Believe it or not, the ubiquitous RAV4 has been around for two-and-a-half decades, appearing on the scene as a right-sized trucklet available in either two- or four-door guise. Remember when the RAV could be had with a removable roof? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
Twenty-five years on, the model has grown in size and cemented itself as a leader in its segment. Fun fact: the original four-door RAV was just 162 inches long, about two feet shorter than a Camry of the day, on a wheelbase of 94.5 inches. For 2022, Toyota has added a couple of extra trims and fiddled with some of its styling details.
First out of the gate is an SE trim for the popular hybrid model, a sentence which puts an exclamation point on the fact that RAV4 is now almost a brand onto itself with a variety of trims on its gas-powered, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid variants. Taking a similar tack to other SE-trimmed vehicles in the Toyota family, this one adds the likes of monotone paint and various blacked-out exterior trim details. It can it optioned up with a moonroof and a better sound system.
Across the line, RAV4 models with XLE grades and above get updated headlamps – Toyota says they’re for both style and for capability improvement, but the TTAC cynic says the brand is simply chasing ever-changing IIHS rules for being awarded a Top Safety Pick+ label. New LED fog lamps make no difference to this effort but nevertheless are introduced for XLE Premium, Limited, Adventure, and TRD Off Road models. The snazzy XSE Hybrid gets the same sleek vertical lights that debuted on the XSE Prime last year.
Interior tweaks are minor but notable, with all hands gaining a locking glovebox (thanks, economies of scale) and LED interior lamps which should have been standard by now, anyway. Fancy trims will get more illumination for their various and sundry interior switches, helping the place to perform a reasonable impersonation of Fremont Street.
We’ve noted this in the past but it’s worth repeating that the plug-in hybrid models, which were ostensibly developed as fuel-saving options, are the fleetest of foot when it comes to outright acceleration when comparing the different RAV4 models. In hybrid mode, it can generate a combined 302 horsepower and crack off a 0-60 mph sprint in just 5.7 seconds. This feat actually makes it the second-quickest Toyota next only to the new Supra. These are not words we could have written when the RAV4 showed up on our shores in 1996.
And if you’re wondering how those size numbers mentioned above the fold compare with the current model, a ’22 RAV4 measures 180.9 inches in length riding on a 105.9-inch wheelbase. More details on this year’s model, including pricing, will be released before Santa Claus shows up for the holidays.
[Images: Toyota]
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They should have stuck some grooved plastic cladding on it to really harken back to the original.
I think the fastest Toyota sold in the US has been some version of a Rav4 every year since 2007 or so. The phoned-in pathetic automatic scum BMW doesn’t count.
I think more recent Camrys are faster.. but yes for a long time the Rav4 V6 was the quickest thing on a Toyota lot – very depressing.
Its really amazing this thing caught on because the original one was a crappy, cheap, buzz box. My aunt had one and after using it to transfer some things back and forth from a storage unit I never wanted to be behind the wheel again.
The AWD (4wd?) version with a stick was surprisingly good off road. The FWD with the auto was abysmally under powered.
Considering V6 Camrys, that has to, if true, only be due to electronic limiting of those.
The RAV4 Prime has a stonking electric motor up front and actually has the battery discharge capacity to power it fully (unlike the Highlander and Sienna with the same motor). It has considerably more torque under the curve than the Camry V6, so it’s not really a surprise it’s quicker to 60.
Quicker to 60 is one thing. But ultimately faster??
No doubt the Camry V6 is faster on the high end.
Perhaps. Kind of like GM used to do when they would make sure no other model had as much horsepower as the Corvette!
I wonder if Toyota will actually be willing to sell anyone in Washington a RAV4 Prime this year. Up till now they have been going only to other states.
Let’s celebrate 70 years of Land Cruiser… by discontinuing it in the US….
It looks like Subaru knockoff. Toyota, what a disgrace!
There’s the new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross CUV, that slots beneath the RAV4 and that has a lot of the flavor of the older original RAV4s.
Pepperidge Farm, I used to have a 95 Rav-4, and I think it came out a year earlier in Europe and Japan. That puts it north of 25 years.
I recall when the RAV4 first came out and it was a quirky but highly useful vehicle. I’m not sure how to describe it now, though the average age of RAV4 drivers around here has to be north of 70. It’s become an ‘old folks’ vehicle here, much like most things in the Toyota lineup. Subaru has gone this way around here too.
Please explain, what does Pepperidge Farm have to do with the RAV4?
Pepperidge Farm REMEMEBERS.
Memba berries.
1980’s TV commercial, old man remembering the old times and eating Pepperidge Farm cookies. Family Guy made it into a funny threat and then the memes took over.