© JAMES TAYLOR
Editor: Land Rover Enthusiast Magazine

Background

With the RAV-4, Toyota confronted one of the great hypocrisies of the four-wheel drive market. Recognising that only a small proportion of owners actually use their vehicles in demanding off-road conditions, the company designed this new model with all the style and chic of a leisure-market 4x4, but left out the transfer box which gives a second set of low-ratio gears. In spite of this, the RAV-4 still retained quite enough off-road ability to meet the demands of the occasional recreational off-road driver.

The vehicle's name embodies the ideas behind it, standing for Recreational Active Vehicle, Four-Wheel Drive. It was first shown as a concept car at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, then again in heavily altered form at the 1993 show. The response persuaded Toyota to put the vehicle into production, and it was announced for sale at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1994. Initially available only as a SWB three-door model, the RAV-4 was also shown in LWB five-door guise at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show. This version has not gone on sale in the UK at the time of writing.

The RAV-4's mission is to broaden the market for four-wheel drive vehicles by adding more sporting appeal and removing unwanted complications. The sporting appeal comes through fashionable styling, the 2-litre petrol engine and all-independent car-type suspension; the unwanted complications (for many buyers) are the low-ratio gears and the separate chassis traditional in the off-roader market: the RAV-4 has a monocoque bodyshell. In other respects, the RAV-4 is following in the footsteps of the hugely successful Suzuki Vitara - but it has taken the ideas behind that vehicle a stage further.

Character summary

The RAV-4 is a remarkable vehicle, adding the fashionable visual appeal of a hot hatch saloon car to the big-wheeled chunky aggressiveness of a traditional off-roader, it combines the functions of stylish city runabout with those of the weekend recreational off-roader, while majoring on everyday practicality. Early sales results in the UK showed an unusually large proportion of buyers to be women.

As a three-door SWB vehicle, the RAV-4 does not offer much room for luggage behind the rear seats. However, the front seat occupants are well provided for, and the vehicle makes a comfortable long-distance cruiser.

Performance summary

One of the RAV-4's design aims was that the vehicle should behave as much as possible like a conventional car on the road. Steering, handling and braking are as good as many cars', despite the RAV-4's higher stance, and performance from the 16-valve engine puts the RAV-4 among the leaders in the four-wheel drive market.

Off-road, the vehicle is much more capable than its paper specification might suggest. With the right tyres, its good ground clearance, short wheelbase and short overhangs contribute to very creditable ability. The lack of a low ratio in the transmission is likely to show itself only in extreme conditions, when the RAV-4 is bogged down in soft going or is asked to climb or descend very steep slopes.

Reliability, weaknesses, spares

There is no indication that the RAV-4 will be any less reliable than Toyota products traditionally have been. Its engine has a I ready been well-proven in Toyota passenger cars since 1986, and has acquired an enviable reputation for durability.

Spares are available through Toyota dealerships. There is no aftermarket as yet, but if the RAV-4 proves as popular as its makers expect, this position could well change.

Resale values

The RAV-4 vehicles will keep their value well.