The 2016 RAV4 is a versatile compact SUV that is perfectly capable in the city, on the highway, and off-road. It won’t tow heavy weight or wow at the quarter-mile, but it can handle any terrain, and pass and merge with ease. Plus, it averages less than $450 in annual maintenance costs.
Key Points
- The 2016 Toyota RAV4‘s greatest strength lies in its adaptability. Neither an underpowered city car nor a bulky off-roader but a true Jack of All Trades, the SUV packs 172 lb.-ft. of torque and 176 horsepower into a 3,500-pound compact.
- Averaging 23/30 miles to the gallon, city/highway, the RAV4’s 15.9-gallon tank should be more than enough to get you where you’re going without breaking the bank.
- Like any vehicle, the 2016 RAV4 has its issues, with the most concerning being a potential battery fire. But complaints are few, and engine complaints are even fewer.
- Expect a lifespan of 200,000 to 250,000 miles with proper maintenance, and don’t be surprised to see your odometer top 300,000. The RAV4’s 2.5L DOHC i4 engine is nothing if not reliable.
A Fuel-efficient Daily Driver Powered by a Capable 2.5L Inline-four
The Toyota RAV4 is designed to be a headache-free all-arounder. Neither the best city SUV nor the best off-roader, but capable enough no matter where you’re headed. In that spirit, trim lists are usually pretty short, features are fairly basic, and you don’t have half a dozen engine options to pick from. For the 2016, in fact, there’s just the one: a 2.5L DOHC i4.
This engine is the very definition of “middle of the road.” At 172 lb.-ft. of torque and 176 horsepower, it may not be a mudding machine, but it’s got enough get up and go to handle highways, steep hills, and rough weather.
As Kelley Blue Book put it in their review, “It may not be a practical powerhouse like the Ford Escape or Kia Sportage, but never did we find ourselves yearning for additional power during passing and merging situations.”
Toyota claims an average fuel economy of 23/30 miles to the gallon, city/highway. EPA testing backs those numbers up within a half-mile or so per gallon.
No matter your trim level, the RAV4 comes equipped with a front-wheel/all-wheel-drive configuration with a six-speed automatic transmission. Towing capacity tops out at 1,500 pounds, payload capacity at 900, and you’re getting a 15.9-gallon fuel tank.
So, overall, it’s about what you expect from a RAV4. Nothing to write home about, but not much to complain about, either. Just a solid, hassle-free trooper.
NHTSA Engine Complaints are Few, but Watch Out for Battery Fires
The car has been recalled twice, once for an incorrect label, and once for a damaged component in the braking system. Nothing to do with the engine in either event.
Making up dozens of the SUV’s 169 complaints and resulting in an NHTSA investigation, the RAV4’s biggest concern is a potential fire hazard under the hood.
This may look like an engine problem on the surface, but it actually has to do with the RAV4’s 12v battery. If it’s improperly installed or if you’ve suffered a front-end collision, it’s liable to overheat and catch fire.
If this happens to you, it can be just as scary as it sounds. But thankfully, it’s just a wiring issue, which tends to be cheaper to fix than a deeper mechanical issue in the engine itself.
Of course, this isn’t to say that drivers have not experienced any issues with the engine itself. But these complaints are too scarce ascertain any sort of pattern among them.
For instance, a California driver may report that the “engine stalls for a few seconds on hills,” while a driver in New York complains that “the engine shut down” while stopped at a red light. There are only 15 engine complaints on file with the NHTSA, and most of those complaints point to the battery fire issue or problems with the transmission.
2016 Model is Just as Reliable and Low-maintenance as You’d Expect a RAV4 to Be
The Toyota RAV4 has a proven track record for being one of the most reliable SUVs in its size class. Repair Pal rates it at four stars out of five, placing it in third place out of 26 compact SUVs, and estimating an annual repair bill in the area of $429. And it’s safe, too, earning the highest possible honor from the IIHS, the Top Safety Pick+ award, plus a perfect five-star crash rating with the NHTSA.
With proper care, you should expect a RAV4 to last up to a quarter-million miles with the original engine and transmission, but they’ve been known to top 300,000 on the odometer with no major repairs. If you know how to take care of your wheels, there’s no reason you can’t join the High Mileage Club in a 2016 RAV4.
There are more powerful and more efficient engines out there, but the 2016 RAV4 delivers what you should expect from the nameplate: a reliable all-arounder that can handle hills, highways, and hailstorms with ease.
Photos: Toyota
