Used Toyota RAV4 2000 - 2006 review
The second Toyota RAV4 kept the fun-loving nature of the first, but brought greater comfort and practicality.
More used reviews:
- (2012 - 15)
- (2015 - 19)
- (2018 - 26)
See used cars for sale
Small SUV
Jump to:
What's the used Toyota RAV4 like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 11 June 2016
How we test cars
What's the used Toyota RAV4 like?
The first Toyota RAV4 was a groundbreaker in the SUV market, and one of the first compact 4x4s the public really switched on to.
This second-generation version kept much of the funky styling and enjoyable dynamics of the first-generation car, but it was also a more practical proposition. The focus was on the five-door version with its sensible boot and frugal diesel engine. Unsurprisingly, fewer buyers bought the cramped three-door car.
Overview
The second Toyota RAV4 kept the fun-loving nature of the first, but brought greater comfort and practicality.
Pros
- Hugely reliable
- Fun to drive
- Very affordable
Cons
- Three-door model very impractical
- Diesel is expensive to tax
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
All the latest deals, offers and much more from the What Car? team. Don't miss out.
See our full privacy notice for more details.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
See used cars for sale
To drive, the RAV4 is a typical Toyota – light steering keeps it from being engaging, but it corners well and has good ride comfort over bumps and bad surfaces.
The engines, both petrol and diesel, will seem a little slow and noisy to those used to more modern cars, but they have the benefit of reliability and are no worse than their contemporaries.
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
What used Toyota RAV4 will I get for my budget?
While the RAV4 generally depreciates quite slowly, the earliest examples of this generation are still old enough to be in 'banger' territory, so £1,000, or even slightly less, can buy you a three-door example from 2000. You’ll pay slightly more for a five-door: £1200-£1500 for a good one from 2000 or early 2001.
advertisment
scroll for more
You won’t pay much more than that for a 2003 five-door – £1900-£2100 for a really nice one with history – but the strength of the RAV4’s residuals is really reflected in the later, 2005 models. You’ll still need to pay as much as £6000, or even £6500, for a really good, low-mileage diesel RAV4 of this age with a full service history.
How much does cost to run a Toyota RAV4?
The diesel engine, with its 39mpg official fuel economy, should by rights be the cheapest RAV4 to run, but it’s not that simple. The 2.0 D-4D has high CO2 emissions (190g/km), so you’re going to pay £270 a year for road tax.
The 1.8-litre petrol can manage only 32mpg at best, but it has CO2 emissions of 175g/km – hardly exceptional, but low enough to save you £60 a year in tax. For those doing mostly short, urban journeys it’s certainly worth considering, expecially given that you’re likely to pay more for a diesel in the first place.
advertisment
scroll for more
Servicing at Toyota main dealers shouldn’t be too expensive, but it’s worth remembering that the brakes need replacing or re-surfacing every second major service and that some parts (notably for the exhaust) have never been sent out to pattern makers, so you can only buy original Toyota-branded replacements – and these can be pricey.
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?
First off, the three-door is best avoided unless you are a singleton looking for a cheap runabout. As a family car it’s close to useless, as it only has space for two very small people in the back (and not in much comfort come to that), and a pointlessly tiny boot.
The five-door RAV4, with its extra legroom and a boot that can swallow large suitcases is a much more sensible proposition, and hence was always the more popular model when this RAV4 was on sale.
Even basic NV models came with air-conditioning, anti-lock brakes and electric front windows, but you’ll have to upgrade to a high-spec VX or XT5 model if you want leather seats, a sunroof and a CD autochanger.
advertisment
scroll for more
Our favourite used Toyota RAV4: 2.0 D-4D XT5 5dr
Tips & Advice
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
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Toyota RAV4?
The Land Rover Freelander is the most obvious rival to the RAV4, and the closest conceptually, with its three-door and five-door versions. Stylish and good to drive, it’s undone by disappointing reliability.
The Honda CR-V was into its second-generation model at this time, and while it lacks a sporty three-door version, it’s a sensible, spacious and hugely reliable choice. You could even get Honda’s excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine towards the end of the car’s life life.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is also worth considering, especially given that it can be had as either a three-door or five-door, and it’s quite similar to the RAV4 in terms of overall reliability and interior layout. It never felt as sophisticated as the RAV4, though, and is not as precise to drive.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
advertisment
scroll for more
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.
News and advice
Slideshow
Most reliable SUVs
There are plenty of SUVs to choose from, but they're not all as tough as their looks imply. We reveal the best performers from our Reliability Survey
Best of
Best SUV lease deals - the cheapest SUV deals available now
You can drive away in a stylish and practical SUV for as little as £200 with a great leasing deal. We share 10 of the best around
Fri Sep 4 2026
Feature
Toyota RAV4 reader test team: readers' verdicts on new family SUV
Toyota's long-serving family SUV has a loyal following; will the latest incarnation be as popular? Let's see what some of our readers make of it
Mon Aug 17 2026
News
New Ford Fathom is budget-friendly electric pick-up truck
Ford’s electric pick-up truck will offer more space than a RAV4 for a price you might not believe
Mon Aug 10 2026
See all latest advice