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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  4 wheel drive.....not! - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By arantslimj12 - October 19 - 9:20 am

  We bought the 2010 Rav4 base model 4 cylinder because we owned a 2003 4runner and wanted better gas milage. the Rav4 boasted 21 to 27 miles per gallon. Yeah right! More like 21 all the time! Also the "4 wheel drive" isnt really 4 wheel drive. It is only active until you reach 25 mile per hour! Then its just a two wheel drive. And did i mention the suspension? It was sooooo stiff you get beat up in the drivers set day in and day out. Over all i was very disappointed and paid wayyyy too much for this thing! it just felt so cheap! Well we traded it in this week for a 2009 Subaru Forester!

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  too much difference between trims - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Roger - August 28 - 1:43 am

  Outdated look, very basic standard trim at an unattractive price

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  Yugo in Toyota Cloths - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By RichieGil - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Kids are older; didnt need minivan anymore. Went out looking at Camrys and Accords but wife likes being up high. Looked at RAV4s and CRVs. Wish we’d bought the CRV. Infamous RAV4 rattle. Been back 3 times; still not fixed. Driver side wiper broke in snow this weekend. Trip #4 to dealer. Just developed a new rattle on roof rack. Car has less than 2000 miles and havent even made 1st payment yet! Auto. doesn’t shift smoothly into high. Not enough storage compartments and ones it has too small. Bought new Plymouth Horizon in 1980; biggest piece of blank I ever bought until now. Thought Yugo of business but Toyota must be outsourcing RAV4 production to them.

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  Feel every bump on the road - buy sports - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By Kumar - June 23 - 10:00 am

  Dont buy unless you want to feel every bump on the road - The sports model with Flat-Free tire has a very noticeable bumpy ride. At this it is very annoying, with the vehicle wobbling, driver shaking like he has convulsions. Works well on a smooth and even road, which is not realistic to expect. This ride quality does even come close to 10-year old Camry and 4-year old Sienna.

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  RAV4 I$ A LEMON!! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RAV4 I$ A LEMON!! - March 1 - 9:13 am

  I commute from the SF Bay Area to Sacramento,70 miles each way. The stretch of freeway is rough & you feel every bump in the road. The seats are stiff and not enough thigh support. I had to get the brakes replaced at 40k with almost all freeway driving, not stop & go. The car sometimes doesnt start immediately (since purchase) and what I hate most is you cant get the key out of the ignition without moving the gear shift in park back & forth. The dealer says NOTHING WRONG... It had a major oil leak (covered w/power train) air noise from windshield, and rear door. rattles if not on a completely smooth surface. Needs torque & power to rear wheels in turns, & quick acceleration r feels unstable

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  rav 4 bursts into flames - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By lmcvey - November 24 - 11:58 pm

  I loved my 2008 rav 4....until I hit a deer going barely 25 miles an hour and the car burst into flames. Luckily, I got out of my car immediately after hitting the deer to inspect the damage. I honestly thought there may be little or no damage based on the minimal impact (airbags didnt go off and there was only a dent in the drivers side headlight area) but the car almost immediately started smoking and then promptly burst into flames. Toyota has been extremely non-responsive to my questions and I would never buy another one.

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  Please read before you buy!! - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Debbie - October 8 - 10:36 pm

  Purchased my RAV4 brand new. Check engine light was on after about one year. Catalytic conv or O2 sensors were always said to be the reason. At 100,000K it started to slip between 2nd and 3rd gear. Causes major issues! I just received something from Toyota saying that they will reprogram my ECM for no charge now, but unfortunately for me, this defect already ruined my transmission. Do not even think about purchasing a 2001-2002 RAV4 unless you have several thousand extra dollars to replace a transmission and ECM (avg.$4K). Trust me!!

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  No start problem - 2012 Toyota RAV4
  By piko584189 - September 25 - 1:43 pm

  We paid close to 35,000 with all of the upgrades. Since the first week we owned this car it had an intermitent no start problem. Has been back to dealer 3or4 times. Today we were told it had something to do with steering lock--and we need to just live with it--now that we know what the problem is we know it will eventually start.. They sent a tech bulletin to toyota and maybe someday they will do something about it. This is an uncomfortable riding vehicle--will never buy a Toyota again.

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  New XLE - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Phil - August 8 - 2:29 am

  I traded a 2006 4 Runner for the Rav4, and I was impressed with the room. Although a bit smaller, the gas savings and navigating in traffic, the Rav4 is worth it. If you have a big family think a larger vehicle, but for two or a young family (or retiree like me) this is just the answer. Go the extra mile and get the Convenience Package it makes driving much more enjoyable. After driving it for over 6 months, I wish It would have power seats. The XLE has most everything else, but is uncomfortable on longer trips. Added at a later date: After 7 months I traded the Rav4 in for Chevrolet. The lack of power seats was the deciding factor. A few squeaks and rattles began to appear, and the design lost its appeal {although I never did care for the overall look of the vehicle}.

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  Darkened Dashboard/Speedometer - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By dgambini - August 3 - 7:20 am

  The dashboard/speedometer is set back into a tunnel. In any other car when you turn the ignition key on the dashboard/speedometer illuminate. Not the case in the RAV4. It stays dark. So dark, that when you are driving downa tree lined street or on a cloudy day, its almost impossible to see the speedometer. This is a design flaw in the vehicle. I have to turn my night time lights on during the day to see the speedometer clearly. A very dangerous situation! I have tried talking to corporate in California and they will not do anything about this problem. I have not contacted the BBB, The Dept. Of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney Generals office.