Toyota RAV4: In Great Shape as it’s About to Turn 30

The Toyota RAV4 is getting a makeover for 2026, as the company unveils the sixth-generation model. We’ll describe and analyze it next week, when the embargo lifts on October 22. We had the opportunity to drive it at an event held in Ontario earlier this month.

• The sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 is expected in early 2026.

• The next generation will only be available in a hybrid configuration.

• The RAV4’s history dates back nearly 40 years, with the first sketches.

It’s worth mentioning, because most RAV4s sold in Canada are manufactured in Ontario.

As a result, the model is doubly vital to Toyota Canada. Not only does it play a significant role in the lineup, but it is also the cornerstone of the Japanese manufacturer’s Canadian production.

Beyond all that, the Toyota RAV4 is a cultural phenomenon. It was one of the first SUVs to make its mark on the market, but since 2017, it has been the best-selling model in North America, except for full-size pickup trucks from the Big Three.

To say that consumers love this vehicle is an understatement; they worship it.

To look back on the history of this model and celebrate the arrival of a new generation, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane to recall the key dates in the vehicle’s history, starting with the moment Toyota unveiled it as a concept car.

The prototype

Although the RAV4 made its debut in 1996, its origins can be traced back to 1986, at least to the first sketches in the company’s design studios. Three years later, at the Tokyo Motor Show, the company unveiled the RAV Four concept, which was inspired by the latest trends in urban SUVs at the time, particularly those from Suzuki.

We’ll let you be the judge of the design, which includes some eye-catching elements, but others that leave us speechless, such as the plastic-looking doors reminiscent of Pontiac’s worst years in the same era.

Nevertheless, Toyota had laid the foundations. Oh, the letters RAV? Recreational Active Vehicle. Simple as that.

1994

Still at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1993, the company returned with another concept version of the model, but this time it was much closer to production. In fact, the company announced that it would be marketing a new “concept” 4×4 vehicle called the RAV4. Toyota had no illusions. It did not consider its model to be as rugged as the Land Cruiser. Instead, it aimed to offer something different and fun, while also providing a vehicle that stood out from what was available elsewhere.

At the heart of the model’s mission were five key areas. The newcomer had to offer generous space, a compact, sporty, and progressive body design, as well as good off-road capabilities. It also had to deliver excellent performance and superior on-road comfort, according to the press release issued at the time.

In Japan, the company initially hoped to sell 2,000 units per month.

1996-1997 to 1999 (first generation)

It wasn’t until 1996 that the model arrived in North America. There is some confusion as to whether we got 1996 or only 1997 models. The answer is actually quite simple.

The RAV4 was introduced in the spring of 1996 in the USA, and it was marketed accordingly. In Canada, it launched in September, labelled as a 1997 product. It was confirmed to us by Toyota Canada at the launch of the new RAV. Regarding the public’s reaction, it was overwhelmingly positive; by the end of 1996, Toyota had sold 1,899 units.

The lineup included four-door variants, as well as two-door models, such as the one we photographed at the launch of the new generation. And yes, at the time, the company mentioned two-door and four-door models, rather than three-door and five-door, as we do today when referring to hatchback vehicles.

To give you an idea of its dimensions, the wheelbase of both versions was shorter than that of a 2026 Mini Cooper. As far as length goes, the two-door version was shorter than a Mini, while the four-door 1997 RAV4 was a few centimeters longer than a five-door Mini.

Yes, models have grown in size over the past 30 years.

An electric version ahead of its time

Some may remember that the first-generation model was available in an electric version, but only in the United States. In fact, it was offered in California as part of a program to promote zero-emission vehicles there, where emissions standards were already more stringent.

The electric range was approximately 200 km.

2000–2005 (second generation)

For the second generation, Toyota took a step forward by offering a more refined and practical SUV in every respect. Toyota now benefited from feedback from customers who had a lot to say about what they wanted from a second generation. For example, the company decided to abandon the two-door variant in favor of a configuration that would now be identified as a five-door.

The design of the latter remains a classic today, with the spare tire still mounted on the tailgate —a feature that carried over one last time with the third generation. However, this second generation would be the last to offer a manual transmission.

A new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, rather than a 2.0-liter, made its debut with this version, offering 161 horsepower.

2006–2012 (third generation)

For its third lap, the RAV4 inherited a new platform. Once again, the model grew in size, as North American consumers’ ever-increasing appetite for SUVs was in full swing. Toyota even offered the option of a seven-seat interior configuration.

The RAV4 sold elsewhere in the world had a shorter wheelbase.

Under the hood, a new 3.5-liter V6 engine made its debut, which significantly enhanced the driving experience. Your humble servant remembers very well his first test drive of a 2007 model, where spinning the front tires off the line was child’s play, thanks to the then-impressive 269 horsepower and 246 lb-ft of torque.

Interesting note: Toyota Canada began manufacturing the RAV4 at its Woodstock, Ontario, plant on November 3, 2008. Below is a photo of the first model assembled in Canada, caught outside the plant at last October’s event.

Another noteworthy fact: in May 2012, Toyota Canada launched another electric version of the RAV4, this time developed in partnership with Tesla. Toyota reserved the model for the California market, but it was proudly assembled here, in Canada.

2013-2018 (fourth generation)

With the fourth generation, the design standardized worldwide. We also began to see where the company was heading with this product, with the first hybrid variant of the model launched for the 2016 model year.

The new RAV4 adopted a rather dull design and grew slightly in size. Most importantly, cargo volume increased by 47%, making it one of the benchmarks in the compact SUV category.

2019-2025 (fifth generation)

With the generation that we must still consider current, before the arrival of the 2026 models in dealerships, the RAV4 reached the top of its game.

As mentioned in the introduction, since 2017, it has established itself as the best-selling vehicle in North America, except for pickup trucks. Last year, the company sold 77,556 units in Canada alone, representing a 3.8% increase from 2023. That’s still impressive for a model nearing the end of its production cycle.

What marked this fifth generation was, of course, the debut of the Prime plug-in hybrid version, which proved to be more popular than the Pope at one point.

We also saw that Toyota and its RAV4 were not infallible in terms of reliability, with the infamous cable crisis in the hybrid versions, which visibly corroded. The problem is now behind us, and as you can see, it did not significantly impact the model’s sales.

People are looking for sure values… and that’s what they get with a Toyota RAV4.

2026 — (sixth generation)

As for the sixth generation, which we went to test drive, please note that you’ll receive all the details starting October 22, when our colleague Luc-Olivier Chamberland will provide a full report.

Note that this new generation is fully hybrid, and it will prove to be more efficient in every way. The plug-in version will follow later.

We can expect continuity for Toyota in terms of global sales. Its model has already sold 14 million units in just over 30 years, including its debut in Japan.