Toyota RAV4
Toyota RAV4 is the compact SUV that helped invent the crossover when it arrived in 1994, and it's now one of the best-selling vehicles on the planet. It started as a small, car-based runabout with optional all-wheel drive, then grew into the default family SUV for millions of buyers. Today's sixth-generation RAV4 is sold in the US only as a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, with up to 324 hp. Pick your year below to jump to the right generation, or read on for the history and which one suits you.
Toyota RAV4 at a Glance
First sold 1994 Japan in May, the US for 1996
Total sold 15 million+ Toyota's count as of May 2025
Markets 180 Countries and regions
Generations 6 From the XA10 to today's XA60
US powertrains Hybrid, plug-in 226 to 324 hp; no gas-only RAV4
US sales, 2025 479,288 America's best-selling SUV
Toyota RAV4 Generations
Years shown are US model years. The first RAV4 went on sale in Japan and Europe in 1994, but it didn't reach US showrooms until January 1996 as a 1996 model. Pick a card to open its full guide.
1996–2000
1st generation
XA105 model years
The original: a 119-hp 2.0-liter runabout in three- and five-door form, plus a soft-top from 1998.
Guide coming soon
2001–2005
2nd generation
XA205 model years
Five-door only in the US, and a 161-hp 2.4-liter arrived for 2004.
Guide coming soon
2006–2012
3rd generation
XA307 model years
Bigger, with an optional 269-hp V6 and a small third-row seat, a first for a compact SUV.
Guide coming soon
2013–2018
4th generation
XA406 model years
A real liftgate replaced the side-hinged door, the V6 left, and the first RAV4 Hybrid came for 2016.
Guide coming soon
2019–2025
5th generation
XA507 model years
TNGA-K platform, a 203-hp gas engine, the 219-hp Hybrid and the 302-hp RAV4 Prime.
Guide coming soon
2026–present
6th generation
XA601 model years
Today's RAV4: hybrid or plug-in only in the US, Arene software and a 324-hp GR Sport.
Read the XA60 guide →
Toyota RAV4 History
The RAV4 began as a quirky little Toyota and became the vehicle America buys more of than any other SUV. Here are the moments that shaped it.
- 1994 The RAV4 is revealed at the Geneva show in March, then goes on sale in Japan in May and in Europe and Australia in June.
- 1996 The RAV4 lands in the US in January as a 1996 model. In addition, it wins Automobile Magazine's 1997 Automobile of the Year.
- 1997 The first RAV4 EV goes into fleet service. Through 2003, 1,484 were leased or sold in California.
- 2000 The second generation goes on sale in July, and US buyers get only the five-door body.
- 2005 The third generation arrives for 2006 with a 269-hp V6 option and an available third-row seat.
- 2008 Toyota's new plant in Woodstock, Ontario, starts building RAV4s for North America in November.
- 2012 Toyota and Tesla launch a second RAV4 EV in California. About 2,500 were built through August 2014.
- 2015 The first RAV4 Hybrid is revealed at the New York auto show, and it goes on sale as a 2016 model.
- 2018 The fifth generation debuts in New York, then reaches US dealers in December as a 2019 model.
- 2020 Global sales pass 10 million, while the 302-hp RAV4 Prime plug-in arrives as a 2021 model.
- 2025 The sixth generation is revealed in May with a hybrid-only US lineup. Meanwhile, US sales hit 479,288, the most of any SUV.
- 2026 The Georgetown, Kentucky, plant starts building the new RAV4 Hybrid alongside the Ontario plants.
Which RAV4 Generation Is Right for You?
The right RAV4 depends on your budget and how much you care about fuel economy and safety tech. Most used buyers shop the last three generations, because each one is safer and more efficient than the one before. Here's how they line up.
| Generation | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–2nd generation | 1996–2005 | Cheap, simple runabouts and fans of the original small RAV4 |
| 3rd generation | 2006–2012 | Buyers who want a V6 or a small third row on a budget |
| 4th generation | 2013–2018 | Low-cost family SUV; 2016–2018 adds the first RAV4 Hybrid |
| 5th generation | 2019–2025 | The used sweet spot: 40-mpg-class Hybrid, Prime plug-in, TRD Off-Road |
| 6th generation | 2026–present | Newest tech, up to 44 mpg (est.) and a 324-hp plug-in |
Our take: for most used buyers, a fifth-generation RAV4 Hybrid is the sweet spot, because it pairs strong fuel economy with modern safety tech at a used price. If you want the newest software and the plug-in's longer electric range, the sixth generation is worth the wait for supply to loosen up.
RAV4 Owners Community
RAV4 owners talk fuel economy, road trips, light off-roading and keeping these SUVs running to big mileage. Share your RAV4, ask questions and swap tips with other owners.
- Hybrid vs plug-in: real-world mpg
- Charging the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid at home
- Woodland and TRD Off-Road builds
- Roof racks, hitches and towing
- Tires and wheels that fit
- High-mileage RAV4 stories
- Recalls and dealer service experiences
- Prime vs new Plug-in Hybrid: which to buy
Toyota RAV4 FAQ
What does RAV4 stand for?
Toyota's original name was Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive. However, not every RAV4 has all-wheel drive, since front-drive versions have been sold for most of its life.
What years is each RAV4 generation?
In the US: XA10 1996–2000, XA20 2001–2005, XA30 2006–2012, XA40 2013–2018, XA50 2019–2025 and XA60 from 2026 on.
Can you still buy a non-hybrid RAV4?
Not new in the US. Starting with the 2026 model year, every US RAV4 is a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. The last gas-only RAV4s are 2025 models.
How many RAV4s have been sold?
More than 15 million in about 180 countries and regions, according to Toyota's count when it revealed the sixth generation in May 2025.
Is the RAV4 the best-selling SUV in America?
Yes. Toyota sold 475,193 RAV4s in the US in 2024 and 479,288 in 2025, so it was the top-selling SUV both years and third overall behind the Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado pickups.
What happened to the RAV4 Prime?
It's now called the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. The 2026 version makes 324 hp, up from 302, and Toyota estimates up to 52 miles of electric range.
Keep Exploring
Explore Toyota's full lineup and the Corolla, or see what Honda and Subaru build to take on the RAV4.
Photo credits
- Header image: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Gray sixth-generation (XA60) Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Adventure…: TTTNIS, CC0, cropped and resized.
- 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium (XA50)…: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White 2016 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD (XA40)…: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Silver 2011 Toyota RAV4 Limited (XA30) in…: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Green 2003 Toyota RAV4 L (XA20) in…: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Silver 1999 Toyota RAV4 four-door (XA10) in…: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.