Sign in | Register | My account |

1997 Toyota RAV4 User Reviews

1997 Toyota RAV4 Review Ratings

  • Review your car

Average Ratings from 11 reviews

  • Performance:3.3 out of 5 stars3.3 out of 5 stars3.3 out of 5 stars3.3 out of 5 stars3.3 out of 5 stars 3.3 / 5
  • Appearance:3.8 out of 5 stars3.8 out of 5 stars3.8 out of 5 stars3.8 out of 5 stars3.8 out of 5 stars 3.8 / 5
  • Build Quality:4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars 4 / 5
  • Overall:4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars4 out of 5 stars 4 / 5

Review Highlights Click to filter reviews below

PROS
"fuel economy" 6 reviews
"ride" 4 reviews
"power" 3 reviews
"space" 2 reviews
"reliable car" 2 reviews
"interior" 2 reviews
"big space" 2 reviews

User Reviews

Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews 12 Next
sfgirl63 writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Door AWD Review
Back Seats:
Cargo Capacity:
Family Car:
Fuel Economy:
Front Seats:
Handling:
Maintenance Cost:
Parking:
Price:
Power:
Reliability:
Looks/Style:
Overall:

Pros

I LOVED this car!!  She was so fun to drive, had lots of space, and was easy to maintain.  I  never had any major problems, short of what came with age and high miles (I sold her at 180k).  I have a 2005 Rav4 now, which I also love.  But I gotta tell ya, I miss the 97 body style and I miss the 4WD.  I love Rav4's overall, and will probably always own one.  

Cons

Pick up on inclines is not so great, but it has never bothered me much.  

sfgirl63
55

Great, Reliable Car!! — I was happy with this car since day one! I had researched Rav4's before purchasing a 97 in 1999. She was always reliable, safe, and without any major issues until she was older, which is why I ended up selling her. Best of all, she was SO fun to drive. I would purchase another RAV4 again, in a heartbeat! And I did in Jan 2012 (this review has been edited since original post)! I researched again, and bought a 2005, which I also love. Rav4's are just great overall!

Primary Use: Commuting to work

2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Is this helpful? Yes | No
RAV4
Looking for a Used RAV4 in your area?
CarGurus has 26,676 nationwide RAV4 listings starting at $3,300.
ZIP:
DANIELly writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 2 Door AWD Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

The navigation to peak to peak

Cons

always check on the CV boots time to time

DANIELly
35

The Rav4 Is Less Expensive But It's Very Reliable Compare To Other Suv's — My RAV4 is awesome, compared to a 4 door. The unique space for 2 persons than have to much room. The exciment with just going to a peak in San Francisco and Utah are the best equiped machine, that anyone would love. I love my RAV4. It's awesome.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Is this helpful? Yes | No
Clif writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Door AWD Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

Was a nice SUV

Cons

Sold it

45

1997 Toyota Rav4 — Great Cute Suv from Toyota. 1st Generation was the smallest and still very popular. A very solid vehicle.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Is this helpful? Yes | No
Della1949 writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Door AWD Review
Back Seats:
Cargo Capacity:
Family Car:
Fuel Economy:
Front Seats:
Handling:
Maintenance Cost:
Price:
Power:
Reliability:
Overall:

Pros

great runner, four wheel drive, interior excellent, engine good shape, transmission great, maintain annually

Cons

few scratches, wheel coloring fading

Della1949
25

Great Car — I am most pleased with this car...little trouble, always started in winter in Wisconsin...maintain excellent, oil changed every 2500 miles, excellent brakes, good transmission, air condition...excellent tires, wheel alignment, great gas mileage, brakes new, ball joints replaced, exhaust system replaced, the car accelerate fastly...safe driving car, comfortable ride...this is a great fun car to drive.

Primary Use: Family transportation

Is this review helpful? Yes | No
Ebrahim writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 2 Door Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

mileage

Cons

interior

45

Buy It If You Don't Care About What People Would Say About It — Good performance and relaible accelerates moderatly but good pickup..not that build quility but you will only take it to a garage once in two to three years..intrior is rabish but if paint it it looks like a new car..it is fun in little rocky area also in desert...

Primary Use: Family transportation

Is this review helpful? Yes | No
Karl writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

its the best

Cons

no reason at all

25

Its The Best — its quite unique .never given any trouble,really smooth while driving well quite a good car. handling, breaking n acceleration are quite decent.interior is the best as well as the exterior which is quite a unique colour n i love it.......

Primary Use: Family transportation

Is this review helpful? Yes | No
Danny writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Door AWD Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

good on gas

Cons

none

25

The Best Small Suv — i like almost everything i wish it seated more ppl and the trunk was bigger this way i could have more people in the truck and i would have more room to lug things in the back with all the people in there as well

Primary Use: Commuting to work

Is this review helpful? Yes | No
Kym writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

Interior space for stuff, few maintenence issues , decent gas mileage

Cons

rough ride, road noise

25

1997 Toyota Rav4 — There isn't much I can say about my car, it gets me from point A to point B. I haven't had many maintenance issues with my car despite its age. We've used the car several times to move and I must say we've managed to haul a lot of stuff. The ride is a bit rough, as to be expected from an SUV, its especially bumpy and rather cramped in the rear seat.

Is this review helpful? Yes | No
Tom3536 writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Door AWD Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

fun, able to take harsh weather conditions

Cons

slow acceleration, loud

25

Rav4 — engine is way to small for a car of that size, slow acceleration, can handle any type of weather, decent on gas, a little noisy to drive on the thruway, a bit over 3k rpm going 65 mph in overdrive, so not really good for long trips, stock sound system sucks, but w/e

Is this review helpful? Yes | No
Joe writes:
1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Door Review
Appearance:
Performance:
Quality:
Overall:

Pros

Sharp looking and very dependable suv

Cons

A little small.

35

Sharp And Dependable — My wife loves this car because it looks good. I lke it because its a Toyota. I don't worry about it breaking down on her. This car replaced another 1997 RAV4 that she had that was totalled in a head on collision that she walked away from. We ended up buying the exact car, even down to the color all over again.

Is this review helpful? Yes | No
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews 12 Next
Review your car

Similar Cars Compared to a 1997 Toyota RAV4

1997 Toyota RAV4 1997 Honda CR-V 1997 Toyota Camry
1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Door, 1997 Toyota RAV4 4 Dr STD SUV picture, exterior
Picture of 1997 Honda CR-V LX AWD, exterior
1997 Toyota Camry LE, Picture of 1997 Toyota Camry 4 Dr LE Sedan, exterior
Cost $4,492 Average Instant Market Value $4,848 Average Instant Market Value $4,524 Average Instant Market Value
Gas Mileage (highway) 26 23 29
Horsepower 120 126 133
Crash Test Rating 3 4
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) 9.3 29.6 14.1
Front Leg Room (inches) 39.5 41.5 43.5

Reviews From Other Years

2012 Toyota RAV4 Reviews

Amazing !!!! By Anonymous10027

The first time I purchased this vehicle, I need a big car where I can put my kids stuff or our stuff when we go on a long trips and this car can fit everything we need and especially the little compar... Read More

Read all 2012 Toyota RAV4 reviews

2011 Toyota RAV4 Reviews

Excellent, Versatile, Fun, Powerful, And Efficient Passenger And Stuff Pod By fisheral

So many things about this car put it in the top 5 of the 30-something vehicles I have owned. Acceleration and fuel economy are both excellent for an AWD sport ute with the carrying and towing capacit... Read More

Read all 2011 Toyota RAV4 reviews

2010 Toyota RAV4 Reviews

Fun And Reliable Little Truck By Mario

As I mentioned, the best part about the car is that its fun to drive and very reliable. The only real downside so far has been the relatively poor gas mileage. I assumed that a car like this would hav... Read More

Nothing! By midnightartist10

Thisis the second Toyota Rav4 I have owned. The first was a 1996 and was fantastic. The same goes for this model. This is a smaller SUV/truck and gets fantastic gas mileage, averaging 26 city and 30 h... Read More

Read all 3 2010 Toyota RAV4 reviews

2009 Toyota RAV4 Reviews

Great Car For The Money And As An Entry Level Suv. By rwebb

The acceleration of this car with a V6 is great. The transmission shifts smoothly and ride is a bit stiffer than the two wheel drive version. The car handles very well and brakes are excellent. The... Read More

Awesome Ride By Chicco

The V6 has great acceleration and fine handling. Everything is simply great about this car especially value for money... if it wasn't for the plastic parts in the interior it would have passed as a L... Read More

Read all 8 2009 Toyota RAV4 reviews

2008 Toyota RAV4 Reviews

Would Definitely Buy This Again - For My Wife. By Joe

I got the Ultra-Loaded Rav4, complete with keyless entry, push-button ignition, leather interior, heated front seats, sunroof, you name it. Surprising array of features on an entry-level small SUV.... Read More

Love My Rav4 By Tommyram

I did a lot of research up front before buying my first RAV4 with the new body style (which changed in 2006) I liked my 06 so much I traded it in for this 08. I work in the computer service industry a... Read More

Read all 19 2008 Toyota RAV4 reviews
Ask CarGurus about the 1997 Toyota RAV4
OR
Average response time: 8.5 hours, # of Toyota RAV4 owners:1,874
RAV4
Looking for a Used RAV4 in your area?
CarGurus has 26,676 nationwide RAV4 listings starting at $3,300.
ZIP: