Toyota RAV4 Generations: Through the Years

The Toyota RAV4 popularized the crossover category and nearly 30 years later it’s still one of the benchmarks in the segment.

Looking back at the Toyota RAV4 Generations

When we think of how the crossover segment began we can go back to all sorts of oddball cars that shared some of the hallmarks. The AMC Eagle or the Volkswagen Golf Country might come to mind but no car in the crossover space had the lasting power of the Toyota RAV4. It demonstrated that a vehicle with an upright SUV-style passenger compartment could still be small and drive more like a car. That combination took the world by storm and today the crossover is so popular that going anywhere on public roads without seeing one is rare. Today, we’re going back through the generations of the car that sparked that shift, the Toyota RAV4.

First Generation Toyota RAV4 (1994-1999)

1996 Toyota RAV4 – pressroom.toyota.com | Shop Toyota RAV4 on Carsforsale.com

The first RAV4 was released in Japan in 1994 with two different versions including three and five-door body styles.
RAV4 is an acronym meaning Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD.
It’s available with front or all-wheel drive and sits on a chassis derived from both the Corolla and the Carina.
The RAV4 debuted in the US in March of 1995 with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that produced 120-horsepower. It had two transmission options: a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission.

In general, the RAV4 is praised for its easy driving experience and utility, qualities that still define it today.
In 1997, Toyota also released a RAV4 EV in California which had a 120-mile range and took around six hours to charge.
Toyota also offered a three-door convertible version of the RAV4 with a soft top. That model was discontinued by the second generation due to poor sales.

Second Generation Toyota RAV4 (2000-2004)

The 2000 Toyota RAV4 is the first generation to offer a larger body style and more interior space. This changed indicated a major design shift for the RAV4 models and crossover SUV segment.
Due to the changes, the new RAV4 won many new fans with its comfortable and competent features.
The 2000 RAV4 has a 127-horsepower, 2.0-liter, twin-cam four-cylinder engine.
For the 2001 RAV4, an updated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offered 148-horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque.
Just like the first generation, the RAV4 was built on a car-based platform and comes with front or all-wheel drive.

2002 Toyota RAV4 2.0L I4 - carsforsale.com

Toyota offered the second generation RAV4 with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.
The five-door version of the RAV4 was the only body style offered in America. The three-door RAV4 was still sold overseas.
In 2004, Toyota gave the crossover a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produced 161-horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque.
Also for 2004, a slightly updated exterior design and the addition of vehicle stability control became standard.

Third Generation Toyota RAV4 (2005-2011)

2006 Toyota RAV4 V6 - pressroom.toyota.com

To remain competitive with other brands that were starting to imitate the RAV4, a new generation with an all-new platform arrived in 2005.
Once again the RAV4 increased in size by every measurement and offers a bevy of engine and transmission options.
Among them is the same four-cylinder from the previous model now with 166-horsepower.
The Third Generation RAV4 is the first to offer a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 269-horsepower.

It’s considered more capable both on-road and off-road with better handling and more cargo space as well as a third-row option.
Some of the die-hard fans of the RAV4 became unhappy with its larger size and both the Ford Escape and the Honda CR-V start gaining ground on the RAV4.
No manual transmission is offered during this generation.
In 2009, the brand updated the base engine with 178-horsepower and facelifted the styling again.
Toyota also gets back into the RAV4 EV game and offers a 100-mile range version powered by a Tesla motor.

Fourth Generation Toyota RAV4 (2012-2018)

Toyota decides to go back to basics with the fourth generation RAV4 with a refreshed exterior design, powertrain and interior features.
The V6 engine is no longer available in favor of a 176-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic, another first for the RAV4.
In terms of size, the fourth generation RAV4 is slightly shorter from front to back though it is wider than the outgoing RAV4.

2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - pressroom.toyota.com

The tailgate now lifts up as opposed to hinging at the side like previous generations. The spare tire is relocated to under the floor.
In general, the new combination of features get great reviews for being well-balanced in all areas.
Nearing the end of its life-cycle the RAV4 gets its first hybrid powertrain that it shares with the Lexus NX 300h.
The RAV4 Hybrid gets 34 mpg city and 30 mpg on the highway which makes it the most efficient, powerful, and capable RAV4 of the time and best in class for fuel economy.

Fifth Generation Toyota RAV4 (2019-Current)

Built on another all-new platform called TNGA-K, the 2019 RAV4 is the most aggressive looking generation so far.
Despite looking bigger it’s slightly smaller than the previous generation in every aspect aside from width.
Much like the previous generation, only a four-cylinder engine is offered and again, hybrid power is available.
Front-wheel drive, as well as all-wheel drive, continue to be a staple of the brand.
In 2019, Toyota released the RAV4 Prime which has 302 total horsepower from its hybrid drivetrain.

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime – pressroom.toyota.com | Shop Toyota RAV4 on Carsforsale.com

The RAV4 Prime is the second-fastest car Toyota produced behind the GR Supra when first released.
On the environmentally-friendly side of the coin, it’s also capable of going up to 42 miles on electric power alone.
A off-road focused TRD Pro trim is also available with skid plates, AWD, and all-terrain tires.
The RAV4 stands alone today as the best-selling model that Toyota makes eclipsing both the Tundra and the Camry.