Toyota’s RAV4 The 6 Year Journey of an Ultra-Popular SUV with Bold Design and Powerful Performance
The first generation of the RAV4 was released in 1994. Its off road capability as a crossover SUV and rugged design have made it popular for outdoor use. The current fifth generation model was released in April 2019. The body size is 4600mm-4610mm in length, 1855mm-1865mm in width, and 1885mm-1890mm in height, almost the same size as the company’s Harrier.
The exterior as a whole is based on the design theme of a “cross octagon” in which a geometric octagon is rotated 90 degrees and fitted into place. In addition, large diameter tires with a lift up effect are used, giving it both strength and sophistication that suits the city. On the other hand, the interior space has a luggage space of 580 liters, making it suitable for any scene, including outdoor use.
In terms of driving performance, the top grade of the gasoline engine model is equipped with the world’s first system, the Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD, which controls the front and rear torque distribution and the torque of the rear wheels independently on the left and right. This expresses the RAV4 concept of 4WD that combines the strength of an SUV with meticulous consideration for usability. In addition, all vehicles are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, a safety feature that includes various systems such as pedestrian detection and following the vehicle ahead.
In addition to the gasoline model with a 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine, a hybrid model that combines a 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder engine with a motor is available, and a plug in hybrid model was added in June 2020. The drive system is available in 2WD and 4WD for the gasoline and hybrid models, and 4WD for the plug in hybrid model. The gasoline model is equipped with a continuously variable transmission “Direct CVT,” and the hybrid and plug in hybrid models are equipped with an electric continuously variable transmission to achieve powerful driving.
The RAV4 is full of such charm, but due to a shortage of parts, orders for all grades were suspended at each dealership from summer to autumn 2023. It seems that some stores have resumed sales, but what is the current situation at dealerships?
A Toyota dealership representative in the Tokyo metropolitan area said the following: RAV4 sales stopped around the fall of 2023, and sales resumed in March 2024. Sales have now resumed in the form of made to order production, but the countdown to the end of production is underway. I have heard that the end of made to order production this time is not due to a shortage of parts. Therefore, it may be due to the release of a new model.
A Toyota dealer in the Kansai region also said: Our store temporarily stopped made to order production from around August 2023, and resumed it at the end of 2023. You can currently place orders, and there is no countdown to the suspension of orders yet. Last time, sales were suspended due to a shortage of parts, but this time, sales may be suspended because a new model is being released. Also, since the current RAV4 is a model that debuted five years ago, some users are thinking, ‘If there is a possibility that a new model will be released soon, I’ll wait until then.
As such, the timing of the resumption of sales varies depending on the dealer, but it seems that the countdown to the suspension of orders for the RAV4 has begun again. Last time, sales were suspended due to a shortage of parts, but this time, orders may be suspended in preparation for the release of a new model. Regarding the release of the new model, detailed information has not been released by dealers, but attention will be focused on future developments.