The Toyota RAV4 is a good small SUV if you have a small family with one to two children. It runs well when taken care of and is pretty spacious in the back. We have had some issues and things we have had to replace within six months of receiving the vehicle. I don't think this displays how well the car is made, but the previous people didn't take care of it well.

The 2013 RAV4 uses a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive remains standard, but Toyota now offers a choice of all-wheel-drive systems, dependent on trim. The Adventure model we drove was equipped with an all-wheel-drive system that can disconnect the rear axle when needed to improve fuel economy. At our test track, the RAV4 proved to be quicker than its predecessor: We recorded a 60-mph time of 8.0 seconds with the 2013 model and 8.3 seconds with the 2013. The dutiful four-cylinder can be noisy, especially during highway-passing attempts, and the transmission on our test vehicle seemed to stumble when called upon for a downshift. The RAV4 Hybrid—reviewed separately—snapped off an even quicker 7.4-second 60-mph time in our hands. The RAV4 feels solid and stable when cruising the interstate and holds its own when pitched into a twisty section of road, but it doesn't inspire the same confidence as our segment favorite, the Mazda CX-5.