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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  Brooklyn Rav 4 - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Gary - November 29 - 8:02 pm

  I love my 2002 Rav4, HAVE 159k miles. Had the tranny ECM issue a few years back, Toyota replaced ECM for free(car had less than 100k miles ansd was less than 10 years old at that time. Replaced from struts and got spring strut assembly(about $300 TOTAL) took about 1 hour to swap out on lift. I plan to keep Rav another2-4 years and see no problem getting over 200k miles.

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  AWESOME! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Johnny B - November 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my RAV4-L! The way it handles and the quiet ride are a great selling point. I love the 4WD, fog lights, and the design inside and out. Everyone at work has complimented it and my family and friends love it too. This is my second Toyota and I know its going to be as great as my first Toyota.

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  awesome - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By charles - November 23 - 3:16 am

  The vehicle is very great and also very reliable and very stylish. You will get so many compliments and you will fall in love with your car.

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  4WD BASE - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Scarlett - November 14 - 8:56 pm

  Good power in 4CYL, good fuel economy for SUV, great style. Ive had this SUV for a month, and it is awesome. It drives like a car. It has the interior space of an SUV, but is still small overall. Ive received tons of compliments on it. I have driven my 4WD on ice, and it performs remarkably.

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  REDESIGNED 2006 RAV4 ROCKS - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By doodledn - November 12 - 11:36 pm

  Owned 99 4Runner which I loved - wanted something smaller that was roomy enough for surfboards that had better gas mileage. I COULDNT BE HAPPIER WITH MY PURCHASE!!! Better mileage, smoother ride (camry chasis), more HP... quality of vehicle is top shelf! Back seats come down easily, storage and access throughout vehicle grade A. Hats off to Toyota... I get compliments on the vehicle all the time...

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  Loving my Toyota - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By lovemytoyota - November 4 - 5:40 pm

  I love everything about my RAV4 I bought it in Feb. I find myself driving for no reason these days just to be in my car. I got the barcellonic red so when I am out I notice people looking at my RAV. It is also roomy and comfy my backseats are even bigger then that of a friends grand cherokee.

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  Excellent vehicle - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By tundyguy - November 3 - 8:36 pm

  Excellent vehicle, extreme reliability is what Toyota is known for and the 04 Rav4 does not disappoint. 109,000 miles so far and the vehicle is just as sturdy and tight as the day I brought it home with 12 miles on the odo. I changed the Fan belt at , 52,000 and the brakes at 100,000 miles and thats it , still has the factory headlight bulbs, Toyotas durability really shines through in these vehicles. Its amazing, no rattles and little noises etc. after 109.000 miles. The seats have just been broken in , feel a lot more comfy now than when they were new. The styling is all Toyota, laid back and not flashy.

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  greatest value for the money - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Stan - November 3 - 10:20 am

  Very pleased with the handling, ride andpower. The build quality is excellent. Very good fit and finish. For a small vehicle has great power and acceleration. Engine can be a little noisy at times, and garage door opener receptacle is kind of chintzy. Headlamps could be a little brighter. Other than that, its a joy to own and drive. Id buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  3000 Mile Review - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Dennis Baszynski - October 31 - 1:57 am

  This is an addition to my earlier review tiled "2000 Mile Review" shortly after I wrote my review, I continued to improve the MPG of the RAV4. I reached 29.9 MPG and was about to take my first trip in it. I immediately got 30 mpg as I entered the expressway, which meant I was at the cusp of getting there. I suggest another decimal point be added to the instrumentation. After 4 hours of driving I was at 30.1. I ended the whole trip at 30.2 MPG average which I think is great! The dealer originally told me I should get 24-25 MPG. The visibility all around is great. The seats are great because my legs did not go numb or feel any tingling in them like some vehicles I owned in the past. Cargo space was great. There was very little noise the entire way. Acceleration was adequate. I love the cruise control. I can do all the highway driving with that and not have to use the gas pedal for hours. The vehicle does let me know if I am straying out of my lane just because it is that sensitive. Most vehicles I cannot feel it if I am going out of my lane. I also climbed several dirt hills to take a short cut and the RAV4 did just fine. Overall I am still very happy with the purchase.

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  Should have purchased a Rav4 a long time ago. - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By john Jacoby - October 29 - 8:29 pm

  The vehicle grows on me every time I drive it. I love the styling, the performance and the overall comfort. The rear seats recline which is nice for my grandsons when we are returning from skiing. Sport mode is quicker, but I have found the performance in Eco mode more than adequate. I am averaging about 26mpg and I use the gas pedal freely. The entertainment/navigation has a fairly sharp learning curve, but the dealership employs a guy to come to your house and show you exactly how to use it and once you learn to operate the navigation it works great! If you want a sportier SUV then maybe this is not for you, but I will trade a little sportiness for a quiet, comfortable ride all day long. I would have bought the LE but I like Alloy wheels which were not available on the LE, but it turns out I like the features that come with the XLE a lot!