The Toyota RAV4 has been a mainstay in the Toyota family for almost 3 decades. There’s been some changes throughout its life, but the one thing that has remained the same is its reliability. Let’s take a look at how the vehicle changed through its life and why it remains one of the best vehicles on the market.
Key takeaways
- The RAV4 puts safety first, receiving numerous safety upgrades over the years.
- The RAV4 has had multiple hybrid variants throughout its life giving you greener options.
- If you’re wanting a rear liftgate then you’ll need something from 2013 onward. While the side opening rear door is on the older models.
First generation (1994-2000)
When the vehicle first hit the US market in 1996, it had already been tested for a few years in Japan. The first main feature that the RAV4 came with was dual airbags as standard, putting safety first and foremost. No matter the transmission you prefer, you would enjoy the RAV4 as it came with both manual and automatic options.
The first generation saw a slight redesign in 1998, coming with new front and rear fascias, and a soft top three-door was made available. In 1999, the three-door hardtop was dropped leaving only the soft top. The five-door remained the same for the rest of the generation.
While it is a rare find, it’s still worth noting that the first gen RAV4 also had an EV counterpart. Only 1500 leased in California, this is a very early electric vehicle.
Second generation (2001-2005)
When this generation came around Toyota axed the three-door variant for the American market. While not much was changed in the first half of this generation, 2003 saw some changes. 2003 saw improvements to the safety structure as well as vehicle stability control being made standard. Other changes were to the visual styling of the vehicle and improved equipment.
Third generation (2006-2012)
This generation saw the inclusion of the short and long-wheel base models being sold in America. The extra length gave 21% more interior volume making the vehicle more comfortable from the generation before. With the added room, a few RAV4s will come equipped with a third row, giving you even more seating capacity.
This generation has both front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive options. The RAV4 was equipped with electric power steering, and came with 9 airbags. The instrument panel was also changed to be a two-tiered layout, giving the driver a roomier feeling.
Fourth generation (2013-2018)
This generation came with a large change to the back door being changed from a side-opening rear door to a rear liftgate. This generation saw a 2.5-litre Atkinson gas engine with an electric motor. In 2015 the generation saw a refresh that redesigned LED front and rear lamps and updated speedometer dials with full color multi information display.
Fifth generation (2019-Present)
This is the most up to date generation coming with both standard and hybrid engine options. This year also a different chassis that was more rigid than the years before. The new design helped improve handling as well as reduced cabin noise.
The RAV4 hybrid variant went on sale a year later. This engine helps the driver get even more range with the fuel economy being 47 mpg combined. The RAV4 also comes with a plug-in hybrid variant. While it may not offer the same mileage as the other hybrid variant, it still is a great option for those who want the most out of their vehicle.
2021 saw some slight changes, one being the new LED projector type headlights. Other changes include new alloy wheels which can be had in either silver or black, and USB-C charging ports.
Summary
When it comes to the RAV4, there’s been some work to keep it up to date. If you want to see one, come see us here at Jarrett and we’ll help you out!