- An electric version of the RAV4, the RAV4 EV, is detailed on its own page.
The Toyota RAV4 (pronounced "rav-four") is a compact sport utility vehicle built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. It was introduced in Japan in 1994 and in the U.S. in 1996 to cater to consumers wanting a vehicle that had most of the benefits of SUV's, such as increased cargo room, higher visibility, and the option of four-wheel drive, along with the maneuverability and fuel economy of a smaller car. It was one of the first vehicles of this class, paving the way for other small SUV's such as the Honda CR-V, the Ford Escape, and the Subaru Forester. Its name stands for "Recreational Active Vehicle, 4-wheel drive," although not all models have 4-wheel drive as this is optional.
