The Toyota RAV4, one of the leading cars for sale in Orange County, has sold over 10 million units, so the sales reps of cars for sale in Orange County particularly Toyota of Orange thought it was only fitting we take a look back at this iconic SUV’s beginnings.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the Toyota RAV4 has been a popular model for buyers of cars for sale in Orange County for over twenty years. However, no one could have imagined that the RAV4’s sales, which have spanned throughout five generations, would have ever crossed into the eight-figure mark.
RAV4 Reached A Milestone
In February of 2020, the Japanese car manufacturer crossed the 10 million RAV4 sales milestone. More than that, about a tenth of those sales were accomplished during 2019 alone. During this time, Toyota sold 965,760 units of the RAV4 in just that 12 month period, and more than half of them came from the U.S. When dealers of cars for sale in Orange County compare those figures to its first year of sales, 1994, when the RAV4 was still a new kid on the block, receiving 53,080 buyers across the globe this is apparent evidence that the RAV4 has come a long way.
The Idea Of The RAV4
Toyota had a simple vision in mind for the RAV4 and that was a vehicle that combines the light off-road capabilities of an SUV and the on-road comforts of a passenger vehicle.
History Of The RAV4
Although hitting the 10 million sales milestone is caused for a celebration, it is just the beginning of the world’s best-selling SUV and the fourth biggest-selling passenger vehicle of all time.
If you were wondering RAV4 stands for ‘Recreational Active Vehicle 4 Wheel Drive’. The vehicle has been around for about twenty-five years, since 1994, however in that time it has built a following that currently stretches over five generations of the model.
Over these years, Toyota hasn’t done a lot to the RAV4, especially when you compare the vehicle to its competitors that aren’t around anymore. Although we are not saying the RAV4 hasn’t evolved with the times, since it is a lot more on-road biased than the first-generation model, which highlighted generous ground clearance and a simpler interior.
Toyota launched the original RAV4 during a time when there was an explosion on the market of small SUVs. This was the era when a lot of these smaller SUVs still had two doors and manual transmission as standard equipment.
The original RAV4 was available in two and four-door trims when it launched. They were equipped with economical engines and Toyota’s reputable reliability. The RAV4 stayed popular with buyers even when the size of the average SUV on the market increased quickly and as luxury models arrived, and as customers started to move away from small two-door SUVs that had been the staple type of vehicle in the 1980s and early 1990s.
RAV4: First Generation
In 1994, the first production of the RAV4 arrives in japan and Europe. The crossover won’t debut in the U.S. for another two years in 1996. The first generation RAV4 is equipped with a 120 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine that pairs with a standard five-speed manual or available four-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle is available in two and four-door versions. Worldwide, Toyota sells almost 300,000 units of the RAV4 in its first three years on the market.
In 1997, Toyota started to push out more variants of the RAV4 with an all-electric RAV4 with a nickel-metal hydride battery. This was to fill th bill of California’s zero-emissions requirements. Although Tom hanks managed to get one, Toyota only offered this model until 2003 before discontinuing it.
In 1998, Toyota introduced a convertible version of the RAV4, which did 0 to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds. Also, around this time, the RAV4’s horsepower count went up by seven.
RAV4: Second Generation
Despite the fact that the competition is getting fiercer, Toyota is busy making alterations to the RAV4 to keep it interesting. The 2001 Toyota RAV4 brought more power under the hood. At this time, it was generating 148 horsepower and 142 pound-feet of torque from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A 2001 RAV4 with front-wheel drive with a four-speed automatic transmission could do 0 to 60 mph in 10.4 seconds. An all-wheel-drive model with a five-speed manual gearbox does it in 8.9 seconds.
Toyota only sells the four-door version of the second-gen RAV4 in the U.S., but a two-door stays available in other markets.
Eventually, the RAV4 upgrades to a 2.4-liter engine producing 161 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque for the 2004 model year. The RAV4 with this engine with all-wheel-drive reaches 60 mph in 9.3 seconds with the four-speed automatic and 7.8 seconds with the five-speed manual.
RAV4: Third Generation
Towards the end of the RAV’s third generation, Toyota tries an electric model again. It produces 154 horsepower and 273-pound feet of torque and the RAV4 EV has a sport mode the provides more spirited driving. Toyota stops producing this model in 2014.
RAV4: Fourth Generation
U.S. models of the RAV4 have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 176 horsepower. A new six-speed automatic replaces the old four-speed unit. Toyota gets rid of the prior RAV’s available third-row seats. Also, the new RAV4 gets smaller by around two inches in length and an inch in height, although it grows a little bit in width. In 2016, Toyota introduced a RAV4 Hybrid.
RAV4: Fifth Generation
Debuting in 2019, the RAV4 got a boxy redesign, which made the vehicle look more like a rugged SUV. Toyota placed the compact crossover on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), which greatly improves the RAV’s ride quality and handling. For the 2020 model year, Toyota adds a TRD Pro Off-Road variant. In the 2021 model year, Toyota grows the RAV4’s lineup with the debut of the Prime, a plug-in hybrid variant that can travel 42 miles on electricity alone.
The Future Of The RAV4
Obviously, the RAV4 still has quite a way to go when it comes to catching up to the production record of the Corolla, with its over 40 million units sold, however, the RAV4 has overshadowed the annual sales of the Camry and Corolla.
The sixth generation of the RAV4 launched over a year ago, aiming to get back to its robust SUV roots with a redesign more concentrated on utility and daily convenience. The vehicle seems to be evolving in the appropriate direction with the up-to-date redesign, getting away from the slightly unidentified appearance of the previous generation model while acquiring more energizing road manners.