Model review
Toyota Rav4
2016–2018
Reviewed by Paul Kerr — 30 years in NZ car retail · Updated 3 October 2026 · How we rate
Roomy, safe family SUV let down by a dated media system and a dull drive
CarTrader Rating
7/10
Based on 4 expert reviews, 2 official safety sources, 1 owner review site and 1 owner forum.
See all sources
The 2016–2018 RAV4 facelift is a roomy, solidly built family SUV with a big boot and a five-star ANCAP rating. Reviewers found it dull to drive, with a dated 6.1-inch media system, plenty of hard plastic and no rear air vents. From the MY18 update in late 2017 every RAV4 got Toyota Safety Sense with emergency braking; earlier GX and GXL models had it only as an option. Owners report torque converter shudder on some 6-speed automatics, so test drive carefully, and a Toyota service bulletin covers injector failures on the diesel.
Scorecard
How scores work- Reliability7/10
Few common faults reported overall; some 6-speed autos shudder and a service bulletin covers diesel injector failures (CarsGuide, RAV4Life, PistonHeads UK)
- Running costs7/10
Servicing every six months or 10,000 km; the diesel is the most economical (CarsGuide)
- Safety8/10
Five-star ANCAP rating (2016); emergency braking standard from the MY18 update, optional before that on GX and GXL (ANCAP Safety, CarsGuide)
- Space & practicality8/10
Roomy cabin, good rear legroom and a big boot (CarsGuide)
- Drive6/10
Easy to drive and park but dull, with soft suspension and steering reviewers found hard to read (CarsGuide)
- Value7/10
Strong resale value, but it cost more than its rivals when new (CarsGuide)
Which one to buy
Buy
2.5-litre petrol AWD (GXL), 2016–2018
Test drive for torque converter shudder at low speeds
CarsGuide's pick of the range: it tows the most, has the best specification and was the most competitively priced.
Source: CarsGuide
What's good
- Roomy cabin with good rear legroom and a big boot (CarsGuide)
- Toyota Safety Sense with emergency braking standard on every RAV4 from the MY18 update in late 2017; on earlier GX and GXL models it was an optional pack (CarsGuide, ANCAP Safety)
- Better off-road than most rivals, with a centre diff lock on AWD models (CarsGuide)
- Strong resale value and few common faults reported (CarsGuide)
What's not so good
- Some 6-speed automatics develop a torque converter shudder at low speeds (20–40 mph, about 30–65 km/h), often between 30,000 and 70,000 miles (roughly 50,000–110,000 km); complaints are less common on 2016–2018 cars (RAV4Life)
- A Toyota service bulletin for the RAV4 describes injector failure causing a loss of engine power and the engine warning light (MIL) coming on (PistonHeads UK)
- Dated 6.1-inch touchscreen with tiny targets, a confusing menu and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (CarsGuide)
- Still plenty of hard plastic in the cabin, though more soft-touch surfaces than before (CarsGuide)
- No rear air-conditioning vents (CarsGuide)
- Dull to drive, with soft suspension that rolls more than most rivals and steering reviewers found hard to read (CarsGuide)
- The diesel is noisy around town (CarsGuide)
Who it's for
Families who want space, a big boot and a solid, dependable SUV, and don't mind a dull drive or dated tech.
Who should avoid it
Buyers who want an engaging drive, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, or a quiet, plush cabin. Reviewers rated the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester ahead of it on driving and refinement.
Reliability and known issues
Known issues by engine:
2.0-litre petrol (2016–2018): No specific faults could be confirmed from the sources we opened. CarsGuide reports strong resale and few common faults for the RAV4 overall (CarsGuide).
6-speed automatic (2016–2018): Owners report a torque converter shudder or vibration when accelerating from a stop or at low speeds (20–40 mph, about 30–65 km/h), often between 30,000 and 70,000 miles (roughly 50,000–110,000 km). Likely causes include torque converter lock-up, degraded transmission fluid and software calibration, and Toyota issued service bulletins with fixes such as software updates, fluid changes and torque converter replacement. Complaints are less frequent on 2016–2018 cars than on earlier years (RAV4Life).
2.2-litre turbo diesel (2016–2018): A Toyota service bulletin covering the RAV4, Auris, Avensis, Corolla and Verso describes injector failure causing a loss of engine power and the engine warning light (MIL), with fault code P062D stored. The repair procedure is to replace the faulty injectors, and the bulletin says the production process of the injectors has been improved (PistonHeads UK).
When buying, test drive a 6-speed automatic at low speeds for shudder and ask for service records.
Known issues
Torque converter shudder
Test drive at low speeds (roughly 30–65 km/h) for shudder or vibration, and ask for service records showing transmission fluid changes or software updates.
- Engine
- 6-speed automatic
- Years affected
- 2016–2018
- Typical km
- Roughly 50,000–110,000 km
- Source
- RAV4Life
Fuel injector failure
Toyota service bulletin EG-0024T-0212: loss of power and engine warning light with fault code P062D; faulty injectors are replaced. Ask whether this has been done.
- Engine
- 2.2-litre turbo diesel
- Years affected
- 2016–2018
- Source
- PistonHeads UK
No cost shown means we haven't found a sourced NZ price for that repair.
Safety
Official NZ safety ratings for this generation, from Rightcar and ANCAP:
- NZ-new Toyota RAV4 Facelift (2016–2018): 5 stars (ANCAP, 2016) · ANCAP Safety
NZ running costs
- Fuel / energy economy
- Road User Charges
- $76.00 per 1,000 km (diesel, up to 3.5 t), effective 3 October 2026 · NZTA · rate kept up to date by CarTrader
- Known expensive maintenance
- Torque converter or transmission repair on the 6-speed automatic if it shudders (RAV4Life)
- Injector replacement on the 2.2-litre diesel under Toyota's service bulletin (PistonHeads UK)
Towing and payload
Common questions
- Does the Toyota RAV4 6-speed automatic have transmission problems?Some do. Owners report a torque converter shudder on the 6-speed automatic.
- Is the Toyota RAV4 2.2 diesel reliable?We could confirm one known issue: injector failures covered by a Toyota service bulletin.
- What goes wrong with the 2016–2018 Toyota RAV4?The main reported issues are torque converter shudder on the 6-speed automatic and injector failures on the diesel.
- Does the Toyota RAV4 have a timing belt or chain?All three engines use timing chains, not belts.
What the experts say
Our summary of what each outlet concluded, in our own words — follow the links for their full reviews. Updated 3 October 2026.
ANCAP Safety
Safety ratingCarsGuide
Toyota RAV4 2018 review
CarsGuide
Toyota RAV4 GXL 2018 review
CarsGuide
Toyota RAV4 GXL 2018 family review
CarsGuide
Toyota RAV4 GXL AWD petrol 2016 review
RAV4Life
Owner reviewsPistonHeads UK
Owner reviews
Model timeline
2012–2018
Fourth generation (XA40)
New generation
Four-cylinder engines only (the V6 was dropped) and a single wheelbase length.
Source: Wikipedia — Toyota RAV4
2015–2018
XA40 facelift
Facelift
New LED front and rear lights and a colour trip display, shown alongside the RAV4 Hybrid.
Source: Wikipedia — Toyota RAV4
2018–2025
Fifth generation (XA50)
New generation
New TNGA-K platform with a 57% stiffer body. Petrol and hybrid engines, no diesel.
Source: Wikipedia — Toyota RAV4
2021–2025
XA50 update
Facelift
Revealed September 2021 with LED projector headlights and USB-C ports. A newer infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto followed in 2022.
Source: Wikipedia — Toyota RAV4
2025–now
Sixth generation (XA60)
New generation
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid only. Deliveries in Australia and NZ from the first half of 2026.
Source: Wikipedia — Toyota RAV4
From the sources
“The RAV4 is a smooth, easy drive. The steering is painless and you can make three-point turns and reverse park with little effort at the wheel”
“The vast bulk of the MY18 upgrade is to do with the inclusion of a comprehensive list of safety gear to keep it in the ring with the all-conquering CX-5”
What NZ buyers actually paid
Coming soon — once CarTrader has enough completed wholesale transactions, we'll show real NZ sale prices here. No other review site can replicate that.
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