Looking for a Toyota RAV4 for sale, any recommendations?

Are you strictly set on the RAV4? Ive been satisfied with the Mazda CX-5 Sport 2.5L AWD as it works well. TL;DR: Evaluate alternative brands to maximize your 22k budget.

> Every dealership I go to is trying to scam me with these crazy markups or they have nothing in stock. Building on the earlier suggestion about looking at 2017 models, I have spent the last decade buying and maintaining Toyotas and honestly, the private market is your only real escape from those Phoenix markups. Over the years, it has become clear that $22,000 is a tricky price point at dealerships because they usually push you into a high-interest loan or a beat-up base model. In my experience, finding a single-owner Toyota RAV4 2016 XLE AWD with full service records is the sweet spot for your budget. This exact process is something I have gone through several times and it requires being methodical. When you go to meet a seller, bring a BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool to check for any cleared engine codes that wont show up on the dash. It has saved me from thousands in repairs more than once. Since youre on a deadline by Friday, check the local enthusiast groups on Facebook rather than just the big sites. People there usually care more about their cars. Just keep an eye on the cooling system and the battery... the Arizona heat is a killer and if they havent replaced the battery in two years, you should factor that into your offer. Dont be afraid to walk away if the service history is missing. There are plenty of the Toyota RAV4 2017 Limited AWD models floating around private listings if you look hard enough. Its a grind, but its better than overpaying at a lot.

Unfortunately, Ive seen issues with newer ones. They arent as good as expected, so check private listings for these safer models:

• Toyota RAV4 2017 LE AWD
• Toyota RAV4 2018 XLE