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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  2006 Rav4 Sport 4WD - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Ed - November 29 - 5:36 am

  Just bought my 06 Rav and so far im very happy with it. The interior on the Sport is very nice, the seats are comfortable and supportive. There is almost no road noise in side the cabin, however VSC kicked in more than a few times and was annoying (we have about 6 inch. of snow in Winnipeg , Canada). There is an annoying beeping sound from VSC and there was no need for it to kick in at all. The V6 is very smooth and almost not noticable. It has good power, but not overhwelming like I read in reviews. Overall Im very satisfied with the vehicle and would definitely recommend it.

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  Best Small SUV for Power and Mileage - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By James G in Michigan - November 26 - 8:33 am

  After looking at Ford Edge and other products the quality could not compare to Toyota. The performance, handling with 23mpg for a V-6 is outstanding. I have towed 1500 lbs. of rock with a trailer and it was like nothing was there. I owned a 95 Nissan Pathfinder 17mpg before this and what a great replacement. I do not need the ground clearance like I had before because this is mainly for traveling cross-country. I have packed 350 lbs of dirt in the back with no problems. I purchased this RAV4 to keep for the next 10 years and I believe it will service me well. I received more incentives than any of the other dealerships had to offer before cash for clunkers came out. Plus a military discount.

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  07 Rav 4 !!!! Awsome - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Caroline - November 25 - 3:50 pm

  Just picked mine up yesterday, Barcelona Red, sport, V-6 !!! Love it, Toyotas Rock...Handles great and the dog loves the moon roof...a must have! So much for mini vans!! Uggg!

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  Fits its purpose well - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By iisrael1 - November 23 - 11:26 am

  Its exhilarating driving this car as the acceleration is great for a 4 cylinder engine. It gets great gas mileage on the highway-about 35 mpg averaging about 25-26mpg with mixed driving. The car is a little noisy on the highway but with music on its not noticeable. The interior could be better but for a base model its pretty good when compared to the forester or the CRV. Also not to mention the brawlik exterior look if gotten in black.

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  2007 Toyota RAV4 Limited - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By KT - November 18 - 11:10 pm

  Bought a leftover 2007 LTD,4 cyl, 4WD in Classic Silver I have only owned it for about 2 weeks and about 200 miles, but I am impressed! The interior is extremely comfortable, the ride is smooth, there are no rattles or squeaks (even doing 75 on the highway), and even this 4-cyl. merges with traffic and gets up hills w/o problems. I like that the door swings out rather than up. At less than 5 tall, I can reach it! I like the fact that the door swings out to face the wrong side of the curb. I park in my driveway and the open part of the back faces my walkway to the house. Perfect.

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  First Rav4; Fourth Toyota - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Loyal2Toyota - November 14 - 1:52 am

  Ive owned a 2000 Sienna, 2008 Prius, 2014 Prius and nor the Hybrid Rav4. Love its ability to handle snow and slush! Surprisingly, each newer Prius has had a more cramped interior with less storage than the preceding ones! Not sure why Toyota is squeezing the storage compartments out of its cars. Blind-spot and behind-the-car visibility gets worse year after year. And the styling seems to get more angular and funky year after year. So those are the things I wish Toyota management and design teams would address. On the positive side, the automatic braking assist has already helped in traffic! Thank you Toyota. And I love my dealers service team. Dependable, honest and concerned service staff has kept me a loyal Toyota customer more than the cars style, sticker price, or mileage stats. And I am so glad that Toyota is truly committed to hybrid technology. I think they do it best!

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  Perfect Fit for years to come - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Adam V - November 12 - 3:40 pm

  I sold my V6 99 Accord to help finance the 07 RAV4 and so far so good. Its as near perfect in terms of optioning as I could find, and the utility it offers is second to none. The interior layout is classic toyota and controls are placed in harmony where youd want them to be. Outside styling is always personal, but I love looking at it even after the honeymoon period is over. Rear door is a blessing and a curse, but when picking up a plasma TV last week my mothers 06 Ford Escape could not hold it b/c of the rear liftgage setup. The RAV4s swing door allowed more vertical clearance. Also, love the spare on back to allow for more cargo space even at expense of the "look."

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  A great choice!! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By ilex2 - November 8 - 11:26 pm

  I wanted a well rated small SUV with lower owner cost, so I recently bought a 2010 Rav4 and love how fun this car is to drive! PROS: The V6 has lots of power and better gas mileage than my last car (a Mercedes C300) and I love that the Rav uses regular grade gas. Lots of cargo space, roomy back seat, and the radios aux is great for using Pandora on my iPhone. Nav and back-up camera are great features! CONS: Hands free phone systems mic is poor quality. Braking is a little slower than Im used to. Cup holder insert is too small for a travel cup and without the insert, its too big. Not a big deal, but a little frustrating. Overall, I LOVE this car!

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  Update To Review on 5/28/08 - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Toyota man since 77 - November 6 - 10:20 am

  Just a quick update to my earlier review. One month and 800 miles later, and it just gets better and better. Im now nudging 26 mpg combined (35% hwy, 65% city). Sticker said 20 city, 25 highway... dont you believe it. Drive sensibly and youll blow the doors off the posted mileage ratings. Im planning a trip in the next month, and fully expect to get better than 30 mpg. Not bad, for a 4 cyl. AWD SUV. The roads here are still being repaired from the bad winter...pot holes everywhere. But not a squeek or rattle from my RAV4. Love it more each day. Couldnt be happier.

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  Wonderful And Price Ranging - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Wonderful And Price - November 5 - 9:30 pm

  This car is great it makes it easy for me to fulfill all of my task soccer games, football games, sleepovers, shopping, grocery shopping, and just to get around!! I love this car.