The early success of the RAV4 paved the way for other compact SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/CX-5, and the Subaru Forester. It was introduced in Japan in 1994 and in Europe and 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 four wheel drive, along with the maneuverability and fuel economy of a smaller car. The base model featured a front-wheel-drive, while the other versions sported an all-wheel-drive option.The Toyota RAV4 (pronounced "rav-four") is a compact crossover SUV built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Under the hood, Toyota offered the Rav4 5-door with a choice of three engines paired to a 5-speed manual. Its longer wheelbase allowed better seating for three passengers in the back but still cramped due to the transmission tunnel. In the instrument cluster, the tachometer took center stage while a larger speedometer claimed the left side. Inside, Toyota installed a revised interior with an infotainment unit on top of the center stack. In the back, the facelifted version featured smaller reversing lights mounted in the middle of the taillights.
It didn't sport a very bold design but tried to get more attention with its swept-back angular headlights with orange turn-signals and the rectangular grille with two black slats. While the three-door version was fit mostly for those who didn't need rear seats or long wheelbases, the five-door version was the all-around vehicle fit for everyone to go anywhere. As a world leader in the automotive industry, Toyota pushed its second generation of the compact Rav4 further on the market by improving it in 2003. Their 4x4 abilities that could tackle snowy conditions and grass-covered areas brought them into more and more customers' driveways. Toyota introduced the Rav4's second generation in 2000 and, by 2003, it considered that it was time for a refreshed lineup for both three and five-door versions.īy 2003 the SUVs were in high demand pushing aside most of the station wagons from the market.
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