The Toyota RAV4 (pronounced "rav-four") is a compact crossover SUV built and marketed by the Toyota Motor
Corporation.
It was introduced in Japan and Europe in 1994 and in North America in 1996 to cater to consumers wanting a vehicle that had most of the benefits of SUVs, such as increased cargo room, higher visibility, and the option of Full Time Four-wheel drive, along with the maneuverability and fuel economy of a smaller car.
The early success of the RAV4 paved the way for other compact SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, the
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, and the Subaru Forester.
Its name stands for "Recreational Activity Vehicle, 4-wheel drive," although not all models have all wheel drive as this is optional in some countries.
The RAV4 was originally based on the Corolla platform, and was offered in both two and four-door versions.
One interesting version, the RAV4 EV, was an all-electric 'zero-emission' model offered for sale in low quantities in California.
These models came with a 60,000-mile battery warranty, and the vehicles still command high prices on the used-car market.
One sold in 2006 on eBay for over US$50,000.
The Toyota RAV4 was completely redesigned for the 2006 model year, on an all-new platform.
It still has the 2AZ-FE 2.4 L four-cylinder engine, which now produces 166 hp, up 5 from previous year.
At present, only the North American RAV4 is also fitted with a 2GR-FE 3.5 L V6 engine.
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