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The Toyota RAV4 is celebrating a double milestone in Australia, passing 500,000 customer deliveries and marking the 30th anniversary of its local introduction.
Official sales figures reveal that RAV4 reached a cumulative total of 501,546 local sales by the end of June, a month that also marked the model’s third decade on Australian motorist shopping lists.
Credited as having ushered in the car-based SUV globally, the RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in this country since its July 1994 debut and the only vehicle in its class to post half a million sales here.
Toyota Australia spokesman Sean Hanley says the RAV4 is a trend-setting model that continues to anticipate changing customer needs.
“Customer demand has never been higher for the RAV4 because it delivers a winning formula that combines SUV fun and adventure with passenger-car ride, handling and economy – just as it’s done for three decades,” he said.
“The RAV4 enters honoured company in reaching 500,000 sales in Australia, joining other Toyota icons in Corolla, HiLux, LandCruiser and Camry – all of which have now exceeded one million sales.”
Its popularity in Australia has accelerated over the years. The first 100,000 sales took more than 11 years to reach, but the most recent 100,000 deliveries took fewer than three years.
The halfway point of 250,000 RAV4 SUVs was reached after more than 21 years on the market, yet the RAV4 has now doubled that total in fewer than nine years – or more than twice as fast.
Over the model’s 30-year history, demand has averaged above 16,700 cars per year. The car’s best five years of sales have all occurred in the past five years.
The RAV4 is on track to set another full-year sales record in 2024, with its January-June tally at a new high of 25,405 cars. This total includes 5857 sales in April, of which 5504 were Hybrid Electric vehicles (HEVs) – both of which were records.
Hybrid variants were introduced with the fifth-generation RAV4. Since then, hybrids have accounted for 72.4% of all RAV4 sales in Australia. They have dominated the model’s local sales since the start of 2020, accelerating to a record share of 94.2% this year.
Australia has stepped up its demand for this SUV icon. Local customers account for approximately 3.5% of the 14 million RAV4 SUVs sold worldwide, even though Australia’s population is just one-third of the global total.
In July 2020, the RAV4 made automotive history in Australia by becoming the first SUV to become the country’s best-selling vehicle.
The following month, RAV4 again entered the record books when its hybrid sales outsold every vehicle available in Australia.
Last month, due to surging customer demand for hybrid variants, Toyota Australia announced it no longer offers petrol-only variants of RAV4 or any other models with HEV vehicles.
RAV4: the beginning
Toyota showed interest in creating a compact all-wheel-drive (AWD) model by displaying the RAV-FOUR concept (Recreational Active Vehicle Four-wheel drive) at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show.
The production version, RAV4, debuted at the Tokyo show in 1993 and was released in Australia in July the following year.
First generation: 1994-2000
Aimed primarily at urban users, the original RAV4 was instrumental in pioneering the crossover vehicle concept in Australia.
The RAV4 set the trend for small AWDs by offering car-like ride and handling, thanks to its fully independent suspension and monocoque construction rather than a separate chassis. It also provided the ability to go off the tarmac with a raised ride height and constant AWD.
Toyota designers broke with convention by creating a bold, fun design with eye-catching curves and unique lines.
A 96kW 2.0-litre twin-cam four-cylinder engine powered the first generation mated to a four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox.
Initially available as a three-door, the RAV4 range expanded to include a five-door variant in 1995 and a three-door Cabrio in 1998.
Second generation: 2000-2006
The appeal of its versatility quickly took hold, leading to the July 2000 launch of a longer, wider, roomier and more sophisticated RAV4 range in 3-door hardtop and 5-door wagon configurations.
The second-generation RAV4’s engine power increased to 110kW, and the model featured many new safety and convenience features, including twin airbags, remote central locking, power windows, and a CD player.
A November 2003 upgrade introduced a 120kW 2.4-litre engine, improving safety, steering, handling, refinement, and equipment levels. Full-time 4WD with a viscous-coupled centre differential continued.
Third generation: 2006-2013
The third-generation model launched in 2006 was built on an all-new platform with a longer wheelbase and wider track, offering more interior space and equipment.
Maximum power increased to 125kW while the drivetrain moved to a part-time AWD system with a manual AWD lock for use below 40km/h.
A 201kW/333Nm 3.5-litre V6 arrived in 2007 – the most powerful naturally aspirated engine offered by Toyota in Australia at the time and the most powerful model in its segment.
In late 2008, exterior design changes were adopted while vehicle stability control and active front seat head restraints became standard across the range. A front-drive entry-level RAV4 was introduced in 2010.
Fourth generation: 2013-2019
For the fourth generation in 2013, RAV4 delivered a sportier look and sharper driving dynamics, a new AWD system, two new petrol engines and the model’s first turbo-diesel.
The 2WD variants were powered by a 107kW/187Nm petrol four with a six-speed manual or a CVT with a seven-speed sequential mode. AWD customers could choose from a 132kW/233Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol or a 110kW/340Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, both available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.
An upgrade in late 2015 brought sleeker and more dynamic exterior styling, refreshed interiors, Euro 5 engines, trailer sway control and new features, including an available package of integrated active safety and driver assistance technologies.
These safety features, including a pre-collision system, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure alert, active cruise control, and automatic high beam, were made standard in 2017.
Fifth generation: 2019 to date
The current fifth-generation RAV4, launched in 2019, raised the bar for SUV performance, technology, style and refinement. It offered class-leading safety technologies across the range.
It was the first SUV built on a Toyota New Global Architecture platform. It achieved a low centre of gravity, was lightweight, and had a strong chassis for exceptional handling and stability.
Among its innovations, Toyota unveiled the first hybrid SUV for the Australian market in GX, GXL, and Cruiser grades. Combined with a new 2.5-litre petrol engine, the hybrid system was offered in 160kW (2WD) and 163kW (AWD) drivetrains—the most powerful and efficient in the range.
The 2WD petrol variants were also available in GX, GXL, and Cruiser grades—all powered by a new 127kW/203Nm 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder engine.
The adventure-focused Edge AWD was topping the range, powered by a new 2.5-litre petrol engine with 152kW/243Nm and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
In 2021, Toyota announced a new XSE mid-level grade, expanded hybrid availability to all grades and improved specification across the line-up. Further improvements in 2022 included the latest generation multimedia system and new safety features.
