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:

• 

  Rav4 4x4 Limited: the BEST QUALITY SUV 4 THE MONEY - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By ncreviewer - June 3 - 11:25 am

  Ive owned at least 6 or 7 Toyotas. Land Cruiser, Camry, T100, 4Runner (3), Rav4s. The first Rav4 we bought was in late 2010: a Base Rav4 4x4 2011 model. We love it and still own it. We decided to trade in our Honda in on a 2012 Rav4 4x4 Limited. What a great vehicle! Comfort, power, all the 4x4 traction a business SUV could want. Sure, youre not going to pull stumps. But for an architect & real estate broker, it works great. We can take clients out to undeveloped lots in the winter and get back out again. The Rav4 4x4 Limited also has the way cool hands-free door entry system & 1-button exterior locking. Leather, power sunroof, bluetooth & more.

• 

  A Sweet SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Karen Loebel - June 1 - 2:03 pm

  The SUV has fantastic power and a smooth ride; nice interior and a sleek exterior. It has lots of cargo space (I hauled two big arm chairs, an ottoman, a microwave and three boxes in one trip).

• 

  Excellent overall - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By CBM - June 1 - 5:03 am

  Weve now owned this vehicle for almost a year, and have found quality and reliability to be excellent. The power from the V6 is without peer in this class, and the fuel economy is the icing on the cake (note: a light foot helps achieve those window sticker EPA numbers). Interior room is excellent both for passengers and cargo. The JBL stereo is decent for a factory upgrade. With AWD the RAV4 is surefooted in winter, and with the side curtains and stability control its a safe ride. No complaints about seat comfort (ours is the Limited with leather). The ride is firm but comfortable. After almost a year on the road its still tight and a pleasure to drive. Recommended.

• 

  Rav 4 s are cool for short women! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By rav4 girl - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Rav 4s are build for us shorter people. I can see great form where I am in the car. Especially in the Drivers seat, thats where you see build for 5ft and under people.

• 

  Great for familys! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By ananomous - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Bought our 2006 Toyota rav4 base 4x4 w/ 3rd row in 2009 used to be a lease but there has been no problems. we have 5 kids and one adult and a driving teen and its ran great for long car trips and commuting. good car that will last a long time. A lot of trunk space and cargo it has seats that fold flat. easy to get into 3rd row has 10 cup holders and more!

• 

  Wonderful Mid-Size SUV - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Bill - May 24 - 8:50 pm

  The initial driving experience of the sport model had a very hard drive but the base model drives like a dream even on pot holed streets where it is driven every day. The driving ease fully loaded and with great visibility make this not so big SUV just fun.

• 

  OH!! What A SUV! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Zacdil88 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Drives like a Mercedes!The best Little SUV on the market today.Try one...youll LOVE it!!

• 

  Fun to drive but too noisy - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By SUV lover - May 17 - 9:10 am

  This new SUV is indeed fun to drive. I couldnt wait each day to drive it. 4 cycler engine still has enough power making acceleration sharp. So, everything is good except for one thing: too noisy when accelerating. I found the noise is not coming from engine but from poor insulation or design of exhaust system. I recommend the manufacture should recall to replace this noisy system with quite one. I feel strongly that once this noise issue is solved, the RAV4 4X4 base model can be the best selling SUV in the world and people will love it even more. Sincerely hope the manufacturer will listen to our voices.

• 

  Almost a Lexus! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Ernst Bakerquist - May 14 - 1:06 am

  I researched the 2007 RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Mazda CX7 before selecting the RAV4. The ride is very comfortable. Steering is precise and effortless, although being FWD, theres always a slight tendency for oversteer. Still, its far less than the 2002 Mazda Tribute it replaced. Wind/road noise is nicely muted, even with the sunroof in tilt-up mode. Fully open, and with no deflector, its still not so loud as to bother me. The controls and gauges are easy to reach and see. The daytime running lights...a $40 option...are a joy. Fit and finish are generally very good to excellent; nothing feels "cheap". I got a "Champagne" colored vehicle with the ersatz wood grain trim; it looks great.

• 

  Roomy inside - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Lorraine Tipton - May 9 - 4:00 am

  I love having head and leg room. The seat of my Jeep was more comfortable for me than the RAV, but my husband likes it better. I slip a pillow behind me so it feels like heaven. The room is great over our Jeep Liberty. Drove it 2,500 miles the first week and it just floated down the road. We seemed to get about 28 miles to mpg from our calculations. We love RAV4s.