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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Toyota Hits a Homerun - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Frank G. - April 24 - 10:20 amInitially, the new rear window pillar area seemed a bit "mod". After looking at the competition, we quickly came back to buy the new RAV4 because it simply has the very best to offer. RAV4 has an attractive interior design, a pleasant and logical dashboard, good seating and a large well planned cargo area. We just LOVE everything about this RAV4. The impressive road handling, fuel milage, great visability and of course, Toyota quality, make this vehicle the one to beat. RAV4 gave us the best of both worlds - a pleasant carlike interior AND an undercarriage and exterior body that is a rugged 4WD truck, when needed. We just turned 3500 miles and so far, this is our very best vehicle yet.
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Tough to beat - 2009 Toyota RAV4
By montzterman - April 17 - 12:33 amWhen I bought this vehicle I knew that the V6 gave it a lot of power. Wow, was I surprised the first time I passed another car on the highway! The Rav4 has scary fast power! With the sport suspension the Rav4 handles great also. Dont even think about buying the under-powered competitors.
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Perfect SUV for women - 2005 Toyota RAV4
By Angela Therrien - April 16 - 11:46 pmI just purchased my 2005 Rav 4 last month. I am a 29 year old female with 1 child. So far I am very pleased with this vehicle. The design is very stylish, This SUV handles beautifully, smooth and quite, handles like a car but you have better visabilty and more room. Another reason I chose this model is the incredible safety features. It has specially designed crashzones and AWD for bad weather. Also this model does not have a higher rate of rollover like most SUVs. This SUV is perfect for women with 1 or no children. I could see it feeling a little cramped for larger families or for men over 62". My husband is 65" and fits ok for around town but would not want it for his primary vehicle.
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excellent - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By jbrown - April 16 - 10:00 amdoes everything I ask of it and more.
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A Great Choice - 2009 Toyota RAV4
By John - April 13 - 10:26 amWe needed a vehicle with a large enough rear seat for a child seat and an infant seat and easy to get the kids in and out of. This RAV-4 is the perfect choice. This vehicle seems small on the outside, but it has unbelievable space inside. The cargo area (without 3rd row seats) is huge and the 2 storage bins under the floor are a bonus. Rear seats truly fold flat unlike many others. This one is a V6 Limited with all options except navigation. This thing is very fast and the fuel economy is pretty amazing. We get 24-25mpg on local driving and weve seen 32 mpg on the road. A very versatile vehicle for an active family.
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Happy RAV4 Owner After Doing My Homework - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By Anita Casey - April 10 - 2:00 amAfter countless weeks poring over the many conflicting reviews at the Consumer Reports, Power, Autobytel, cars.com, Edmunds, et. al. sites, I finally settled on the RAV. There was no consensus on the quality of any car I looked at--from Acura TSX/TL to Honda Accord to Lexus IS to Infiniti G35 to Nissan Murano. I obviously explored a number of possibilites but found in the end that I didnt want to spend too much money on a car, since I couldnt find one that was head and shoulders above the rest. In all of the consumer forums, car owners aired their problems with their vehicles--even the hallowed Honda Accord. Reasons I settled on the RAV4 are listed below.
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EXCELLENT! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By bw1 - April 3 - 2:00 amNo complaints!
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Impressive Compact SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Allen Jackson - March 31 - 11:26 amThis is a really nice SUV. The new RAV4 is almost now as big inside as the Highlander. Rides likes a Camry, but with the functionality of a SUV. 4 cylinder had plenty of power - 166hp. Fit and finish are very nice. My only hesitation with this SUV is that the rear window does not pop open, as was with the case for previous RAV4s.
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Couldnt be Happier - 2000 Toyota RAV4
By Tom & Lois - March 24 - 10:00 amWe watched Rav from day-one. In 2000, my husband surprised me for my B-day with a RAV4L (ltd edition). I love the large windows & almost no blind spots; I sit up high enough for a birdseye view without needing a ladder to get in! I love the smaller steering wheel and it turns on a dime; park it anywhere. The mileage cant be beat for highway road trips; city isnt bad either. Seats are formed & back- supporting. Everything is at your fingertips. Its a dream to drive. I love my RAV4L, can you tell? Get metallic green!
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RAV 4` - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By ELAINE DRISCOLL - March 24 - 10:00 amthis car was bought in 2000 and i will probable never give it up till it gives up on me thanks
