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:

• 

  Pretty disappointed - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By Karen Boyd - January 4 - 12:45 am

  I have purchased Toyota products exclusively for 26 years. Things have declined - material, fuel consumption.

• 

  danger k frame rustout - 1999 Toyota RAV4
  By larrr - September 5 - 1:50 am

  Danger front k-frame rust out can cause fatal accidents. Toyota and NHTSA know about this but they dont care. check before you buy check it if you own it repair about $1.5-2k more things to fix on this car 125k mi. than my old Dodge Caravan 173k mi. never trust Toyota again

• 

  New 2006 is awful!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By alicat2441 - September 3 - 8:36 pm

  I previously had a 1997 Toyota Rav4 that was much superior to this piece of junk. The 2006 model is cheap and nasty. The metallic covered pieces in the interior are already scuffed and scratched and have to be touched up or repainted. The AC knob has been pushed through the console and needs to fixed. I have dogs and the inside is already showing scratch marks on the inside door panels. Never had any of these problems with the 1997 Rav4 and wish I could have my old car back. The 2006 is not made for any off roading of hauling of objects, the inside is just too delicate. Another problem is that the 4 cylinder response lags. Want to get rid of this car ASAP.

• 

  Things you need to know about the 2016 rav xle - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By John Tran - July 22 - 6:34 am

  1. Seat belt adjusters make rattle noise (when driving) 2. Popping sound in the back of the car ( after braking) 3. Strong engine vibration - shakes both front seats just like the 2015 crv. Sometimes I have to shut it off when parked because the vibration causes dizziness. 4. Car makes metal type sound when backing up and turning the steering wheel (like an old car). 5. For around $ 27k, TOYota makes auto headlights an option for the rav xle. Not a smart move. Overall the car looks luxurious but feels cheap. Lots of road noise, cabin noise (because of cheap materials in the car), and wind noise. Buy it for reliability. Look for something else if you want more features and comfort with the same amount of money.

• 

  Poor Toyota quality and service - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By sandy - July 1 - 10:00 am

  I experienced a windshield tick soon as I purchased the vehicle. Toyota service attempted a fix and it got worse. The tick was intermittent and after several trips to the dealer, and test drives, the dealer resealed the windscreen. The problem resurfaced recently. The dealers are unable to diagnose and fix it. My 36,000 mile warranty is expiring. There is also a rattle around the dash on the passenger side. Toyota is unable to diagnose that problem as well. I occasionally hear other noises and vibrations as well in the interior from the sun roof area and around the passenger door. Toyota replaced defective sun visors, and the glove compartments. The radio display mysteriously would go blank.

• 

  hate my new rav4 - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By josette1313 - May 26 - 2:38 pm

  being my first new car I should think Id love it, or at least like it, but I hate this thing. It is too cramped feeling inside, the cup holders are ridiculously worthless and out of reach, its such a stripped down model I cant believe I paid what I did for this. I have always driven luxury-level cars which seem to be a thing of the past, but this is bottom of the barrell in my view and I cant wait until I can get rid of it. this will not be good when I go on cross-country trips and wont be able to have a cup of ice water or tea close at hand

• 

  Disappointed by Repairs - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By myravsucks - May 23 - 5:44 am

  Bad camshaft had to be replaced at 90k miles. Vibrations and noise from manual transmission at 80k miles -dealer could not find anything wrong. Started slipping out of 5th gear at 100k miles requiring new transmission. This car has been babied and driven gently by one owner. All preventative maintenance performed regularly.

• 

  Worst quality & service experience for RAV4 - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Aj - April 29 - 2:13 pm

  Just 3 months old with 3000 miles. Already repaired twice, once for rubbery brakes and for tailgate being jammed. Worst service experience in Avenel, NJ. Highly disappointed with Toyota quality and experience about which I had heard a lot. Even with 90% highway driving, giving only 23

• 

  REPENTING - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By shrink - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Within 400 miles developed a rattle in the car, took it to the dealer. They changed the HEATSHIELD, again another rattle the next day, they repaired it. Now a rattle from the AC ducts in the dash board. Disgusting. I am a busy man ,dont have the time to spend in Service centers. Bought a brand new car for enjoyment. It has become a major source of DISGUST.

• 

  I wish I had been warned..... - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Appl - March 24 - 7:53 am

  There is no worse feeling than taking the plunge and realizing you made a mistake. It took me 3 days to realize I married the wrong man but only ONE to regret buying this car. The Rav4 is cute with that snappy little 4 cylinder engine with good gas mileage. However, the poor design of the interior rains on my parade. The front seats are flat and tilted down-- leaving me to slip off at every turn. The head rests eat into my head. The sound system is so poor it muffles human voices on am radio. Entertainment and temperature controls are too poorly lit to see in sunglasses. There is no way to hold the tiny steering wheel comfortably and no arm rests. Cheap fabric tops off the look.