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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  My Dream Car - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Denise Guldin - May 30 - 8:03 am

  I love my RAV4. This car is great to drive and I love its safety rating. I find it to be very roomy and I am able to haul large items easily with the seats folded down. I like the gas mileage I get when I fill up also. It is easy to park, easy to handle and has get up and go when I need to accelerate. I am glad I got the 2005 RAV because I like the style and lines of the car compared to the 2006 model which is little bigger. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  I own one - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Cole - May 28 - 10:00 am

  My Rav4 is the loaded one that everone loved but didnt want to pay the price well i did and i love it

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  Thoroughbred - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By 1969Ben - May 27 - 8:33 pm

  We bought this car in early October and have already hit 5000 very enjoyable miles. Weve run from NYC to Boston and back twice, one of those trips in the thick of the recent snowstorm. The AWD plowed through several inches of fresh snow (the electronic AWD lock being a very useful feature when the plows havent come through yet). Having a V6 gives added confidence, and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend this car. Im 62" and quite comfortable up front. I have 4 kids under age 7, so the optional third row gets used at weekends. Its a little tight back there - cargo space pretty much disappears with the third row up & in use. When the kids are older well go for a Sienna.

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  2003 RAV4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Mommymoto - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! It has the convenience of an SUV without the parking and maneuvering difficulties with larger SUVs.

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  Happy Buyer - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By TriciaM - May 22 - 8:10 pm

  I bought my sport edition in Feb. and have never been happier with a new car purchase. I wasnt going to get the 6 cyl. but am glad I did as I really like the power for freeway driving. It has a lot of room and is really comfortable for road trips. I was looking to buy the Honda CR-V but as I couldnt get the one I wanted, I am totally glad I ended up with the RAV4. I love the Bluetooth feature also which the Honda doesnt offer. I couldnt be happier with my purchase of the RAV4!

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  Tradind Down - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Robert Tust - May 21 - 5:21 am

  Its like going from a three bedroom house to a condo.

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  Excellent!!!! - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Mark - May 20 - 2:03 pm

  I cannot begin to say how good this car is. I bought it with only 50000 miles on it. It now has over 100,000 and has never had a single problem with anything in the car. I have found in my years of experience that toyotas are by far the best car on the market. They are sturdy reliable and are good even into the higher mileages. My next car will definitely be another toyota. Excellent car!!!

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  I love my car - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Ravfan4life - May 17 - 2:53 am

  I have not had any problems with my lovely RAV since I drove it off the floor. I can use it to haul anything and it is comfortable and super fun to drive. It is a little light on the ice, but it handles Minnesota winters like a trooper.

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  Toyota RAV4 Vastly Improved - 2017 Toyota RAV4
  By Brian Montano - May 13 - 3:26 pm

  If you are in the market for a small SUV it will be worth your time to seriously consider the Toyota RAV4. The RAV4 has made astonishing improvements to the RAV4 since the early 2000s when my brother-in-law owned one. Stylish, modern, high tech and smooth ride. The 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine mated to a 6 speed transmission provides good performance. Its good on fuel and with Toyota offering 0% APR for 60 months what a deal. It was too good to pass up. This is my fourth Toyota and Toyota has consistently proved to be reliable vehicles.

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  Best compact SUV Ive driven - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By dwoud - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I have put many miles on the car, and some rugged off roading (quite a bit) Ive never been stranded on the side of the road. Horsepower is lacking but the rewards are seen at the gas pump. The five speed manual gear box helps over come the power issue. At 255,000km. I am Getting the best fuel milage yet!! Lets hope for a hybrid! The limited slip differential is a little "week" but as long as the car is still moving it will pull though almost anything.