Ever wonder why crossovers and SUVs comprise more than half of all new vehicle sales and while the terms “crossover” and “SUV” are used interchangeably these days? Look no further than the Toyota RAV4 — celebrating its 25th birthday — which helped redefined the segment.
In 1996, when the Japanese automaker rolled out the first RAV4, many didn’t know what to make of it. It wasn’t a car. It wasn’t really a sport-utility vehicle. It was something, but no one really had the right term for it.
Now we do of course, it’s a crossover. However, even that isn’t really specific enough for some because many crossovers, including the current generation RAV4, possess off-road capabilities. They’re not Jeep Wranglers, but they’re not station wagons either.
And while there were other smaller than full-size SUVs at that time, such as the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Blazer, they were true sport-utes built on the appropriate chassis, not essentially a car chassis with a bulked up body.
Even the initial RAV4 was aimed at those looking to enjoy the outdoors. The RAV4 name originally stood for “Recreational Activity Vehicle: 4-Wheel Drive,” though the model would always offer a choice between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, Toyota notes.
Hated the versions with the spare tire hanging on the back.