The inexorable march from small to large has afflicted nearly every vehicle I have ever owned or wanted to own, but most particularly this little gem: the Toyota RAV4. Introduced in 1994 and making its way to our shores in 1996, the first-gens sat on a 95″ wheelbase (five-door); now the same configuration has a 105″ wheelbase. Curb weight jumped by 1000 lbs over twenty years. Its cheeky looks melded into the pack, distinct no longer. Here on craigslist is an early RAV4 4×4 with an asking price of $4500, located in Wykoff, New Jersey. Mitchell G found this baby SUV for us – thanks!
Toyota carved out a new niche with the RAV4 – the “compact crossover”. Its name stood for “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD” and it was designed to fulfill a developing market need for a light-duty off-road vehicle with creature comforts. Constructed like an SUV but on a unibody platform, it was the first of its kind. Its 2.0-liter four cylinder engine makes about 127 hp, and it’s relatively fuel efficient given its always-on 4WD, sipping about 22 mpg. This one has an automatic transmission and has traveled just over 123,000 miles. The timing belt and water pump are new. Spiffy from top to bottom, its appearance has likely benefited from being under the care of only one owner.
The interior is serviceable and plain, but supplies niceties like bolstered seats and jazzy upholstery. While the carpets show mild staining, the rest of the vehicle is in solid cosmetic condition. I’ve looked around, and it’s difficult to find an early RAV4 in reasonable condition without a jillion miles.
The RAV4 wasn’t the first vehicle that Toyota cobbled up from the parts bin. Its platform is Corolla, its engine is Camry, and the Celica donated to the suspension and transmission. But it was unique in the marketplace and sold like hotcakes from the day of its launch. Today, first-gen-only clubs cater to RAV4s made before 2000. Rare variants include an EV made for California, and a “cabriolet”. The five-door was produced as a response to criticism that the original tw0-door just didn’t have enough rear seating or luggage space. If you can even find an early, well-treated RAV4, you’ll pay at least what this seller is asking; I’m surprised this car lasted long enough for me to write it up!
Seen one of these little rascals absolutely trucking thru deep snow and being excellent winter travel vehicles. They had quite good ground clearance. And maybe a center diff lock too 🤔
Enjoyed the write ✍️ up Michelle thank you.
Great then-great now! Someone’s gonna be very happy.
SUVs will never become collectors’ items. They are the stake in the heart of the classic car hobby.
You mean suv’s like the Land Cruiser or Ford Broncos. Yep, those will never become collectible.
The old Land Cruisers and Old Bronxos have ZERO in common with the SUVs of the last 20 years or so. Those were real utility vehicles, not things that all looked alike and were made for people who wanted to look rugged, but didn’t want a rugged vehicle.RAV4s, Equinoxes, Sorentos, CRVs, …they’re worthless now and will be more so in the future.
2 door Wranglers are about the only real utility vehicles still made. (The 4 doors are about as silly as 4 door Avantis.)
Remember what they said about horses never being replaced…
Like it or not, Rav4s in particular WILL become collectable. Watch.
Oh, and my “frugal” brother in law has at least 200K on his, with no intention of parting with it.
That’s right, 370zpp! 👍🏻
My wife had a 98 RAV4 and I’m totally convinced it was created for the Asian market but then seen an opportunity for North America. It suited her fine as she is under 5ft tall but I was cramped sitting in it. The rear door swung the wrong way for N/A and the dash was full of block off plates where switches would go–and we had the top line model. Wife never called it the RAV4, she called it my putt putt car–it was a little scary merging into 110km traffic.
Only good point was it was very reliable-only once did it go to the dealer for a noise under the hood-it was the timing belt hitting the guard and was fixed promptly.
I owned the EV version and have been chasing a 3-door convertible version for over a year but the owner won’t give it up no matter what I offer. Solid, dependable and comfortable. Who could ask for more.
If it actually is still available and the seller just hasn’t removed the add I surprised because of the state its in you definitely want to get under it and check for rot otherwise the drive train could be swapped into something else. Get the seller to send you some photos of the underside then buy a plane ticket