2005 Toyota RAV4 Consumer Reviews
Fuel Economy
21 - 23 mpg
Recent Consumer Reviews
(110 Total Reviews)
Break Failure
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 7 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 8 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
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!
Favorite Features
Love everything but the REAR BREAKS!!
Suggested Improvements
FIX THE REAR BREAKS!!
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
"Almost" Perfect....
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 5 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 4 | Exterior Design: | 6 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
Not very comfortable for driver on long drives. Vehicle is listed at 21mpg city and 28mpg highway. After the first year my mpg went down to 18 city and 25 highway. I can barely get 280 miles from a tank of gas in the city. Dealership says nothing wrong. (dealerships are all rip-offs) Exhaust has a rattle at low rpm's. Other than that, I love this car. After 3.5 years and 37000 miles, it has needed NO repairs other than scheduled maintenance. The most reliable car I've ever owned.
Favorite Features
Handles like a sports car, ULTRA reliable, looks great.
Suggested Improvements
Better gas mileage, lower drivers seat for more comfort.
6 out 6 people found this review helpful
4 yr. review
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I bought my Rav4 in Feb 2005. its my commuter car. It's trouble free so far after 45000 miles. Manual tranny is great. I still get 25 mpg in Minnesota winters and around 28 MPG in summer. I take a seat out in summer and can put 2 road bikes easy. This vehicle has to be top 5 reliable fun to drive on consumer reports.
Favorite Features
Just plain efficient and reliable.
Suggested Improvements
None. Toyota actually messed up the little spunky character by making it big and stopped manual tranny.
3 out 3 people found this review helpful
Fun to Drive
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I'd never heard of a RAV4 until my son showed me a photo the night before we went car shopping. It was love at first sight! We drove several small SUVs, but the RAV4 was by far the most fun to drive. It is zippy and handles great. I've enjoyed 65000 trouble-free miles. The ride is quite firm, but makes the driver feel like one with the road.
Favorite Features
Fun to drive; great looking.
Suggested Improvements
Rear passengers need a smoother ride; better gas mileage; larger tank.
4 out 5 people found this review helpful
Good car until it rolled
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 4 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I really enjoyed this little SUV, it had over 40,000 trouble-free miles. Never thought it would "roll" easily. My daughter - good driver - in her 20s, no previous accidents - was going about 20 mph and hit the back of a black parked car on a very dark street. The Rav basically tipped over - it ended up on its side almost even w/the car it hit. Paramedics and police at the scene said, yes, SUVs do that. I've heard of larger SUVs rolling but I thought you'd have to be traveling much faster. No airbags went off because she wasn't going fast enough. Thank goodness only minor injuries. Be careful in any SUV, even the great little RAV. Hopefully this was a fluke of an accident.
Favorite Features
Fun to drive, nice steering, reliable, versatile.
Suggested Improvements
Better mpg. And the rollover problem.
8 out 14 people found this review helpful
3 yr. review on 05 Rav4
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I just had third birthday for my 05 Rav4. With new Michelin LTX tires this car drives well in Minnesota. So far no issues. I am still getting 26 to 27 MPG in mixed driving. I have got 34000 trouble free miles. I like this body style than the new one. It's much slicker and compact.
Favorite Features
Styling, gas mileage, reliability.
Suggested Improvements
None.
9 out 9 people found this review helpful
My Dream Car
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 10 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I love my RAV4. This car is great to drive and I love its safety rating. I find it to be very roomy and I am able to haul large items easily with the seats folded down. I like the gas mileage I get when I fill up also. It is easy to park, easy to handle and has get up and go when I need to accelerate. I am glad I got the 2005 RAV because I like the style and lines of the car compared to the 2006 model which is little bigger. I would recommend this car to anyone.
Favorite Features
The color, everglade green is unique and the dashboard is very stylish.
Suggested Improvements
The only drawback and it is something I can live with is the rear door. It doesn't open up, it opens to the side and it sometimes is a problem taking groceries from the back and having to walk around the door.
14 out 14 people found this review helpful
Awesome Ride
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 10 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I just got this used with 6,612 miles on it. It has the security alarm and L package along with roofrack and moonroof. I love its handling and how easy it is to drive and park, though it looks much bigger than it actually is. I would highly recommend looking at one of these SUVs. The RAV4 is awesome with storage and room as well. The seats can recline, move back or forward or be taken out completely in the rear.
Favorite Features
Seats that can be removed, rear door access, and steering wheel controls for the radio. Alarm, moonroof.
Suggested Improvements
13 out 13 people found this review helpful
We RAV Toyota
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
My wife and I drove no car but Toyotas in last 30 years. RAV4 AWD is another great hit. Traction is so good that we no longer shovel snow on the drive way. Acceleration is remarkable given the size of the engine. Antilock brake is so effective on all road conditions, shine or rain.
Favorite Features
Adjustable cup holder.
Suggested Improvements
Flat tire warning light too sensitive to be useful. Heated seat should heat back as well as bottom.
3 out 3 people found this review helpful
Disturbing chirping noise
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 6 | Build Quality: | 5 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
Review
All that I can say is that I love the performance of my 2005 RAV4 except for the disturbing "chirping" noise that consistently occurs when going over mild bumps in the road. It is very annoying and the dealership cannot resolve the problem after making 5 service appointments. The noise seems to be coming from where the lower part of the windshield meets the cal panel. I'm not sure I spelled that correctly. Anyway, this problem ruins the entire fun of driving this vehicle. Sorry, I can't recommend a RAV4 to anyone. ... disappointed buyer.
Favorite Features
Plenty acceleration, comfortable seating, plenty of headroom, feels safe, good brakes.
Suggested Improvements
Fix the squeaks/chirps from the back part of the dash. Poor attention to detail.
7 out 10 people found this review helpful
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