Used 2005 Toyota RAV4 Consumer Reviews
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Bestest Little SUV Ever
jerseyan, 10/17/2014
updated 08/02/2023
2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
103 of 104 people found this review helpful
After trading in a 2001 Rav4 we purchased a new 2005 Rav4 L. It has been a pleasure to own, and wish Toyota still made this style. We like the size, it has plenty of zip, not bad on gas, easy to park, and great in the snow, holds the road in the rain with the AWD. I do most of my own work and changed the wires and plugs at the 100,000-mile mark. The only maintenance was a new battery, front brakes, tires, new rear shocks, and runs like the day it left the dealer's lot. It also helps that it is garage kept. This was the top of the line when purchased, there wasn't any entertainment (other than cd/am/FM), navigation, Bluetooth, USB, climate control available when it was purchased. We don't miss it, and less chance of something going amiss. Now at 144,000 miles this is the most dependable, reliable vehicle we have ever owned. Easy to park, great highway mileage up to 29 mpg, and if it lasts to 300,000 miles my wife isn't going to part with it anytime soon. Back seat is roomy enough and with them flat or taken out if needed, it offers plenty of room for cargo. New wiper blades, changed over to synthetic oil, had an upgraded radio with the Bluetooth feature installed for hands free answering of the phone, other than that this little car runs, runs and runs. It may not win any marathons, but it has enough pep to get from point A to point B. I just replaced the halogen headlight bulbs with LED's. Replacing the drivers side bulb is easy, the passenger side not so much. But the difference in night vision was worth it. Here it is 2021 and it still runs like a top. I recently replaced the valve cover gasket due to a small oil leak. The leak is gone and at 168,000 miles this thing keeps running like the day we bought it. A great runabout for day trips, shopping, garden shops etc. Excellent parking for those tight spots. The best thing . . . no car payments since 2008. It is now August 2022, the Rav is 17 years old, I was 59 when we purchased it, going on 76. I still do all my own work. Recently changed the spark plugs, new front pads, new back pads and rotors, new serpentine belt, and synthetic oil change. With the new Kenda tires, road noise is almost non-existent, very quiet. The tire center said my shocks are still in great condition. For $300 and a few hours work, I'll throw in a new strut assembly do them myself, if and when the time comes. That is another advantage, this vehicle is very easy to work on. Not sure because of the smaller size or age of the Rav, but I have been asked more often lately if I want to sell it. It uses regular gas, gets great mileage and the best part, we still have no car payments. I see no reason to purchase a newer vehicle, the older the Rav gets, (or maybe the older I get) the more I enjoy driving it. As of February 2023, now at 171,000 miles and a recent oil change this little gem keeps on purring along. August 2023, 173,000 miles and still purrs the same as it did when it left the showroom. My wife is now gone, she always said she would keep it until the wheels fell off. That hasn't happened yet, until it does the old Rav isn't going anywhere.
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212000 and goin strong
over200000, 02/25/2012
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
43 of 43 people found this review helpful
I've been through 3 sets of front brakes 3 sets of tires, 2 water pumps and I think thats it. Just regular maintenance keep this little guy going. Oil changes every 7-10 thousand miles, radiator fluid flushed once a year, trans fluid changed every 50,000 miles. Thats about it. Just installed new struts and shocks long over due made an amazing difference in the ride. Oh I did have to have the Air Sensor thingy replaced it wasnt cheap like 350. The sensor light kept going on the dash.
Tough as nails, 150,000 and a front impact
dcayres, 08/21/2012
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
34 of 34 people found this review helpful
My Rav has 150,000 miles on her. Last October I rear-ended someone and thought she was done for. I pulled the frame back out a few inches, installed a new radiator and she's back running as strong as ever. My only complaint would be the wind noise, honestly. The clutch was replaced around 15,000 miles ago, but that's been the only mechanical issue. Regular maintenance, tires, and brakes have all been reasonably inexpensive. This is the first car I have ever kept until it was paid off. In the past, I would grow tired of issues, but not this baby. I am going to drive her until the wheels fall off.
BEST SUV EVER MADE
Linda, 01/21/2016
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
44 of 45 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2005 Rav 4 over a year ago with over 100,000 miles on it. This vehicle is a beast!! Three months after I bought it, I had a full car load of people when a DUMP TRUCK rammed into my drivers door, HEAD ON, going about 30 mph!! I am amazed that this little SUV held up the way it did!! Other than some small cuts from broken glass, everyone was okay!! Upon having the accident, my Rav 4 was left in the body shop for over a month so that some major body work could be done to it (the damages left by the dump truck were everything BUT minor). I honestly thought that my "new" ride would never be the same again...but I was wrong. Here it is over a year later and my RAV 4 is still going just as strong as ever!! Other than the accident, I have not had to put it in the shop one time!! It is now at 140,000 miles and it continues to drive just as good, if not better, than some of the brand new cars I have seen!! I LOVE MY 2005 RAV 4 (not to mention, it hardly uses any gas) !!!!
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175,200k miles and still going strong....
Halls, 10/21/2016
2005 Toyota RAV4 Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
Purchased used with 30k miles, and put 145k miles on with mostly just oil changes and brakes. At 160k, I had new sparks, throttle cleaning, brakes, and valve cover gasket replaced. I have also replaced the fluids here and there. I am amazed at how reliable this little SUV is. Never a breakdown on the road. I have never been able to put this many miles on a car. I have been test driving newer cars and so far haven't found anything that measures up. The new Honda HR-V has slow acceleration; the Jeep Renegade smelled like it had no oil in it after a test drive; the Prius V looked and sounded weird and has no space in the front seat. Even the new RAV4 seems a sluggish old bus compared to my little RAV. Wish Toyota had kept this model the same: petite and sporty.
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