Used 2021 Toyota RAV4 for Sale nearKnoxville, TN

Compare 2021 Toyota RAV4 Trims in Knoxville, TN

The 2021 RAV4 offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to well-equipped models, all with impressive fuel efficiency.

• Starting at $20,720
• Best MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Most Popular: XLE FWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

LE FWD — "Who It's For"

The LE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want essential features without paying for extras. It's the most budget-friendly option in the lineup.

• Avg. market price: $20,720 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 166 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View LE FWD listings

XLE FWD — "Who It's For"

The XLE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded SUV with added comfort features without stepping up to the premium trims.

• Avg. market price: $25,068 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 274 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View XLE FWD listings

LE AWD — "Who It's For"

The LE AWD is the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive capability without a significant price increase.

• Avg. market price: $24,729 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 177 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View LE AWD listings

XLE AWD — "Who It's For"

The XLE AWD is the pick for shoppers who want sporty performance and all-wheel drive without sacrificing comfort.

• Avg. market price: $25,797 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 262 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View XLE AWD listings

XLE Premium FWD — "Who It's For"

The XLE Premium FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a blend of luxury and practicality without going for the top-tier trims.

• Avg. market price: $24,729 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 112 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View XLE Premium FWD listings

XLE Premium AWD — "Who It's For"

The XLE Premium AWD is the pick for shoppers who want premium features and all-wheel drive for enhanced performance.

• Avg. market price: $25,884 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 58 listings
• View XLE Premium AWD listings

Adventure AWD — "Who It's For"

The Adventure AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a rugged SUV with off-road capabilities without going for the highest price.

• Avg. market price: $24,729 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 48 listings
• View Adventure AWD listings

Limited AWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a fully loaded SUV with luxury features and advanced technology.

• Avg. market price: $24,729 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 77 listings
• View Limited AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — XLE FWD

With 274 active listings, the XLE FWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse XLE FWD listings

Best Budget Option — LE FWD

At $20,720 avg market price — below the lineup median of $24,729 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse LE FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — LE FWD

The LE FWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup with 28/35 MPG.

Browse LE FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 8, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 cost?

Prices have softened 1.44% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,161 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 a good car?

Generally — the 2021 Toyota RAV4 earns a 4.43/5 user rating and a 7.33/10 expert rating. The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel, Form and function, and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its reliability, comfort, and fuel efficiency, and they also highlight the spacious interior, safety features, good handling, and value for money. On the downside, some shoppers mention small display controls and a lack of certain features.

That lines up with the RAV4’s everyday-use focus: it’s aimed at buyers who want a practical compact crossover with broad appeal rather than the most exciting driving experience. The market also looks reasonably supportive, with 37.4% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.43/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to reliability, dependability, and a trouble-free ownership experience, along with comfort and efficiency. The expert evaluation also emphasizes Toyota’s reputation for reliability and describes the RAV4 as a solid performer in the categories that matter most to mainstream buyers.

ToyotaCare adds two years or 25,000 miles of free factory-scheduled maintenance, which helps reduce early ownership costs. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is making sure the specific vehicle was maintained well and hasn’t been worn down by heavy use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Toyota RAV4?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 76% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a vehicle history report on any candidate, even if the listing looks clean. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection so you can check for wear, uneven tire condition, brake life, and signs of hard use. Focus on cabin condition and infotainment operation too, since some owners mention small display controls and missing features.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The gasoline RAV4 lineup includes rugged styling differences, and the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims add orange or red interior accents, dark gray exterior trim, LED fog lights, matte black wheels, and a front skid plate. Lower trims are more straightforward, and material quality is fairly good there, but it does not rise much with price at the top end.
• Powertrain: The gasoline model uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive is optional, and the engine is tuned more for efficiency than excitement.
• Safety package: Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trims add blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist.
• Infotainment: Most trims get a 7-inch touchscreen, while Limited models get an 8-inch screen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM are standard, and up to five USB ports are available.
• Fuel efficiency: Most gasoline models are rated at 30 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 29 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. The LE with AWD is rated at 30 mpg combined, and the TRD Off-Road is rated at 28 mpg combined.

Which 2021 Toyota RAV4 trim should I buy?

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is offered in 6 trim levels: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Limited, Adventure, and TRD Off-Road.

Here's the short version:

• LE: This is the value-focused starting point, and it gives you the core RAV4 experience with standard safety tech, smartphone integration, and the efficient 2.5-liter engine. It makes the most sense if you want the lowest entry price and don’t need extra comfort or appearance upgrades.
• XLE: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds a more polished everyday feel without pushing you into the highest price brackets. If you want a balanced mix of equipment and affordability, this is the trim to target first.
• XLE Premium: This trim is for you if you want a more upscale cabin and a step up in presentation without going all the way to the top. It’s a good middle ground if comfort and appearance matter more than absolute price.
• Limited: This is the most comfort- and convenience-oriented choice in the mainstream lineup, with the larger 8-inch touchscreen and the most upscale feel among the standard trims. Buy this if you want the most polished non-off-road RAV4.
• Adventure: This trim leans into the RAV4’s rugged styling and adds distinctive exterior and interior touches. It suits you if you want the tougher look and a more outdoorsy vibe.
• TRD Off-Road: This is the one to choose if you want the most specialized version of the gasoline RAV4, with TRD suspension tuning, all-terrain tires, a skid plate, and extra off-road-oriented hardware. It’s the clear pick for buyers who want the most capability-focused setup.

Higher trims add blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Toyota RAV4?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory to shop carefully and enough deal activity to make comparison worthwhile.

• Deal availability: 37.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,161 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.44% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 76.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $23,425, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Toyota RAV4's resale value?

The current average of $24,760 sits slightly below last year's $25,123.

That modest decline suggests the market has cooled a bit, which can help you as a buyer today but may slightly temper future resale upside if prices keep easing. Even so, the RAV4’s broad appeal and strong reputation should help it stay in demand. If you maintain it well and keep mileage reasonable, you should still have a solid audience when it’s time to sell.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.43/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 safe?

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, with Good scores in all crash tests, and it earns a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with four-star ratings in frontal crash and rollover, and five-star ratings in side crash tests.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard, and it includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trims add blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist.

The main caveat is that the RAV4 missed the highest IIHS honor because some headlights received weaker scores on certain trim levels.

Should I buy a 2021 Toyota RAV4 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 37.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 76% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.44% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.43/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 adds the TRD Off-Road and XLE Premium updates while keeping the lineup broad and practical.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $23,505, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $24,760 average.
• It offers a wide range of configurations with a strong mix of comfort, practicality, and safety.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $27,341, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $24,760 average.
• It brings a more mature feel with a roomy, flexible interior and a polished, practical design.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, inventory, and feature breadth, the 2021 is the smart default. If your budget is tighter, the 2020 can save you money while still delivering the core RAV4 formula. If you’re willing to pay more for a newer-feeling example, the 2022 is the step-up choice.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.