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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  Im a Rav4 Girl - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Jackie - March 20 - 7:10 pm

  Its so much fun to drive. I have never owned a suv b4, now I will never go back to a midsize. I owned a toyota before in the 1980s went to Honda, now Im back home. Its roomy, sleek in style, and drives like a car. Never was interested in the older models. Now Im very impressed.

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  GREAT SUV! - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By Antenor Amez - March 6 - 4:08 am

  - The 6-cilinder RAV4 2012 has better gas mileage than the 4-cilinder RAV4 2010 (I leased a RAV4 2010 for 2 years before buying the 2012) - It has better performance than the Cadillac Escalade - So far it is a trouble free car, 75,000 miles - Do not trust the dealer, check your car after picking it up from maintenance - I had small traction trouble in the snow, probably because I used the wrong tires - This car has excellent brakes, I HAD THE CHANCE TO PROVE IT. The RAV4 2010 4-cilinders had the worst brakes on the market. - I gave it a 5-start rating because in average it deserves it.

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  200,000 mi still going in 2013! - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By japanforever - March 6 - 3:05 am

  Well its auto transmission but this website didnt give me that option to choose. Purchased new in 2000 - now its 2013. Has never broken down on road, has never had muffler or any other repairs such as transmission or engine work etc. Only regular stuff that has to be changed out every so many miles. No body rust and I live in Michigan with harsh winters and high humidity! They just dont make em like they used to. And as far as Toyota making em in other countries (incl. the US) I say forget about it. Buy only 100% Japan and youll have a dependable car for over 13 years.

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  good decision - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By happydriver - March 5 - 10:40 am

  I took a big step by going from a Corolla to a Rav4 but I am convinced I made the right decision. The Rav is excellent from front to back. I did my homework and compared it to CRV but in the end, RAV won. Plenty of space and very comfortable.

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  Not a bad miniSUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RJ - February 27 - 11:00 pm

  Despite what people seem to think, the 4-cyl engine is more than adequate around town, and if you put on a set of dedicated snow tires, you wont need AWD (especially with Toyotas traction control). Mileage is in the mid to low 20s in mostly stop and go traffic with the AC going. (One minor gripe is the first 3 fan settings on the AC are fairly weak and while the 4th is decent, it sounds like a jet engine.) Tons of leg room in every seat and the rears recline as well. Plenty of storage room, both in the cubbies and in the "trunk". The rear door can be a bit heavy and hard to open for curb-parking, but the detent holds it well, even on hills.

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  Reliable car - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By E. Hendres - February 20 - 7:38 am

  Ive had my 2011 RAV4 sport since March 2011 and I have had no major repair but Ive kept it well-maintained. All services, including oil change, filter change, etc. are done on time. I only have 54,125 miles on it. Ive pushed it to its limits when travelling. The only thing with this car is, its noisy. Youre not well protected from the noisy road. Besides that, its been reliable and handles well in snow and rain. I recently changed my 4 tires but that was after 5 1/2 years. So, it is a car that I recommend.

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  Rave for the RAV! - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By doug daily - February 16 - 9:58 am

  It has it all. Fantastic. The two tone nutmeg seats are gorgeous. The seats are comfortable and room for 5 adults my size, (which is not small.) great handling and all the technology I need in a car. The side blind spot mirrors are great as I did not like the idea of flashing lights and buzzers ever time a vehicle came near the car. Mileage is great, got 36.2 on my last trip from work! Really a fun and super car to own.

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  Happy owner - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Frank - February 8 - 1:20 am

  It was 10 years since I bought a new car and I chose the Rav4 over the CRV after careful consideration and driving the V6 version. I needed a new car for a newly emerging family so I needed something more useful than a 2 seater truck and Miata. I required fuel efficiency and a healthy reliability rating so Toyota and Honda were top of the list. I chose to get an SUV over a car because of the utility factor (I also have 2 big dogs). I cant comment on reliability yet but I am in love with this vehicle.

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  Dependable RAV4 - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By FRAN - February 5 - 11:20 am

  Very dependable and comfortable vehicle. Gas consumption is minimal compared to previous vehicles.

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  Loving my Rav 4 - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By Eve - February 4 - 9:56 pm

  At 1 year old, I still love my Rav 4. The Barcelona red color is gorgeous. I would buy it again. My parents want one in 4WD for the mountains. Test drove the Mitsubishi Outlander but the Rav 4 blew it away in performance and quality. I ordered the bumper guard to protect the very deep rear bumper and the vinyl cargo tray.