Used 2021 Toyota RAV4 for Sale nearNew Lenox, IL

Compare 2021 Toyota RAV4 Trims

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

• Starting at $22,107
• Best MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Most Popular: XLE AWD

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 a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $22,107 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 2,044 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 features without a significant price jump.

• Avg. market price: $23,226 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 3,659 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 breaking the bank.

• Avg. market price: $24,751 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 3,248 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 a sporty SUV with all-wheel drive and modern features.

• Avg. market price: $27,023 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 5,189 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 touch of luxury without the AWD price tag.

• Avg. market price: $26,253 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 1,513 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 combined with all-wheel drive capability.

• Avg. market price: $28,004 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,489 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View XLE Premium AWD listings

Adventure AWD — "Who It's For"

The Adventure AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a rugged SUV ready for outdoor adventures without a hefty price.

• Avg. market price: $25,734 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 664 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 all-wheel drive.

• Avg. market price: $31,971 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,234 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Limited AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — XLE AWD

With 5,189 active listings, the XLE AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse XLE AWD listings

Best Budget Option — LE FWD

At $22,107 avg market price — below the lineup median of $25,993 — 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/MPGe.

Browse LE FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 24, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 cost?

Prices have softened 1.40% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,073 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of used RAV4s to compare.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 a good car?

Generally — the 2021 Toyota RAV4 earns 4.43/5 from owners and 7.33/10 from our experts. The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel, Form and function, and Safety.

Owners repeatedly praise its reliability, comfort, fuel efficiency, spacious interior, safety features, good handling, and value for money. In everyday use, that lines up with the RAV4’s quiet cabin, plenty of cargo space, and broad appeal as a practical compact crossover.

The trade-offs are familiar: fairly pedestrian performance and sluggish touchscreen response. That means you should expect a well-rounded family vehicle rather than a standout for driving excitement or tech polish.

With 35.2% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 reliable?

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

The owner feedback points to reliability, comfort, and a trouble-free ownership experience, while also highlighting the RAV4’s value for money. That kind of praise matters because it suggests the vehicle is one many drivers feel confident keeping for the long haul.

The expert review also emphasizes Toyota’s legendary reputation for reliability, and the gasoline model’s straightforward 2.5-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic setup should be easy to live with. ToyotaCare adds two years or 25,000 miles of free factory-scheduled maintenance, which helps early ownership costs.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about mechanical drama and more about finding a well-kept example that hasn’t been worn down by heavy family use.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on every candidate, because accident-free status is only a starting point. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection if you’re looking at a higher-mileage example or one with visible wear. Focus on cabin condition, touchscreen responsiveness, tire wear, and signs that the vehicle was used hard.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The gasoline Adventure model adds an Ice Edge roof, orange interior accents, and a more rugged look, while the TRD Off-Road adds matte black 18-inch wheels, standard LED fog lights, dark gray exterior trim, red interior accents, and a front skid plate. Lower trims have fairly good material quality, but the highest trims do not feel dramatically more upscale, and even the range-topping Limited does not get real leather.
• 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. You get standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, and the engine is efficient for the class, with Toyota citing 40% thermal efficiency.
• Safety package: Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard and 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. Standard smartphone integration includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the system also supports Amazon Alexa compatibility and SiriusXM satellite radio. Wireless phone integration and over-the-air updates are not mentioned.
• 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 play if you want the RAV4’s core strengths without paying for extras. You still get the standard safety suite, smartphone connectivity, and the efficient 2.5-liter engine, making it the best fit for shoppers who care more about practicality than premium touches.
• XLE: This is the trim to consider if you want a more balanced daily driver with a bit more equipment than the LE. It should suit you if you want a sensible step up without chasing the highest-priced versions.
• XLE Premium: This is the best-value upgrade if you want a nicer-feeling cabin and more upscale presentation without going all the way to Limited. It’s the trim most likely to make sense if you want comfort and appearance improvements while staying relatively rational on price.
• Limited: This is the trim for you if you want the most polished mainstream RAV4 experience, including the larger 8-inch touchscreen. It’s the right choice if you want the most features and are willing to pay for them.
• Adventure: Choose this if you want the more rugged styling and the added off-road-oriented appearance and hardware touches. It suits buyers who like the tougher look and want the extra distinction.
• TRD Off-Road: This is the one to buy if you want the most capability-focused gasoline RAV4. It adds model-specific suspension tuning, all-terrain tires, a skid plate, and the strongest off-road flavor in the lineup.

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, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 35.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,073 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.40% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 75.9% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $23,438, 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 $24,947 sits slightly below last year's $25,300.

That mild decline suggests the RAV4 is holding value reasonably well, but not aggressively appreciating. For a future seller, that means you should expect steady demand rather than a big upside from short-term appreciation.

The current pricing trend also shows that buyers have some leverage, which can cap resale gains if you buy too high today. On the other hand, the RAV4’s broad appeal, strong owner satisfaction, and reputation for reliability should help it remain easy to move 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 and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with four-star ratings in frontal and rollover crash tests 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. That gives you a strong baseline of driver assistance right from the start.

Higher trims add blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist. The RAV4 missed the highest IIHS rating because some headlights on certain trim levels received weaker scores, so trim choice matters if you want the best safety package.

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:

• 35.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.40% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.43/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It adds the RAV4 Prime to the lineup and keeps the gasoline model’s broad trim and powertrain variety.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $23,547, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $24,947 average.
• It offers practical, safe transportation with a wide range of configurations.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $27,490, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $24,947 average.
• It brings a more mature feel with a roomy, flexible interior and efficient powertrains.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the right pick if you want the strongest mix of safety, owner satisfaction, and market availability in this price band. If you’re more price-sensitive, the 2020 can save you money while still delivering the RAV4 formula, but the 2021 is the better all-around target if you can find a clean, fairly priced example.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.