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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Most reliable crossover on the market - 2015 Toyota RAV4
By MtnGirl - December 21 - 2:07 amThis car is SUPER reliable. I have had zero issues with this vehicle and expect to drive it for many years to come. The quality on the interior certainly leaves a bit to be desired, but after trading in my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee (w 28k miles), I know better than anyone that all the fancy features and cabin comfort in the world do not make up for a mechanically unreliable vehicle. The Jeep was one problem after another, despite having very low miles. In comparison, the Rav4 has needed nothing since the day I drove it off the lot. If some cheap details in the cabin are the worst thing about this SUV, then you know its a good vehicle. Toyota did not cut corners where it truly counts with this vehicle (i.e. under the hood), except I guess people are upset about the v6 option dissolving. However, the 4 cyl is just fine for me. Do NOT buy this car expecting a luxury ride--buy this car because you want a vehicle that will get you where you need to go no matter what, and will last you 10+ years with minimal problems. Who cares if people think its "boring" to drive? After my Jeep nightmare, I can tell you that it is WAY more boring to sit at a dealership for hours waiting for repairs!! When you start up the Rav you know you will get to your destination no matter what. At the end of the day, thats all I care about. If youre a buyer with similar priorities, youll love the 2015 Rav4
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The Grand RAV4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
By Pete - December 20 - 10:46 amI purchased this vehicle in August. Already with 2200 miles on it. Love it as much as my Camry, that I retired with 268,000 miles. Currently, getting 28 mpg with Shell Gas, driving 64 miles round trip per day. Quiet, quality, great dealership....the base engine is spunky with plenty of pickup...
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Great second car - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By Skywarrior - December 20 - 2:00 amSuperb small SUV. Especially useful as a second auto. Great in typical snow. Parks anywhere. Heater is very efficient, as is air conditioner. Skip the leather seats; quality is just so- so. I would/will buy again.
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My last Toyota - 2003 Toyota RAV4
By shyam - December 20 - 2:00 amSince I bought this RAV4, I have taken this to the dealer more than 10 times to fix problems. I took this to fix the rattle noise from dash and other places more than 5 times. Couple of times to fix the engine light. Now it is back with the dealer to fix the engine light and this time they have to replace the Cat converter and the transmission. It has only 23k miles. This is my first and last toyota.
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Toyota are good cars - 2017 Toyota RAV4
By Rick Goms - December 15 - 5:48 pmGood value for quality
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Bought in November 08 - 2009 Toyota RAV4
By CalBears - December 15 - 3:03 amCar is great, much different than what you would expect when you hear Rav4. Toyota has really refined the vehicle. I have the vehicle with the Leather and Sport appearance package. This package takes the spare tire on the back away and includes run flat tires instead (Looks much better than the other models and new for 2009).
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Mileage is way overstated - 2007 Toyota RAV4
By nothappy - December 14 - 6:06 pmThe V6 mpg EPA rating is way overstated - beware. I use 91 octane and still get about 22mpg on the highway (65mph), 17 city if Im lucky. I drive conservatively. I get about 300 miles per tank, about 50 miles less per tank than the 2 year old ford explorer I traded in on (sure the Explorer had a bigger tank but still. All told, Id wish I kept the Explorer. I bought the RAV4 based on the 22/28 mileage statement which is just wrong - very wrong. I feel cheated. Ive appealed to Toyota several times with incident reports without even the courtesy of a reply. Wish I could return it also as its a gas hog for a new generation vehicle.
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RAV4 sporty edition - 2018 Toyota RAV4
By Rick - December 13 - 1:50 pmLove this vehicle. My back especially loves this vehicle. Perfect for me, stylish (have the blacked out sport edition), mileage is great, cargo area is adequate (golf clubs fit—very important) and the mileage is great mixed. We have 2 in our family and love both.
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I love my RAV4! - 2009 Toyota RAV4
By Lynn - December 13 - 1:03 pmThe 2009 Toyota RAV4 drives very smoothly, has a lot of pep for a 4 cyl and great visibility. I dont like driving in general and takes me a while to get used to a car, but I felt very at-ease with this car right from the beginning.
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not a good start - 2015 Toyota RAV4
By lisaleeann - December 9 - 10:21 amI bought my first new car in 30 years 3 days ago. A Toyota Rav4, beautiful. I was happy. Wait. First, my contacts wouldnt load onto the bluetooth system although I have a perfectly acceptable android phone. Now, my car alarm is going off every twenty minutes. I finally had to take a battery cable off to get some sleep. Im worried...is this the joys of ownership?
