You might not realise it, but the Toyota RAV4 has a pivotal place in automotive history. You see, today, the vast majority of SUVs are designed primarily for use on the road, perhaps with a little bit of use off it thrown in. But that wasn’t always the case. Once upon a time, SUVs were tall, clunky, square-set vehicles with rugged suspension that made them adept at dealing with rough terrain, but not so great on tarmac.
Toyota was one of the first to see which way the wind was blowing, and the RAV4 was its response. When it was first released in 1994, plenty of commentators were bemused by the idea of a softer off-road car, or ‘soft-roader’, as the RAV4 and its ilk quickly became known.
But while those early cars might have bucked the trend, they had traits that we now consider common in today’s compact SUVs: a choice of front- or four-wheel drive; softer, friendlier styling; suspension tuned for on-road comfort and handling, rather than go-anywhere ability; and a more conventional construction, unlike the separate chassis you’d get in a more utilitarian off-roader.
As it turned out, this was a recipe that proved popular, and many other SUVs – and, later, crossovers – have since copied it. The result has been an inexorable rise in the popularity of SUVs like the RAV4, one which shows no sign of slowing down. So let us reacquaint you with the car that gave rise to our love affair with the SUV, by taking you in reverse order through its history, model by model.
Toyota RAV4 Generations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Toyota RAV4 Pros and Cons
- Toyota RAV4 mk5 (2018-present)
- Toyota RAV4 mk4 (2013-2018)
- Toyota RAV4 mk3 (2005-2013)
- Toyota RAV4 mk2 (2000-2005)
- Toyota RAV4 mk1 (1994-2000)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Toyota RAV4 years are the best?
With most cars that have been around for a long time, each generation is an improvement on the last in absolute terms. So, buy the youngest version that your budget allows.
Which Toyota RAV4 years are the worst?
It may have been ground-breaking in its day, but the ageing mk1 RAV 4 will now feel too basic and dated to satisfy the tastes and demands of most modern motorists.
Is a used Toyota RAV4 a good deal?
Absolutely. It's not a car that's likely to excite you, but it'll be faithful family transport that should prove to be utterly reliable.
Toyota RAV4 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Roomy and practical
- Should be extremely reliable
- Solidly built
Cons:
- Not the most exciting
- So-so to drive
- Fiddly infotainment
Toyota RAV4 mk5 (2018-present)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Toyota RAV4 mk5
- Codenamed the XA50
- Dramatically revised styling
- Hybrid models only
- Diesel models dropped
The fifth-generation car has a much edgier look than its predecessors, with straight lines and sharp angles like those found elsewhere in the Toyota range on the Corolla and C-HR, features that are far removed from the original RAV4’s rounded, curvy lines.
The biggest news, however, is that there’s no diesel version in the new RAV4, and no purely petrol models, either. Instead, the only engine option is a 2.5-litre petrol engine, available with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) full-hybrid powertrain. The same engine can also be had as an AWD plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which has a battery-only range of up to 46 miles per charge and can drastically improve your fuel economy. While your MPG goes up, your emissions go down, too, which means less vehicle excise duty and company car tax.
While it still isn’t as entertaining to drive as the original, this new Toyota RAV4 hybrid has improved on its predecessor with a more robust, better-thought-out interior and a more comfortable driving experience.
The RAV4 is available in several trim levels, those currently being Design, Excel and GR Sport (although these have changed around a bit during the car’s time on sale). Importantly, all versions come with Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of safety features to keep you and your passengers out of harm's way. These include lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist, and bright LED headlights with automatic high beam. In terms of luxury kit, even entry-level Design cars are well equipped, with alloy wheels, dual-zone air conditioning, electric power steering, powered windows, powered tailgate, front- and rear parking sensors, rearview camera, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, reclining rear seats, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Move up the RAV4 trims to Excel spec, and you add a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, power adjustable driver’s seat and front passenger seat, leather upholstery, and a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. In truth, GR Sport trim doesn’t add much to that except some sporty styling touches.
As a Toyota, the latest RAV4 also benefits from a very impressive warranty. For several years, customers had enjoyed five years worth of cover, but as of June 2021, Toyota's warranty changed to a system whereby your cover is automatically extended by a year and/or 10,000 miles every time you get your car serviced within the dealer network, up to a maximum of 10 years/100,000 miles.
Toyota RAV4 mk5 review
