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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  Poor under body design - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By josder - January 7 - 6:26 am

  We traded our 08Rav4 in for the 2013 Rav4 We live in Upper Michigan where we get a lot of snow AND under the doors (including the back door)the snow & ice collects and then it melts off in our garage creating a huge mess! When you open the doors you can see the accumulation! This is a real problem and had we knew this before ... we would have gotten a different brand vehicle. Our old Rav did not do this. Perhaps Toyota should re design the doors and eliminate this problem

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  RAV4 is Great! - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Hampton - January 7 - 2:00 am

  I love my RAV4. I cannot say enough good about it. The fit and finish is excellent, performance is good and ride is good. I test drove the CRV and there is no comparison. The CRV felt and looked cheap and the controls were awkward.

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  toyota Rav4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By IOwnARav4 - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Overall, the rav4 is priced nicely for what it delivers. Although the engine is not powerful, I took it off-road and it handled well and was very impressed.

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  RAV4 Review - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Aja Raye - December 19 - 8:13 am

  The most uncomfortable vehicle Ive ever owned. Seats are very hard. Road noise is so high the music must be loud and passengers cannot talk on cells phones when driving on the highway. Wind in the cab also makes it impossible to cruise with the windows down. One feature I like is the braking system. Very nice.

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  7,000+ word review - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By Markus Allen - December 17 - 1:14 pm

  I have owned (or leased) 5 RAV4s... This is (by far) the best RAV4 I have ever driven. [non-permissible content removed]

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  Went back to Toyota - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Brian N - December 17 - 2:00 am

  After a bad decision with buying American, I went back to Toyota. Had for 15 months now and all is well, no problems. My drivers seat is starting to fray, did not expect that problem. I dont have any complaints except for the low resale value caused by the recalls. Wish I would have waited a few months to buy and take advantage of the savings. Get about 25 mpg on average. A/C gets cold in the HOT AZ desert during the summers. Love it.

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  Rav4 Rocks - 2010 Toyota RAV4
  By DonnaHappy - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I couldnt be more happier with my Rav4. At the price point of the Base Rav4, I feel I got a reliable vehicle with lots of great features for my money. Really like the side opening rear door, full size spare tire on the back, ease and location of controls, nice radio with XM Satellite, attractive exterior and lots of cargo space. Also, quiet motor, no road noise and a smooth ride. I have the extra value package which was worth every penny. My Rav4 is a blast to drive and so far is trouble free. Im a satisfied customer and very happy with my decision to purchase the Rav4.

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  grrrrrreat! - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By allie002 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  great! i have the L model. I love it! However since its my first SUV, im realizing they require and use more gas, so im frequenting the gas station...

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  My rav 4 - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By ashleigh - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive,good looking.built solid and gets good gas mileage.Great traction in bad weather.

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  My green eyed monster - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Happy Ravver - December 9 - 10:00 am

  You guys who get bad gas milage are trying way too hard!! I AVERAGE 30.5 mpg doing about 75 on the expressway and jumping off the line every chance I get. The automatic is lazy (found that out on the test drive), so opt for the 5-speed for a little more oomph.