time to fix them. Now second year - the vehicle wont be able to start every 5 to 7 days. Its not battery for sure. It could be security system, starter, spark -- dealers (yes, I tried two Toyota dealers) wont fix it because they cant duplicate the error so they cant fix it. Oh, by the way, the audio system display started to not show anything, or strange Japanese characters. If you press the panel really hard - it fixes the problem.

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  Toyota RAV4 L - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By Jonni928 - November 16 - 8:46 pm

  An overall wonderful small SUV. The build quality is rock solid. My experience with reliability has been excellent, I have never owned a vehicle so reliable. The engine and transmission work wonderfully, and the engine is suprisingly powerful for a 2.0 L.