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:

• 

  Fun car - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By My rav - April 18 - 12:13 pm

  Weve had our car since July 2001. Aside from the lousy gas mileage around the city 17 and 20-21 hwy, its been a really fun ride. The AWD grips really well and give the car a nice ride. The acceleration is a bit sluggish at times, but it has a really nice ride once its going. The rotors are cheap, constantly need shaving, so theyll be replaced. I had the infamous 420 & 440 (O2 codes), so Im hoping that the reprogramming doesnt kill off my O2 sensors and catalytic converter.

• 

  2001 RAV4 Bullet proof reliabilty - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Jimboo2 - April 18 - 1:53 am

  We bought in Dec. 2000 brand new to replace Tercel. Love compactness with great interior room. Fun to drive fits anywhere. Bulletproof reliability. Wife never wants to sell. Replaced timing chain at 60K and had O2 sensor done at 62K. I really wonder if dealership is the best place for repairs, very expensive. Live in New England and put on Bridgestone Blizzaks in Nov. runs thru foot of snow like AWD. Excellent value.

• 

  Break Failure - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Rear Break Money Pit - April 17 - 10:23 pm

  My wife bought the 2005 Rav4 4 years ago, and has had to replace the rear breaks 3 times, going on four now. Everything else about the car she loves, but the constant issue with the rear breaks is causing us to sell. In their infinite wisdom, Toyota cheaped out on the rear breaks making them disk breaks, not drum breaks which they should be. We live in northern Vermont, 3 mile up a gravel road and my wife has to drive over a mountain pass everyday driving to work. Needless to say, we need working breaks, and the Rav4 has not provided it. The dealership has worked with us a little bit, but we still have speny about $2000 over the past 4 years on breaks alone. Very disappointed Rav4 owners!

• 

  My Rav4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By Dee - April 16 - 11:16 am

  I bought my Rav 4 Limited 4x4 in September, I have put nealry 4,000 miles on it already. I love it.

• 

  Good car - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By Charles William Lancaster - April 11 - 6:59 pm

  Drives well, shifts good and gets pretty good mpgs I average around 26 hyw & town. On our 2500 mile trip we got 28 to 30 mpg.

• 

  2000 Mile Review - 2015 Toyota RAV4
  By adkdad - April 9 - 4:34 pm

  I have had a Ford Escape, Honda CRV and several Subaru Outbacks. I also looked into the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Rogue. The Toyota RAV4 won out for many reasons. So far this vehicle exceeds my expectations. Im getting 28.7 MPG average (yes AWD)! I love the seats, they seem to "grab" my rib cage and I do not sway either way when doing a sharp turn. The ride is solid like a truck. Visibility is great. There is plenty of room for 3 road bikes in the back without removing the front wheel.

• 

  RAV is a dependable car! - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By Lainie - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Got my 97 RAV used in 99. Ive only had to replace brakes in 2001 and from there, just regular maintenance. I rarely seem to see them for sale used, so I think there are several happy customers out there...

• 

  Good all-arounder - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By James - April 7 - 5:33 am

  Had the car for four months now. Took it on a cross country trip from MA to CA and the car did not disappoint as it was comfortable even during 13 hours/day drives and the engine allowed effortless driving and passing. Was able to load a lot of contents in the car yet allowed one person to sleep flat in the back. All the safety features incorporated in the car (e.g. VSC, EBD, etc) saved us from a highway catastrophe by a reckless driver in Chicagos south side and allowed us to maintain control. However, tighter brakes and suspension would create more driving confidence. Radio/6-disc CD changer/MP3 player/auxiliary port allows endless forms of audio entertainment!

• 

  Great Compact SUV - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By Jon - April 6 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy driving my RAV4. I use it mostly for short trip driving in town, highway driving,and light off road driving. It handles great, and works well in all weather conditions. I use it for light off road driving, in pastures and meadows for hunting and fishing, and it performs fine. I have the front wheel drive model, and it still gets me around in the outdoors. The ECT Power button is pretty cool, faster acceleration for fun, and more power for towing light trailers, or making it up steeper hills. The reliability is great,and I like the way it looks. Acceleration in town is alright, on the highway it gets the job done, but it seems a little slow. All in all a great little SUV.

• 

  A VERY solid SUV to purchase - 2008 Toyota RAV4
  By mkjyoung22 - April 5 - 6:30 am

  A very good value for your money. This SUV has a ton of power (269 horsepower), and handles exceptionally. The fun factor CANNOT be matched by any vehicle in its class, and probably not by many out of its class. The mileage is very good too, as mine gets 24mpg over all. The interior is comfortable for five people (I am 6ft 3in) and the third row people can sit reasonably comfortable, depending on how you adjust the second row of seats... but is fantastic if you have a few kids. The quality is very solid, the doors seem heavy when you shut them, and the items that are plastic do not have that cheap feel to them. The controls are well placed and very helpful. I am very satisfied overall.