Key takeaways
- Toyota says the RAV4, launched in 1994, created the compact SUV segment.
- The name stands for “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive,” according to Toyota UK.
- Toyota reports more than 14 million RAV4s sold worldwide by 2023.
- Hybrid models arrived in 2016, and a plug-in hybrid joined the range in 2020.
This article is general information. Specifications differ by country and model year, so check Toyota’s current pages for the model you plan to buy.
From concept to production
Toyota first showed the RAV-FOUR concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1989, and refined it for the 1993 show. Toyota UK says the project was approved in 1991. The production car followed in 1994: Toyota’s UK press site says the Geneva Motor Show in March 1994 hosted the launch, and that sales started in Japan in May 1994 and about a month later in the UK.
Toyota describes the car as built on a “car-like monocoque bodyshell instead of a separate body and chassis,” which is the key difference from traditional SUVs. Its UK history page says the platform came from the Corolla, the engine and some of the driveline from the Camry/Carina, and the suspension and transmission from the Celica GT-Four. The first model had permanent all-wheel drive and a 2.0-litre petrol engine.
First generation (from 1994)
The first RAV4 was a short, three-door model. Toyota UK says a longer four-door version arrived in the mid-1990s (its pages give 1995 and 1996 for different markets). The RAV4 reached the US in January 1996, according to Toyota UK’s history page.
An electric RAV4 EV with nickel-metal-hydride batteries went on sale in selected markets in 1997. Toyota UK gives its range as roughly 100 to 120 miles.
Toyota’s early sales figures show how quickly it took off: about 53,000 worldwide in 1994, double that in 1995, according to Toyota UK. Toyota had expected around 4,500 units in the first year, and says 8,000 orders came in during the first month alone.
Second generation (about 2000)
The second generation brought a new platform and suspension and full-time all-wheel drive, with 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol engines. A 2.0-litre D-4D diesel was added in the following years. Toyota UK’s pages date the diesel to 2001 and 2002, so the exact year depends on the source.
Third generation (2005 to 2006)
Toyota UK’s pages date this generation to 2005 or 2006. The RAV4 grew, and in Europe it became a five-door only. Its history page says the body shell was 76% stiffer and the all-wheel-drive system changed to a part-time design.
A second RAV4 EV, engineered with Tesla Motors and the Toyota Technical Center in Michigan, was released for lease in September 2012. Toyota UK lists a 154 bhp motor, a lithium-ion battery and a range of up to 113 miles in extended-charge mode.
Fourth generation (2013 to 2018)
This generation was first shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2012 and reached the UK in March 2013. It brought Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel drive. In 2016 the first full RAV4 hybrid arrived. Toyota UK’s two pages quote slightly different power figures for it (194 and 197), so check the specification for your market.
Fifth generation (2019 onward)
The fifth generation was Toyota’s first SUV on its TNGA modular platform, and it used the fourth-generation hybrid system with a 2.5-litre Dynamic Force engine. In 2020 a plug-in hybrid joined the range, which Toyota UK describes as the most powerful RAV4 yet, at 302 bhp. Toyota UK’s pages don’t give an electric-only range for it. For the range and fuel-economy figures in your market, check the official specifications.
Toyota continued with sportier trim levels such as the GR Sport version. A newer generation has since been announced; see our article on the newest RAV4.
What Toyota says about sales
- Cumulative sales passed 10 million at the end of February 2020, over 26 years and five generations.
- In 2019, Toyota says, the RAV4 was the world’s best-selling SUV and the fourth best-selling passenger car overall, including 535,000 sales in North America.
- By 2023, cumulative global sales passed 14 million, with more than 2.5 million in Europe.
These are Toyota’s own figures. Independent registration data may differ.
Why the RAV4 mattered
Toyota’s own claim is that the RAV4 created the compact SUV segment. Whatever you make of that wording, the RAV4 showed that buyers wanted a car-like vehicle with SUV styling, and rivals followed. Later, it was among the first mainstream SUVs offered with a hybrid, and it is now sold with petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid power.
Frequently asked questions
What does RAV4 stand for? Toyota UK says “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive.” One older Toyota UK press page uses “Activity” instead of “Active.”
When did the RAV4 come to the US? Toyota UK’s history page says January 1996.
Was there an electric RAV4? Yes, in 1997 and again in 2012, both in limited numbers.
Is there a plug-in hybrid RAV4? Yes, since 2020.
Information checked on: October 30, 2026. Models and figures change, so confirm with Toyota.
Sources
- Toyota UK Newsroom, Toyota RAV4: A pioneering original for 30 years (29 May 2024)
- Toyota UK Magazine, Toyota RAV4 History (2020; page shows a July 2026 date)
- Toyota UK Newsroom, Celebrating the original: 20 years of the Toyota RAV4 (14 January 2014)