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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buy this car - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By Cool_dadio - September 30 - 10:00 ami think this compact suv is one of the best you will ever find we have one and have had problems out of it since we got it it gets very good gas milage about 25 city and 30 highway.
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Great rig - 2012 Toyota RAV4
By Taylor Brewer - September 25 - 9:58 amThe seats are slightly less comfy then I hoped and the windshield wipers clean in a wierd pattern. But overall I love my rig. Great mileage for the cargo space and a v6 4wd. I wanted a Tahoe/suburban for my hunting and fishing rig- price stopped me from getting one. Settled for a 2012 rav 4 and actually am glad i did. - 6 months later I am even more happy with the decision. Great rig!
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Excellent Changes - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Bears - September 22 - 8:40 amHandles and responds like a car, but has the feel of an SUV. Great to drive.
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Wow! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By ech6548 - September 18 - 6:43 amI test drove a lot of SUVs and this is the one that rang my bells! This gets great gas mileage and is one with the road. It is truly a pleasure to drive.
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Great Little SUV - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By James Thomas - September 15 - 2:00 amI have owned several vehicles as well as other Toyotas and I can honestly say that the 2003 RAV4 S model is the most fun to drive. True, it is not a powerhouse, but it is not designed to be. The 4 wheel drive is flawless and I could not tell the difference between it and the 2 wheel drive model. The interior is the usual Toyota quality and the exterior is awesome.
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former Ford owner - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Dan - September 5 - 9:40 pmengine is great, mpg is fantastic for an suv on the highway. Ride is better than any suv Ive been in. Plenty of storage for gear. Very quiet for an suv and scoots up steep hills as well as a sedan and small sports car. Will wait till winter to see what it does in snow. Only problem is that there is no satellite connectivity - have to wait for aftermarket dash fit kit to swap out for NAV/CD/SAT radio.
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Recently purchased, but... - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By rav4 - September 1 - 9:40 pmRecently purchased, but...so far so good!!!! I have never been happier with purchasing a new vehicle.The Rav4 is great on gas for an SUV, I have the 4cyl but it still has good "get-up-and- go" on the interstate. I couldnt be happier with my new Toyota!
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I FEEL SAFE - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By GWEN - August 29 - 2:00 amTHIS IS MY FIRST TOYOTA PURCHASE. I AM VERY PLEASED. I FEEL SAFE. EVERYONE ON MY STREET ARE TOYOTA DRIVERS, I FINALLY BECAME ONE OF THE FAMILY. ITS A GREAT FEELING. I GET ALOT OF ATTENTION ON THE HIGHWAYS AND IVE HAD PEOPLE STOP ME IN PARKING LOTS TO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND IS VERY PLEASED THAT I CHOOOSE THIS VEHICLE, HE EVEN ENJOYS DRIVING IT. VERY SMOOTH, COMFORTABLE AND ENJOYABLE. THANKS TOYOTA FOR SUCH A NICE VEHICLE.
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Its Ravulous! - 2002 Toyota RAV4
By My Rav4 - August 24 - 4:33 amI love my Rav4. Its got plenty of room and great gas mileage. Since mine has a manual transmission it seems to have that extra pick up and it responds well. I still think its a cool car to look at. It has some inexplicible dings and a little problem with the tire cover wearing out at the seams, and problems with the computer chips caused me to go back to the dealership a few times, but I still love my car.
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excellent handling, safe and fun - 2004 Toyota RAV4
By frank sentra - August 22 - 2:00 amexcellent handling, safe and fun
