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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  2000 RAV4 Needed Some Tweaking - 2000 Toyota RAV4
  By Betty - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Overall, this is a very good suv. But, when I bought it brand new, the drivers side mirror was distorted and had to be replaced. The gas gauge never accurately revealed the full capacity or empty capacity, even after warranty repair. The cruise control shows problems of racing rpms and engages in a jerking acceleration without warning. And as others mention, it lacks good starting acceleration. And, I couldnt believe that I had to replace the emblems for rusting

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  My First Toyota (always had Honda Accord - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I love the new body style... for the money it the best thing on the road. It has more room inside than you would think. The gas mileage is Great! Perhaps a V-6 is in order. New wider tires,make the ride even better.

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  sorebutt - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By John - October 17 - 2:09 am

  Bought a limited and have found out that the front seats are made for people under 6. Drivers side is too narrow for comfort. Your right leg will ride on side buttress and not on seat cushion. On long rides, you will be very uncomfortable. It was my mistake and I will have to live with it. When you are test driving a new car, you tend to look at all of the bells and whistles, and forget about comfort. Please do not make my mistake. A very costly mistake. I love Toyotas- had a Camry before the limited. Wow-talk about opposites-going from comfort and quiet, to noise and, "cant wait to get out of that seat" vehicle. Be wise and TAKE YOUR TIME". Remember, there is a big difference between a regular car and an SUV. You will be giving up comfort and noise level. *** Update-5-6-17! Car still uncomfortable for me. Still paying for a car I do not like. Would like to sell it and go back to a Honda or Toyota sedan-more comfort, more cargo space, better gas mileage! As for gas mileage- always subtract at least 5 MPG from window sticker. Getting around 22-23 MPG combined. Glad gas is cheap at this moment! As for the positives- looks good, made very well, tight body, tight engine- in other words, a Toyota!!

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  Toyota RAV4 from hell - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By pabach - October 14 - 8:08 am

  The car has ample power and plenty of space inside. Thats the short list of pluses. On the negative side, the car has been a godsend to the Toyota Manassas shop where we purchased the it. Over 76,000 miles weve had to replace all six cylinder ignition coils, the water pump and, just last week, the transmission, a $4,200 repair (luckily covered by our Geico insurance). Then, as we were driving the car away from the shop, we hear a grinding noise on mild turns, a $600 repair to change one of the wheel bearings. Toyotas were supposed to be reliable. Ours was not. Only a Russian Jeep Niva I used to own in the 90s was worse (dont ask). But at least that car was cheap to fix.

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  Great all-around truck - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Jerre - October 14 - 2:00 am

  The new 2004 version is a nice upgrade over 2003 and includes standard ABS and steering wheel controls. Well designed interior for practicality and convenience. The new engine is quicker and quieter which is a long overdue improvement. The manual trans. is smooth and easy to operate...unlike the poorly engineered CRV clutch. Major flaw- an oversized, ridiculously heavy rear door with a window that wont open. Puzzling why Toyota failed to re- design such an obvious flaw?! Also, the RAV4 could be a little longer for more cargo room. Overall though, this is a very well constructed vehicle and rates the best out of all small SUVs I test drove.

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  after a 2000 mile test drive...well... - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Dave Stein - October 5 - 9:23 am

  I took it down to Santa Barbara from Newport, Or. Finally, I started getting the good gas mileage at about 1400 miles, averaging about 70 mph with a stiff headwind. I think this is a great car! Love it, from the power to the JBL stereo, etc.

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  Everything I need - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By t0yotfan - October 4 - 6:48 am

  After having both a 2002 and 2004 CRV, I bought a 2007 RAV4 with the V6. It had greater usable cargo space and the V6 got 22mpg when the 2 CRVs never got over 21mpg with a 4 cyl. The 2007 RAV4 got totaled in an accident, so since I was very happy with it, I bought another identical V6 4x4 base model. I bought it with a Toyota trailer hitch and I have no problem towing a 8x5 Big Tex trailer loaded with a John Deere 2320 tractor plus 3 Labs in the back cargo area in 3 large dog kennels every week 80 miles to a farm I own in the next county over. The total weight of the trailer and Tractor is 2850lbs. I still get 16 mpg with that load and the power and braking are more than adequate.

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  203k miles and still going strong - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By andymick32 - October 3 - 5:30 am

  Great Toyota Reliability. Have owned for 12 years with no major mechanical problems. It has been the most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned. At 203k miles now and think I should hit 300k. No rust on the body in a bad NorthEast climate. Not the most exciting vehicle to drive, but it is very economical with a solid 4WD system. You really cant beat Ravs for their overall value.

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  Wonderful SUV! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Julie - October 1 - 7:40 am

  This is such a great vehicle! I was tempted to get the Limited model, but realized the Base model had everything I needed. (Everyone who has seen it cant believe its the Base model.) It handles like a car and gets great gas mileage. Although it only has a 4- cylinder engine, it has great pick-up. I love all of the little touches, like the quick release pulls in the cargo area that allow you to lower the rear seats without going around to the back doors. This car is truly a wonderful value.

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  First SUV purchase - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By bob silver - September 30 - 11:47 am

  It was a tie between the RAV4 and the Honda CRV. My daughter, whose car this is, selected the RAV, citing that the RAV felt more like a sedan and she wanted a truck feeling plus she liked the layout of the RAV BETTER