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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Very uncomfortable seats! - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By Mukwonago Wis - November 13 - 10:30 amThe RAV4 Limited V6 rides well, has good power, and in most ways is a great SUV. But the front seats are AWFUL. Very, very uncomfortable for both my wife and me (53" and 6). Very disappointing. Previously has a CRV and the seats were comfortable for short and long trips. Great SUV but I dont know how long we can keep it since we drive 20k+ miles per year.
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Perfect Fit for years to come - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By Adam V - November 12 - 3:40 pmI 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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Shocks & Struts need replacing - 2002 Toyota RAV4
By redwards - November 12 - 2:00 amIt is a value-priced auto.
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A great choice!! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By ilex2 - November 8 - 11:26 pmI 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 amJust 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 pmThis 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.
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Great Little SUV - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By Superwoman - November 4 - 10:00 amLove this little SUV! A little slow at first, but once you reach top speed, it flies! Very quiet inside when windows closed. Very stable in high winds and bad weather. Stock Air and stereo/cd package quite good.
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Nice - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By Car Los - October 29 - 9:10 amI bought this SUV for my family last year (wife & 1 yr old son). The style played an important role in the decision. We took it in a few road trips and were very happy with the general performance. Nice handling, lots of power (even for a 4 cyl engine) great traction on snowy roads and good stereo system with iPod/MP3 capability. The cargo area is pretty generous with under floor storage. On the other side the throttle feels a little too sensitive, specially when taking off and the tranny tends to have a delayed reaction when slowing down and pulling into a driveway or parking lot (I am not sure but this could be an issue just with my car; I havent had it checked yet).
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one of the best values - 2010 Toyota RAV4
By skipk2 - October 28 - 12:20 pmI now have 24,000 miles on my 2010 base RAV4 V6. Its been a terrific experience. its very powerful and the mileage is good for a vehicle of its size. I get 28 mpg on road trips. i love its handling. this is one of the best values around. I intend to keep it for at least 250,000 miles.
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Great SUV. - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By Bright - October 23 - 9:10 amI have just been driving this RAV4 2007 for one months and I love it. It is fun to drive. Smooth and quick acceleration. Smooth ride though a bit more shake on flat roads than my Camry. Gas milage is lower than expected 21mpg. only 19MPG in my first 2 tanks (mostly city plus some highway). This make the small gas tank (only 15.9 gal) more inconvenient. I have to fill gas every 200 miles.
