The 2015 Toyota RAV4 offers very good interior materials and ergonomics, and we especially like the Entune infotainment system and the standard rearview camera. However, while the RAV4 remains a top seller, other compact crossover SUVs have surpassed it in some key areas. Fuel economy, while good, is bested by competitors like the Mazda CX-5, the all-wheel-drive Subaru Forester, and the RAV’s longtime rival, the Honda CR-V. With the introduction of this generation, Toyota dropped the available V6, putting the RAV4 at a power disadvantage against the Subaru Forester and Ford Escape, both of which offer turbocharged engines with significantly more power, and are more fun to drive in general.
Used 2015 Toyota RAV4 Pricing
Used 2015 Toyota RAV4 pricing starts at $13,345 for the RAV4 LE Sport Utility 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $26,339 when new. The range-topping 2015 RAV4 Limited Sport Utility 4D starts at $15,700 today, originally priced from $31,109.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
LE Sport Utility 4D | $26,339 | $13,345 | ||
XLE Sport Utility 4D | $27,899 | $14,183 | ||
Limited Sport Utility 4D | $31,109 | $15,700 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2015 Toyota RAV4 models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
Driving the Used 2015 Toyota RAV4
The 2015 Toyota RAV4 offers up a comfortable and balanced ride that’s quiet at highway speeds and smooth over most surfaces. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine doesn’t make a lot of power, but acceleration is acceptable if not blazing, and you’ll get from a standstill to 60 mph in a little less than 10 seconds. A Sport mode doesn’t add power, but it does sharpen the engine’s response to the gas pedal, and it makes the 6-speed automatic transmission hold onto a gear longer into the powerband before shifting. There’s also an Eco mode if you’re looking to save fuel, but many of us thought the lazy throttle response was too annoying, so we kept it in the Normal mode.
Interior Comfort
With high-quality plastics and soft-touch surfaces, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 offers a comfortable and inviting SUV interior. Base LE models get contrasting colors, adding an upscale look at a price level that usually sentences the buyer to blandness. However, we’re not fans of the faux carbon-fiber cladding around the doorsills and gearshift lever. Interestingly, leather isn’t available, substituted with something called Softex, which does a pretty good impression of the real thing. The driver’s seat is comfortable and supportive, especially the Limited model with its added lumbar support. Rear-seat passengers have good legroom, and there’s plenty of cargo space.
Exterior Styling
Overall, we like the looks of the newest RAV4, and its sharp lines are positively aggressive compared to previous models. Owners of those older models may notice that there’s no rear-mounted spare tire on the current generation. However, despite it being a fixture since the RAV4’s introduction, Toyota was smart in dropping it, since it allows for a swing-up rear door instead of the swing-out design on previous versions, making it easier to load the cargo area with groceries, or whatever else you have. A power assist is standard on Limited models, and available on XLE models this year.
Favorite Features
REAR VIEW AIDS
As fashion and safety rules emphasize thicker pillars, cars are getting harder and harder to see out of. The RAV4 comes standard with a backup camera, and ups the ante with available blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, warning you when other vehicles are approaching as you reverse.
CAVERNOUS CARGO CAPACITY
Despite being a compact crossover SUV, the Toyota RAV4 offers up a lot of cargo space behind the second row. If that’s not enough, fold those seats and you’ll get a class-leading 73.4 cubic feet, all of it usable thanks to a flat load floor.
Standard Features
All 2015 Toyota RAV4 models come with the same 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Base RAV4 LE models come with Entune, which includes a 6.1-inch display, Bluetooth connectivity, AM/FM/CD system with six speakers, and auxiliary and USB inputs to control your iPod. XLE models add a power moonroof, upgraded Entune with satellite and HD Radio, dual-zone climate control, and better front seats with French stitching. Limited models add the power liftgate, Softex upholstery on the seats, Entune Premium audio with navigation and apps, push-button start, and more. All 2015 RAV4s have eight airbags, stability/traction control, and two years/25,000 miles complimentary maintenance.
Factory Options
All wheel drive (AWD) is available on all Toyota RAV4 models, enhancing the SUV’s traction in wet weather and on dirt roads. Other options include a navigation system with Toyota’s Entune telematics – which includes voice recognition and various apps for everything from making reservations to finding sports scores – JBL premium audio system with 11 speakers, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. New this year, mid-level XLE models can be ordered with the power liftgate from Limited models.
Engine & Transmission
The only engine available in the 2015 Toyota RAV4 is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 176 horsepower. Coupled with the standard 6-speed automatic transmission, it’s enough to get the SUV from a standstill to 60 mph in a little less than 10 seconds, not exactly quick, but good enough. The standard front-wheel drive (FWD) can be replaced with an all-wheel drive system, and the RAV4 will tow up to 1,500 pounds. 2.5-liter inline-4
176 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
172 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/31 mpg (FWD), 22/29 mpg (AWD)
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KBB Vehicle Review and Rating Methodology
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
