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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  Great mini SUV - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By montclan - January 12 - 10:00 am

  This mini-SUV Toyota has the build quality, fit and finish that Toyota products are known for. It performs well within the constraints of which it was manufactured. The power and fuel efficiency are as advertised, and in around town driving it performms well. The ride is great and the maintenance has been nill. Ideally it could have 10-15 more hp, but then the gas mileage would decrease. Ive had no problems and it seems to be a great fit for my needs. The resale value seems to be holding up well and I plan on years of trouble free driving.

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  2011 RAV4 Sport - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By Tom - January 12 - 4:32 am

  The vehicle is very steady even in sharp turns, as it has electronic stabilization control. This is also a very powerful, fast vehicle for an SUV! Only drawback is gas mileage averaged 21 mpg over 39,000 miles.

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  Love this car! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Erin - January 8 - 5:36 am

  I have driven this car for two years now and I cant imagine myself driving any other car! Its one of the safest out there, I can personally attest for its front impact safety, Im still here and thankfully my car could be completely fixed and its as good as new! I love it, and recommend it to anyone out there! Its awesome for college too! Traveling back and forth on breaks all the time its easy to fit all I need in this car, its the perfect size!

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  Just Right - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Kristin Wilson - January 6 - 10:14 pm

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  Excellent choice - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By Karen Murphy - January 6 - 11:50 am

  Toyota has standard safety features that you would have to pay for at other dealers.

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  You gotta get one - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By RAV4Lover - January 6 - 10:00 am

  NO REGRETS @ ALL! The engine is great dont listen to all that crap that its not, I HAVE ONE AND IT ROCKS!

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  Good small car with huge trunk - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By jim - January 6 - 8:00 am

  Have driven our base RAV4 for one year and 16000 miles. Drove it 1300 miles to Florida in fall and back again last week. Vehicle was fully loaded inside w/18 cu. ft. cargo carrier on roof. The 4 cyl was amazing in cruising, passing the big truck rigs on the interstate and just flattened the mountains of Virginia and Pennsylvania, very imressive power for a 4 cyl. Handling is crisp and nimble but not harsh. Driving between 70 and 80 fully loaded, we averaged 27.4 MPG. We get 28.7 around Florida . All in all its a decent small car with a huge trunk.

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  V6 Base AWD - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By mjt - January 2 - 10:43 pm

  I compared the RAV4 vs CRV and eventually got the RAV4. The RAV4s interior feels cheap - I like the CRV interior better and the CRVs top mounted rear door make more sense. But the RAV4 won me over the CRV with the V6, handling and the interior cargo space. CRV only has 52 inches while RAV4 flow flat back seat gave me 70 inches. The RAV4 has more room and is more comfortable.

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  Quick Get-away - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Harold Powers - January 2 - 7:13 pm

  Great Car, very good performance and acceleration.

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  In love with my car - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By CJK - December 27 - 6:06 am

  My husband researched all SUVs in this size range & the Rav4 seemed to come out tops in most areas. With 2 small kids we were truly looking for a used Pilot or Highlander (for 3rd row). But with my 05 Forester lease coming due we ran out of time finding what we wanted in our price range. So I decided on a 3 yr lease of a Rav4 Limited and I AM SO HAPPY! Ive only had it for 3 days but at least at this point I could totally see myself buying it at the end of the lease. Its comfortable, roomy, handles wonderfully, and is lovely to look at. Went with Pyrite Mica color with gray leather & love it. I was concerned about comfort but with the pwr & lumber its great. Average 24 mpg so far.