Used 2021 Toyota RAV4 for Sale nearPrinceton, NJ

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 $21,957
• 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: $21,957 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 2,151 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 a significant price jump.

• Avg. market price: $22,940 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 3,640 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: $24,545 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 3,657 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 a host of modern features.

• Avg. market price: $26,583 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 5,347 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 premium.

• Avg. market price: $25,600 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 1,644 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: $27,727 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,655 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 with sporty features and all-wheel drive.

• Avg. market price: $25,892 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 636 listings
• View Adventure AWD listings

Limited AWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the most luxurious features and performance in the RAV4 lineup.

• Avg. market price: $31,763 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 1,339 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Limited AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — XLE AWD

With 5,347 active listings, the XLE AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse XLE AWD listings

Best Budget Option — LE FWD

At $21,957 avg market price — below the lineup median of $25,746 — 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 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 cost?

Prices have softened 1.21% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 4,174 listings available, which suggests you should have a reasonable number of options to compare.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 a good car?

Generally — the 2021 Toyota RAV4 earns a 4.4/5 user rating and a 7.3/10 expert rating.

The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel, Form and function, and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its reliability, comfort, fuel efficiency, spacious interior, safety features, and value for money. In use, that lines up with a compact crossover that works well as a practical family vehicle and daily driver.

The trade-offs are familiar: the performance is fairly pedestrian, and the touchscreen response is sluggish. Even so, the RAV4’s broad appeal and everyday usefulness make it easy to understand why it remains a popular choice.

Good and great deals account for 33.8% of listings, so there is still some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.4/5, 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 review also describes Toyota’s reputation for reliability as a major strength, and the powertrain is presented as a solid, efficient setup for everyday use.

ToyotaCare adds two years or 25,000 miles of free factory-scheduled maintenance and two years of roadside assistance for new-car buyers, which is a helpful ownership perk.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the core reputation and more about finding a well-kept example with the features and condition you want.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free status does not guarantee perfect condition. A pre-purchase inspection is especially useful if you are comparing higher-mileage examples or trims with more equipment. Focus on cabin condition, touchscreen behavior, and whether the vehicle has the features you expect for the price.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: Lower trims get a fairly good cabin, but material quality does not rise much with price, and the highest trims still do not get real leather.
• Powertrain: The gasoline model uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 203 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic, and standard FWD or optional AWD.
• 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.
• Fuel efficiency: Most gasoline models are rated at 30 mpg combined, with 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway for FWD, and 29 mpg combined, with 27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway for AWD.

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 do not need extra comfort or convenience features.
• XLE: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds more everyday usability without pushing you too far up the price ladder. It is the trim to target if you want a balanced mix of equipment and affordability.
• XLE Premium: This trim is the better pick if you want a more upscale feel and are willing to pay for it. It builds on the XLE formula with more polish and is a good fit if comfort matters more than keeping costs down.
• Limited: This is the most comfort- and tech-oriented mainstream trim, with the larger 8-inch touchscreen and more available convenience features. Choose it if you want the most well-equipped non-specialty RAV4.
• Adventure: This trim leans into the RAV4’s rugged styling and adds a more outdoorsy personality. It suits you if you like the tougher look and want a version that feels a little more trail-ready.
• TRD Off-Road: This is the most distinctive gasoline trim, with model-specific suspension tuning, all-terrain tires, and a front skid plate. It is the one to buy if you want the most rugged character and the strongest off-road-oriented setup in the gasoline lineup.

Higher trims also bring added safety equipment such as 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 it pays to compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 33.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,174 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.21% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 75.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $23,427, 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 $24,617 sits slightly below last year's $24,918.

That softer pricing can help you buy more confidently now, but it also suggests the market has eased a bit for future sellers. If you plan to resell later, you should expect value to depend heavily on condition, mileage, and equipment level.

The RAV4’s broad appeal and strong owner satisfaction should help support demand over time. Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.4/5, 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 five-star ratings 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 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 rating because some headlights scored poorly 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:

• 33.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.21% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.4/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It adds the TRD Off-Road and XLE Premium updates while keeping the same practical, well-rounded formula.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $23,306, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $24,617 average.
• It offers a broad mix of practical, safe, and versatile configurations.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $27,196, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $24,617 average.
• It brings a more polished look and a roomier-feeling, more mature overall package.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, safety, and broad appeal, the 2021 is the smart default. If you are especially price-sensitive, the 2020 can save you money while keeping much of the same core appeal.

How does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 compare to the 2021 Honda CR-V?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Toyota RAV4:

• Pros: Quiet cabin, Plenty of cargo space, Great safety ratings.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance, Sluggish touchscreen response.

2021 Honda CR-V:

• Pros: Plenty of cargo space, Standard advanced safety features, Excellent value for money.
• Cons: Uninspired styling, Fairly pedestrian performance.

Our experts score the 2021 Toyota RAV4 7.3/10 and the 2021 Honda CR-V 7.8/10. The RAV4 stands out more for safety and cabin quietness, while the CR-V edges ahead on overall expert score and value. Both are practical choices with similar performance drawbacks, so your decision may come down to whether you prefer the RAV4’s stronger safety reputation or the CR-V’s value-oriented appeal.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.