Toyota RAV4 history - From concept car to a best-selling vehicle, how the compact crossover has evolved.
Toyota's RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV. Originally launched in Japan and Europe in 1994 and North America in 1995, this compact crossover SUV was the first of its kind. A compact SUV with increased cargo space, better visibility, and the option of full-time four-wheel drive was created for customers who wanted a vehicle with SUV features like those mentioned above, but also with the maneuverability and fuel economy of a compact car. There are a few models available with four-wheel drive, hence the name "Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD.
XA10 (First Generation RAV4)
The XA10 series of RAV4s was built on a platform that shared Carina and Corolla components.In May of 1994, it was made available in Japan for the first time. The 3-door version went into production in the second half of 1991, while the 5-door model went into production in the third quarter of 1993. The 5-door was launched in March 1995 and introduced in the United States in January 1996 with standard dual airbags.
The XA10 series came in three and five door configurations. A 119-horsepower, 2.0-liter straight-four engine was offered in the United States. The RAV4 was offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission was an option. Automobile Magazine dubbed it the 1997 Car of the Year. Dual filament headlamps with a bracket push in type were available on models dating from 1996 to 1997. Older-style round socket dual filament bulbs were used in the headlights and turn signals up front.. Also, round-socket type bulbs were used in the back. The RAV4's front and rear fascias were slightly restyled for the 1998 model year, and a softer bumper was added. Instead of a single beam with two filaments, the cars from 1998 to 2000 had a single filament headlamp with two beams (low and high) per housing. When it comes to the rear lamps, the more modern rectangular style bulbs (7440/7443) are used. Subtle changes to the interior include new colors for the seats and door panels, as well as extra cup holders (cigarette lighter/cup holder duo) and a digital odometer. Also available in Japan was the 2.0-liter 3S-GE BEAMS engine with 132 kW (177 hp; 179 hp). Some of the 1998 Toyota RAV4 models were branded as SXA11 rather than XA10, and were given the owner-given name "RAV 4.1."
XA20 (Second generation )
The XA20 series of the second-generation Toyota RAV4 hit the market in July of that year. The XA20, like the previous model, came in three- and five-door body styles and shared platform components with the Carina and Corolla. A design freeze occurred in the first half of 1998, after which development resumed in 1995. Between 1996 and 1997, Yasuhide Hosoda and Kevin Hunter worked on styling at Calty Design Research Incorporated (commonly referred to as Calty).In the UK, the second-generation RAV4 was initially available in several trim levels: NV was front-wheel drive, while NRG, GX, and VX were permanent four-wheel drive with varying levels of equipment. While the RAV4 was available in Europe, Asia, and Australia as a three-door, the US model was only available as a five-door. A 1.8-liter inline-four engine with 92 kW (only with 2WD) and a D-4D diesel engine were available. Other engines included a 2.0-liter inline-four with 110 kW (only with 2WD) and a D-4D diesel with 118 kW (only with 2WD).Automatic anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control and air conditioning were standard equipment on some RAV4s. Drivers could also opt for an adjustable height seat and cruise control. A CD stereo with six speakers was also standard on some RAV4. A sport package included a mesh grille, bonnet scoop, color-keyed door handles, a roof rack, silver sport pedals, heated mirrors, gray-painted bumpers and fender flares, and sport fabric seats. Alloy wheels, heated seats, a sunroof, and keyless entry were available as extras. All-wheel-drive cars came standard with 16-inch wheels and small tires; all-wheel-drive models could have larger tires.
In some cases, the RAV4 had anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control (ESC), air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver's seat, cruise control, a six-speaker CD stereo as well as power windows and mirrors. A sport package included a mesh grille, bonnet scoop, color-keyed door handles, a roof rack, silver sport pedals, heated mirrors, gray-painted bumpers and fender flares, and sport fabric seats. Alloy wheels, heated seats, a sunroof, and keyless entry were available as extras. All-wheel-drive cars came standard with 16-inch wheels and small tires; all-wheel-drive models could have larger tires.
The 2004 RAV4 received a styling and equipment update, as well as a new engine in select markets, in late 2003. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) was made standard in the US, and the country's safety structure was strengthened as a result. The RAV4's 2.0-liter engine was upgraded to a new 2.4-liter unit in the US and Australia, producing 120 kW (160 hp; 160 PS) and 220 Nm (162 lbft). In other countries, the 2.0 liter VVT-i engine was only offered in 5-door body styles. It was also possible to get central air conditioning that was powered entirely by electricity. The new European emission policy necessitated the installation of a new catalytic converter on European models. The electric throttle was also added to the new model.
The base Edge was renamed CV in Australia and received standard air conditioning as part of the facelift (previously an option). The CV was also given painted bumpers, which were either silver or body-colored, depending on the color of the car. A new front bumper with circular fog lights and white turn signals replaced the older orange lights, and the model line received a subtle facelift as a result. In Australia, a new "CV Sport" model was introduced in 2005 with a non-functional bonnet scoop, giving the RAV4 an aggressive appearance.
XA30 (Third generation)
The new RAV4 comes in two wheelbase lengths: short and long. The short-wheelbase RAV4 is only available in Japan, Europe, and New Zealand (diesel only in NZ), while the long-wheelbase RAV4 is available in Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Since 2007, the extended-length RAV4 has also been sold in Japan alongside its shorter counterpart as the Toyota Vanguard, albeit with a revised front-end body work including a revised grille, bumper, bonnet and headlamps. When the longer-wheelbase XA40 arrived in 2012, the Japanese market continued to use the short-wheelbase model instead of the new model until 2016.
Toyota dealers began selling Japanese vehicles in 2005. After the 3-door model was discontinued in the early part of 2007, Toyota was left without a small SUV until the 2009 Toyota Urban Cruiser, which is sold in Europe, North America (as the Scion xD), and Japan (as the Toyota ist). Before July 2016, only the XA30 series RAV4 was available in Japan. The XA40 will not be available in Japan until July 2017. Toyota ceased production of the Vanguard in November 2013 in favor of the redesigned XU60 Harrier. It became more expensive to own a RAV4 as its exterior dimensions and engine displacement increased, as defined by Japanese government dimension regulations and annual road tax obligations, because it was placed in the higher tax bracket.
It's also the first time the RAV4 has been available in two body styles: regular (for Asian and European markets, removing the spare wheel from the back) and extended (for North American and Australian markets). The interior volume of the new extended-length RAV4 is 21% larger than the previous model's, and a third-row child seat is now available (North America and Japan only). In North America and Japan, the RAV4 is still available as an all-wheel-drive or a front-wheel-drive vehicle; however, the all-wheel-drive model is sold in most countries.
There was a mid-cycle refresh for the RAV4 in some markets in 2008 (for the 2009 model year), which featured several changes, including a brand-new four-cylinder engine, and a redesigned front and rear end. The front grille and bumper cover are unique on the Limited model. The Sport model adds a larger spoiler and red badging, and the V6 model can have a rear door without an externally mounted spare tire as an option (run-flat tires are used on this model). New options and features include mirror-integrated turn signals, a backup camera (with a monitor built into the rearview mirror), satellite navigation, smart keyless entry, a push button starter, and so on. The majority of the interior has not changed since it was built. In 2009, a 2WD model was sold in Canada for the first time for the Canadian market.
The XA30 series RAV4 won the WheelsTV pre-owned car of the year award in 2015.
XA40 (Fourth generation)
In November 2012, Toyota unveiled the all-new fourth generation RAV4 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Rather than having a side-opening rear door, this model has a rear liftgate, and the spare tire is no longer attached to the rear door as was the case with previous models.
The V6 from the previous generation was no longer available in the RAV4's engine lineup; all options were inline four-cylinders. Additionally, the XA40 was only offered in a single wheelbase, as opposed to the dual-wheelbase strategy used by the previous XA30 model (corresponding to the long wheelbase XA30).
The full hybrid system included a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine, a powerful electric motor, a high voltage generator, a 204-cell nickel–metal hydride battery under the rear seats, a power control unit, and a power split device. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive RAV4 hybrid models were offered. It has a 1,750-pound (790 kg) towing capacity and a second, 50 kW high-voltage, rear-mounted electric motor for better traction. In a hybrid vehicle, the electric motor in the back drives the wheels only on the back axle. In the beginning of January 2013, sales in the United States began.
XA50 (Fifth generation)
At the 2018 New York International Auto Show, Toyota unveiled the fifth-generation RAV4. The FT-AC concept car debuted at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show provided a sneak peek at the final design. It is based on the same GA-K architecture as the eighth-generation Camry, fifth-generation Avalon, and seventh-generation Lexus ES. Gasoline-electric hybrids (Hybrid Synergy Drive) and 4-cylinder gasoline-powered models will both be offered going forward.
The LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, and Limited models are available in the North American market, while the LE, XLE, XSE, and Limited hybrids are all available. Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive with Rear Drive Disconnect is standard on both the Adventure and Limited models. a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine with a Direct Shift Automatic transmission with up to 15% more power on gasoline models. It has a feature called Multi Terrain Select, which allows drivers to select how much traction they want when driving through sand, mud, rock, or dirt. Entune 3.0, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa all come with a 7-inch multi-touch screen as standard equipment. Some trim levels offer an optional larger screen with JBL Audio and a Wi-Fi hotspot. It has up to five USB ports and supports QI wireless charging. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard on this model, as it is on the majority of Toyotas currently on the market. The Toyota RAV4 and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid both went on sale in the United States in December 2018 and March 2019, respectively.
The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 Hybrid made its global debut in Ireland on December 31, 2018, when it went on sale. The fifth-generation RAV4 is only available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in the UK in its hybrid version. There are four levels of service: Icon, Design, Excel, and Dynamic.
The new RAV4 was unveiled on 10 January 2019 in Singapore at the Singapore Motorshow and on 8 February 2019 in the Philippines.
As of May 8, 2019, the fifth-generation RAV4 is available in four trim levels in Australia: GX, GXL, Cruiser and Edge. The RAV4 has been in production for five generations and is now on sale in Australia. The 2.0 L gasoline and 2.5 L hybrid engines are available in the GX, GXL, and Cruiser trims, but the 2.5 L gasoline engine is only available in the Edge trim. The GX trim has a choice of a 6-speed manual or CVT transmission, while the GXL and Cruiser trims, as well as the GX, GXL, and Cruiser hybrid models, can only be had with a CVT. With the 8-speed automatic transmission, the Edge can be upgraded to a high level of performance.
On November 22, 2019, the Guangzhou International Motor Show introduced the fifth generation of the Toyota RAV4. FAW Toyota is the company in charge of making and distributing it. The Toyota Wildlander (Chinese: ; pinyin: Wilándá) is another Chinese-market variant with different front and rear fascias produced and sold by GAC Toyota.
UMW Toyota Motor teased the RAV4 in Malaysia on its official website on June 2nd, 2020.
The country's fifth-generation RAV4 went on sale on June 18, 2020, with two engine options: the 2.0 M20A-FKS and 2.5 A25A-FKS, both available in a single trim level.The 2.0-litre engine will be phased out by the end of the decade.
Toyota will unveil the updated RAV4 in September 2021, with LED headlights, alloy wheels in silver or black, and USB-C charging ports, and the European market will get the new Adventure model, which has been available in other markets like Japan, the US, and Australia. Up to 306 horsepower plug-in hybrids are still on the market, with a claimed all-electric range of 75 kilometers.
Summary
With good built quality and high reliability of the RAV4 puts this cars as one of the most desirable cars around the world, Nepal is no exception in this matter. Toyota RAV4 falls on the premium segment in Nepalese market and so far it has delivered its promised to Nepalese consumer. It is yet to see whether Toyota goes full electric for the sixth generation or move toward hybrid system. One way or another RAV4 along with other popular cars are set to incorporate some form of electric power system.
