2003 Toyota RAV4 Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

22 -25 City / 27 -31 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

148

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Yolanda P

Four wheel drive and great on gas.

My car is low mileage and easy to maintain. . It roomy it sits 5 and the cargo space is just fine for me. I have taken very heavy loads including camping equipment. And the gas is also perfect. $40 gives me a full tank. Easy to find parking. It runs really good. It struggles a bit going up hill but its a champ. I really never had to invest a lot of money to maintain it. As long as you keep up the basic tune up and rotate the tires and do the brakes. . This has been the best car ever for me.

Jo s

It's very dependable and reliable.

My Rav4 is very dependable. I haven't had any major problems with it. Most the repairs have been due to wear and tear be over time.

Kelli H

Amazing little RAV4 lady.

Most reliable vehicle I have owned. Great gas mileage, drives so good in the deep snow, it is front wheel drive, comfortable to drive and take trips. Love the back hatch, can actually put small pieces of furniture in there. We are a family of Toyota’s, my husband is a mechanic and has found they are one of the most reliable vehicles built.

Beverly F

It is dependable and is a comfortable ride.

Solid ride, quiet, ac and heat are quick, good gas mileage. Easy to drive/handle. The normal lifespan in miles driven is over 150,000 miles.

Heidi R

My car is reliable and can handle many different road conditions. Even though it isn't a 4 wheel drive, we can still take it off road.

I love my vehicle but do have a few complaints. The first is fuel efficiency. I would like the car to be more economical and environmentally friendly. I would also like a cup holder on the inside of the door.

Karla B

It handles well in rough weather both snow or flooding.

We like it because of its ability to carry awkward loads like wheelchairs and a service dog. ; however it is hard to carry both at the same time. This will be a major consideration when we look for our next car. It handles well on the road even in difficult weather. It is not too low to the ground for rough Ohio weather either.

Jocelyn S

It's a keeper. I would not trade it. It is safe and reliable.

I would like a new stereo. But aside from the fact that it's a little old. I love it.

Rodney M

Nice room comfortable for long road trips especially if you are overnighting.

It reliable, runs good a bit high on mileage no major mechanical issues, easy to maintain and parts are easy to find. Also runs good on roads in the winter snow etc, air condition and heat give no issues, great leg room in the back and plenty of space in the trunk.

Negative Owner Reviews

Nate M

It's old and very hard to drive because of a bad suspension.

The Toyota RAV4 is a good vehicle just not mine because of how old it is! Water damage has it rusted out but I wouldn't mind having a newer version of the RAV4.

Carlos G

Saves gas lasts and fits everywhere.

There are not really problems with it is just I need pick up and haven't had the time or money to buy it but fav 4 are very good for a small family saves on gas and very reliable.

Maria G

It gets you from point A to point B.

I bought it from a private owned dealership and it was in really good cosmetic condition. Dealer told me transmission was rebuilt but it felt and sounded good. He told me it had a one year warranty and that if there was ever an issue, I can take it to their mechanic. I drove it around for a good amount of time so I decided to take it home. About 3 months in, the transmission became faulty. It became really loud and started vibrating too much. So I took the car in to the mechanic around march 2017– didn't get my car back until July 2017. Really wasted time and the mechanic didn't want to give my car back because there was still work needed. The car sounds the same and keeps vibrating a lot. It gets me to point A to point B. I upgraded the radio to a new one and works just fine. It is comfortable for sure. Really spacey.

Cathleen F

It will get you from point a to b and it's is a economical vehicle

I like that it's fuel efficient. It's used so it has some problems.

Judy S

Long lasting Toyota. These cars tend to last a long time.

It is a reliable car. Toyota's have great reputations for lasting a long time. The ride is rough in the rave. I have people complain all of the time that it is not a smooth ride. The mileage is great. I would buy one again.

David D

My trustworthy navy blue rav 4.

The car is very comfortable and is a good size. The seats have cloth and are not hard. It does not have a lot of horsepower nor does it accelerate very fast. It burns up gas fairly quickly, and has a decent size tank of 12 gallons. However, it is very reliable, as it made a 500+ mile drive from GA to la. It performs well, and gets me from point A to point B.

Leah R

The adventures of pippin the rust-bucket

This car gets me where I need to go. I LOVE Toyotas in general but this one is old and has so many miles on it, it's no longer my baby and now, just a rust bucket that mostly works.

Allison D

It's durable/ long-lasting. It has over 175,000 miles on it and just keeps going.

I like the size of my car and that it is good in the snow. I don't like that it's about 15 years old. I would like to buy a new one, but I can likely get 200,000 miles out of mine.

Toyota RAV4 Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

4dr Manual

148 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats

4dr Auto

148 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats

4dr Manual 4WD

148 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats

4dr Auto 4WD

148 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2003 Toyota RAV4 Owner Reviews

4.23

66 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

47%

4 stars

35%

3 stars

14%

2 stars

1 star

Linda T on February 1, 2021

Toyota rav4: reliable & sporty.

What I love most about my Toyota rav4 is its reliability. I know it will start up every day, and perform at a high level. I enjoy how it looks. It has a sporty but rugged look about it. On the downside, it can be kind of loud overall. But it is comfortable, had plenty of space, and gets me everywhere I want to go.

Qani on January 19, 2021

It has a great driving experience, reliable and big cargo space.

I love my 2003 Toyota Rav4, w/ Gasoline & LPG. I'd recommend it.

View All Reviews (66)

Ranks #5 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2003 Toyota RAV4 has an average owner rating of 4.34 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 15 other Compact SUVs.

Tie

2003 Audi allroad

4.5

Tie

2003 Toyota Matrix

4.5

2003 Toyota RAV4

4.23

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Toyota RAV4 has a combined MPG of 31 which ranks it #1 of 15 other Compact SUVs.

Tie

2003 Toyota RAV4

31 MPG

Tie

2003 Toyota Matrix

31 MPG

2003 Ford Escape

28 MPG

Is The 2003 Toyota RAV4 A Good Car?

Better than good. It is outstanding. I have had mine for 16 yrs and it still purrs like a kitten. I would get another one in a minute.

Maya W.

Yes! It’s held on a long time and still drives great in all kinds of weather. Only minor repairs needed and it still gets good mileage

Justin B.

How Reliable Is The 2003 Toyota RAV4?

Absolutely reliable. About ten years ago I had some type of motor problem that got fixed in a jiffy. No problems since then. It is now 16 years old and I totally trust it to behave itself.

Pete M.

It is reliable! I live far away from school and it has made the long trip many times with only minor issues. I never have to worry about anything going wrong which is so nice

David C.

Is The 2003 Toyota RAV4 A Good Value?

I bought the car used for a good price but considering how long and well the car has held up over the years I would say it is an excellent value.

Marissa T.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the recommended power steering fluid for the 2003 RAV4?

Answer: Your Toyota RAV4 for model year 2003 is going to take conventional Dexron III / Mercon 1 transmission fluid. This runs about $6 a quart at Your local automotive stores. That's not a typo, by the way: You use...

2003 Toyota RAV4: What is the towing capacity including torque, payload, and tongue weight?

Answer: The towing capacity for the 2003 Toyota RAV4 is only 1,500Lbs, which is the amount of weight that can be pulled behind the vehicle. It has a torque of 142 lb-ft, which is the amount of turning power that a...

2003 Toyota RAV4: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The size of the tires on the 2003 Toyota RAV4 is 195/80R16 for the EV and 215/70R16 and 235/60R16 for the 2wd and the 4wd. The recommended tire pressure for the tires is 29 psi for both the front and the rear...

2003 Toyota RAV4: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2003 Toyota RAV4 oil type and capacity iS5W-30 and 4.4 quarts. Your oil needs to be changed eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't change it, there will be problems...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front