Used Toyota RAV4 4x4 1994 - 2000 review
A great used buy: fun, stylish and very reliable
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5-Star
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What's the used Toyota RAV4 like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 1 January 2006
How we test cars
What's the used Toyota RAV4 like?
The RAV4 has been described as the offspring of a Toyota Landcruiser and a Ford Fiesta XR2, and that pretty much sums it up. It drives like a hot hatch, but looks like an off-roader.
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Overview
A great used buy: fun, stylish and very reliable
Pros
- Reliable, drives well on the road
- affordable
Cons
- Not great off the Tarmac
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD 5dr
£1,495
Toyota RAV4
2.0 VVT-i XT-R 4WD 5dr
£1,575
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD Euro 4 5dr
£1,790
Toyota RAV4
2.0 D-4D XT4 4WD 5dr
£1,795
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D T180 4WD 5dr
£1,850
Toyota RAV4
2.0 D-4D XT2 4WD 5dr
£1,890
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD 5dr
£1,895
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD 5dr
RRP £20,542
£1,990
Toyota RAV4
2.0 VVT-i VX 4WD 5dr
£1,990
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The truth, though, is that it's much more of a hot hatch. Although it has full-time four-wheel drive, this is no Land Rover away from the Tarmac. There are no low-ratio gears, for example. On the other hand, no other 4x4 handles as well on the road. It's crisp through the bends, with little body roll, rides pretty well and is great fun.
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The three-door version is the most fun to drive, but rather cramped in the back. So, families will prefer the larger five-door model, which gives you useful extra space and practicality, but without losing too much of the enjoyment.
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Ownership cost
How much does cost to run a Toyota RAV4?
Compared with a conventional hatchback, such as the Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, the RAV4 looks pretty expensive to buy and run. However, compared with 4x4 rivals like the Land Rover Freelander or Honda CR-V, costs are far more reasonable.
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The real beauty of the car is that it very rarely needs repairs, but when things do go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right, especially compared with a standard hatch. That said, the RAV is no worse than the Honda CR-V in this respect, and labour rates at independent Toyota specialists are low, according to figures from Warranty Direct.
In terms of other running costs, the RAV looks pretty respectable. Insurance in groups 9 and 10 matches its rivals, and you can expect fuel economy of about 30mpg, which beats petrol versions of the CR-V and Freelander.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Protect your investment
GAP insurance allows you to get the full price for your car if it’s stolen or written off, but only a quarter of Brits buy it
Reduce your car finance bills
Refinancing your car effectively means taking out one loan to pay off another, which could help reduce your monthly payments, or reduce your finance term
What is hire purchase?
Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP
What is PCP finance?
Low monthly payments are key to the appeal of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements. But are there downsides?
Our recommendations
Which used Toyota RAV4 should I buy?
As far as the engine goes, you haven't really got a choice. Throughout its life, the original RAV4 came only with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, originally with 129bhp, but reduced to 126bhp towards the end of 1996.
In terms of equipment, the younger the model, the more equipment it had. It was only from late 1996 that the car had standard driver and passenger airbags, for example.
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On top of that, it's also worth avoiding the base three-door models, GS or EX. These missed out several important bits of kit that were standard on our favourite GX model, the next step up in the range.
The whole range was face-lifted at the end of 1997, but the best age to buy is from August '98 onwards, when the GX gained standard anti-lock brakes, air con and an electric sunroof. VX was the range-topping trim, with leather upholstery.
Tips & Advice
Which smartphone integration should I have?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic – and free – technologies. Here we show you the benefits, drawbacks and best apps
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
How reliable is the Toyota RAV4 ?
Toyota RAV4
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD 5dr
£1,495
Toyota RAV4
2.0 VVT-i XT-R 4WD 5dr
£1,575
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD Euro 4 5dr
£1,790
Toyota RAV4
2.0 D-4D XT4 4WD 5dr
£1,795
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D T180 4WD 5dr
£1,850
Toyota RAV4
2.0 D-4D XT2 4WD 5dr
£1,890
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD 5dr
£1,895
Toyota RAV4
2.2 D-4D XT-R 4WD 5dr
RRP £20,542
£1,990
Toyota RAV4
2.0 VVT-i VX 4WD 5dr
£1,990
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
Follow Stuart Milne on
Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
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