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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  3000 Mile Review - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Dennis Baszynski - October 31 - 1:57 am

  This is an addition to my earlier review tiled "2000 Mile Review" shortly after I wrote my review, I continued to improve the MPG of the RAV4. I reached 29.9 MPG and was about to take my first trip in it. I immediately got 30 mpg as I entered the expressway, which meant I was at the cusp of getting there. I suggest another decimal point be added to the instrumentation. After 4 hours of driving I was at 30.1. I ended the whole trip at 30.2 MPG average which I think is great! The dealer originally told me I should get 24-25 MPG. The visibility all around is great. The seats are great because my legs did not go numb or feel any tingling in them like some vehicles I owned in the past. Cargo space was great. There was very little noise the entire way. Acceleration was adequate. I love the cruise control. I can do all the highway driving with that and not have to use the gas pedal for hours. The vehicle does let me know if I am straying out of my lane just because it is that sensitive. Most vehicles I cannot feel it if I am going out of my lane. I also climbed several dirt hills to take a short cut and the RAV4 did just fine. Overall I am still very happy with the purchase.

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  Should have purchased a Rav4 a long time ago. - 2016 Toyota RAV4
  By john Jacoby - October 29 - 8:29 pm

  The vehicle grows on me every time I drive it. I love the styling, the performance and the overall comfort. The rear seats recline which is nice for my grandsons when we are returning from skiing. Sport mode is quicker, but I have found the performance in Eco mode more than adequate. I am averaging about 26mpg and I use the gas pedal freely. The entertainment/navigation has a fairly sharp learning curve, but the dealership employs a guy to come to your house and show you exactly how to use it and once you learn to operate the navigation it works great! If you want a sportier SUV then maybe this is not for you, but I will trade a little sportiness for a quiet, comfortable ride all day long. I would have bought the LE but I like Alloy wheels which were not available on the LE, but it turns out I like the features that come with the XLE a lot!

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  Beware Im done with all Toyota products - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By 2002Rav4Sucks - October 25 - 5:40 pm

  Dont buy Toyota. Read the reviews here. All of them. Some people even posted a good review before the on- board computer fried and then burn the transmission. Or before the engine burnt from the known oil sludge problem. Then wrote another bad review. I paid $14,000 used. Good deal private party with 40k miles. At 88k miles the engine blew-up from oil sludge. I didnt know about the "oil sludge recall" until after I had it rebuilt for $4,500. Then at about 97k miles the jerking shifting started. This is my daughters car so I took it in to my mechanic. He said on board computer $1300 and the transmission is cooked because of the computer problem. $5,600 for rebuild and new computer (contd

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  CANT GO WRONG - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RAV4 OWNER123 - October 22 - 10:46 am

  All in all, the 06 Rav4 cant be beat. When it came time to purchase a new car for the family, we actually looked at the new Camry and Highlander. In fact, we were walking in to purchase the Highlander when I saw the Rav4. I stopped our agent and said "I want that". My gas mileage is great. Im getting EPA estimates - and Im a teen so I drive it ruff. The quality is great and the look is awesome.

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  nice buy - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Patrick - October 21 - 2:06 pm

  Very good manuverability, peppy, ride is very smooth, I get caught in Downtown Buffalo city traffic every morning with about 10 miles of highway miles and I consistantly get 23-25mpg. I paid $24000 and it was a GREAT BUY!!! I am completley satisfied with my purchase

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  Reliable but dull - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By SeanM - October 21 - 10:00 am

  Its like a lifted corolla. Safe, reliable but dull. Looks OK but has the power of a hair dryer.

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  Great.. until 2/2010 - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By msquickwit - October 16 - 12:10 pm

  I have to say- other than oil changes and tire rotations- the usual stuff; I have never had any major expenses (5 years- second owner). BUT In Feb 2010 I did have to spend 1700 on a new brain and O2 sensor and battery. Now, it is in the shop again- sounding and feeling like a helicopter. So I have to give my old girl credit for 5 years (got her 2005) she has been an angel. Now she is being a bit greedy-but it is long over due. IF I have to buy a new car- I would get a RAV 4 again or maybe a highlander- little bit bigger and those are now HYBRID.

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  Thorough review after 6 months - 2013 Toyota RAV4
  By 4bras - October 15 - 5:55 pm

  Overall a very good SUV. Its a Toyota, so their quality is good. I found the transmission very responsive depending on the mode you select. Its 6 cylinder will of course shift gears more often than say a 4 cylinder. But we also enjoy 27-29 mpg in mixed city/hwy driving.

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  2006 Toyota Rav4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By txbanshee - October 13 - 8:53 am

  Great small SUV with lots of power. We drove all the SUVs in this class and none seem to have the power or reliablity that the Rav4 offered. Switching from a honda accord exV6 my wife wanted something with some go. Most of the SUVs just seem to underpowered for long trips.

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  The number 1 SUV - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By SuzyQt - October 13 - 2:00 am

  I have owned other Ravs in the past, but this one is the best. The exterior styling is excellent, and the gas mileage is superb. The engine is fine for hauling people and even passing on the highway.Also, the handling is excellent, and it is very secure on the turns.