The Toyota RAV4 was one of the earliest car-based crossover SUVs on the market. Now in its fifth generation, it’s one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S. The current RAV4 has compact dimensions and seats up to five people. It’s powered by a four-cylinder engine and offers a choice of front- or all-wheel drive; there’s also available hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. A good fit for small families, the RAV4’s key competitors include theHonda CR-V,Nissan Rogue,Subaru ForesterandFord Escape.
Popular competitors:
- Honda CR-V
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- Nissan Rogue
- Toyota RAV4
RAV4 – 5 Generations
- 2019–24
- 2013–18
- 2006–12
- 2001–05
- 1996–2000
- 2019–24
- 2013–18
- 2006–12
- 2001–05
- 1996–2000
Latest generation
2019–24 RAV4
In the fourth-generation RAV4, a liftgate replaced previous models’ side-opening rear door, and the spare tire moved under the cargo floor. The V-6 engine and third row were dropped, leaving all gas-only models with a 176-horsepower four-cylinder … engine and seating for five. Overall length shrunk by an inch, and the RAV4’s styling took on a meaner, more aggressive look. Inside, the rear seat lost its fore-aft sliding feature, and the relocated spare tire took up some underfloor storage space. A RAV4 Hybrid with standard all-wheel drive was added for the 2016 model year, and for 2017 Toyota’s Safety Sense P active safety suite became standard.
2024
- MSRP range$28,675–$38,380
- Consumer rating
4.2
(4 reviews)
- Combined mpg 25–30
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2024:
- Five-seat compact SUV
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- Gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
See 2024 RAV4 articles
2023
- MSRP range$28,275–$37,980
- Consumer rating
3.9
(17 reviews)
- Combined mpg 28–30
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2023:
- Five-seat compact SUV
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- Gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
See 2023 RAV4 articles
2022
- MSRP range$26,975–$36,915
- Consumer rating
4.6
(11 reviews)
- Combined mpg 28–30
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2022:
- Five-seat compact SUV
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- Gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions available
- Automatic emergency braking standard
- Android Auto, Apple CarPlay standard
See 2022 RAV4 articles
2021
- MSRP range$26,350–$36,280
- Consumer rating
4.8
(105 reviews)
- Combined mpg 28–30
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2021:
- Five-seat compact SUV
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- Gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions available
- Automatic emergency braking standard
- Android Auto, Apple CarPlay standard
See 2021 RAV4 articles
2020
- MSRP range$25,950–$35,880
- Consumer rating
4.6
(178 reviews)
- Combined mpg 27–30
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2020:
- New TRD Off-Road model
- Android Auto now available
- Five-seat compact SUV
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- Gas and hybrid versions available
See 2020 RAV4 articles
2019
- MSRP range$25,650–$35,050
- Consumer rating
- Combined mpg 28–30
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2019:
- Redesigned for 2019
- Five-seat compact SUV
- New eight-speed automatic transmission
- Gas and hybrid versions available
- AWD optional across lineup
- Rugged Adventure model available
See 2019 RAV4 articles
Previous generation
2013–18 RAV4
The RAV4 grew into compact dimensions with this redesign, adding 14 inches of overall length and more than 3 inches of width. It also gained an optional third row that increased seating capacity to seven (seating for five was still standard). In addition, … a 269-hp V-6 engine became available as an upgrade to the standard four-cylinder engine. Optional on-demand all-wheel drive replaced a permanently engaged 4WD system, and a manual transmission was no longer offered. A larger, more powerful four-cylinder arrived for 2009, and in 2012 a battery-powered RAV4 EV (engineered by Tesla) with an EPA-estimated range of 103 miles went on sale in California. EV production continued into 2014 on this design.
2018
- MSRP range$24,660–$36,400
- Consumer rating
4.8
(776 reviews)
- Combined mpg 24–26
- Body style SUV
See 2018 RAV4 articles
2017
- MSRP range$24,410–$36,150
- Consumer rating
4.8
(595 reviews)
- Combined mpg 25–26
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2017:
- New high-end Platinum trim available
- Hybrid version available
- Newly standard active safety features
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- LED lighting availabl
See 2017 RAV4 articles
2016
- MSRP range$24,350–$32,910
- Consumer rating
4.7
(208 reviews)
- Combined mpg 25–26
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2016:
- All-new RAV4 Hybrid variant
- All modes slightly restyled
- Electric all-wheel drive system
- New, sportier SE trim level
- Available LED lighting
- New interior materials
- Additional sound deadening materials
See 2016 RAV4 articles
2015
- MSRP range$23,680–$29,850
- Consumer rating
4.6
(361 reviews)
- Combined mpg 25–26
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2015:
- Four-cylinder only
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- FWD or AWD
- Seats five
- Standard backup camera
See 2015 RAV4 articles
2014
- MSRP range$23,550–$29,720
- Consumer rating
4.4
(195 reviews)
- Combined mpg 25–26
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2014:
- Newly available safety features
- Four-cylinder only
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- FWD or AWD
- Seats five
- Standard backup camera
See 2014 RAV4 articles
2013
- MSRP range$23,300–$28,410
- Consumer rating
4.5
(186 reviews)
- Combined mpg 25–26
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2013:
- Four-cylinder only
- V-6 dropped for 2013
- New six-speed automatic transmission
- FWD or AWD
- Third-row discontinued for 2013
- Standard backup camera
- Side-hinged tailgate replaced by traditional roof-hinged setup
- Spare tire moved from cargo door to under cargo floor
See 2013 RAV4 articles
2006–12 RAV4
The second-generation RAV4 was slightly larger, roomier inside and featured more chiseled styling. It could seat up to five people, and it came only as a four-door SUV. The spare tire was mounted on the rear door, which swung open to the right — two … carryover features from the first generation. A new four-cylinder engine made more power, and a larger, still-more-powerful four-cylinder with 161 hp arrived for the 2004 model year.
2012
- MSRP range$22,650–$28,650
- Consumer rating
4.7
(130 reviews)
- Combined mpg 21–24
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2012:
- Four-cylinder or V-6
- FWD or AWD
- Five or seven seats
- Available backup camera
See 2012 RAV4 articles
2011
- MSRP range$22,475–$28,785
- Consumer rating
4.6
(152 reviews)
- Combined mpg 21–24
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2011:
- Four-cylinder or V-6
- FWD or AWD
- Five- or seven-person capacity
- Available backup camera
See 2011 RAV4 articles
2010
- MSRP range$21,675–$27,985
- Consumer rating
4.6
(150 reviews)
- Combined mpg 0–24
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2010:
- Four-cylinder or V-6
- FWD or AWD
- Five- or seven-person capacity
- Available backup camera
See 2010 RAV4 articles
2009
- MSRP range$21,500–$27,810
- Consumer rating
4.6
(83 reviews)
- Combined mpg 0–24
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2009:
- Four-cylinder or V-6
- FWD or AWD
- Five- or seven-person capacity
- New backup camera
See 2009 RAV4 articles
2008
- MSRP range$21,500–$27,070
- Consumer rating
4.5
(101 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2008:
- Four-cylinder or V-6
- FWD or AWD
- Five- or seven-person capacity
- Available Sport model
See 2008 RAV4 articles
2007
- MSRP range$20,950–$26,520
- Consumer rating
4.4
(137 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2007:
- Four-cylinder or V-6
- FWD or AWD
- Five- or seven-person capacity
- Available Sport model
See 2007 RAV4 articles
2006
- MSRP range$20,300–$25,870
- Consumer rating
4.3
(79 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2006:
- Redesigned and enlarged for 2006
- Four-cylinder or V-6
- FWD or AWD
- Five- or seven-person capacity
- New Sport model
See 2006 RAV4 articles
2001–05 RAV4
The RAV4 (Recreational Activity Vehicle with 4WD) subcompact SUV debuted in two- and four-door versions with a choice of front-wheel drive or permanently engaged four-wheel drive. It was based on the platform used for the Celica sports coupe and had … unibody construction, an independent suspension and a four-cylinder engine. A two-door convertible version became available for the 1998 model year but was dropped in 2000. Starting in 1997, Toyota produced small numbers of RAV4 electric vehicles to meet California’s zero-emission-vehicle requirements. The EVs had a range of 88 to 95 miles; sales continued into 2003.
2005
- MSRP range$19,050–$21,500
- Consumer rating
4.7
(46 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 2005 RAV4 articles
2004
- MSRP range$18,450–$20,900
- Consumer rating
4.6
(22 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 2004 RAV4 articles
2003
- MSRP range$16,625–$19,075
- Consumer rating
4.3
(47 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 2003 RAV4 articles
2002
- MSRP range$16,525–$18,975
- Consumer rating
4.7
(32 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 2002 RAV4 articles
2001
- MSRP range$16,365–$18,815
- Consumer rating
4.4
(28 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 2001 RAV4 articles
1996–2000 RAV4
The redesigned 2019 RAV4 got a makeover that gave this compact SUV a rugged, chunkier look in place of the previous generation’s softer lines. Riding on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, the RAV4 is powered by a standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter … four-cylinder engine that works with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard active safety features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with steering assist, automatic high-beam headlights and adaptive cruise control.
Read more
2000
- MSRP range$16,888–$19,348
- Consumer rating
5.0
(10 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 2000 RAV4 articles
1999
- MSRP range$15,728–$18,878
- Consumer rating
4.4
(18 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 1999 RAV4 articles
1998
- MSRP range$15,438–$18,758
- Consumer rating
4.7
(19 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 1998 RAV4 articles
1997
- MSRP range$15,118–$18,268
- Consumer rating
4.7
(32 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 1997 RAV4 articles
1996
- MSRP range$14,948–$18,098
- Consumer rating
4.9
(8 reviews)
- Combined mpg –
- Body style SUV
See 1996 RAV4 articles
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- 1996 Toyota RAV4 trims
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