Toyota RAV4 First generation
Toyota RAV4 (First generation) was built from 1994 to 2000, as a 3-door SUV (hardtop); 5-door SUV; 3-door convertible SUV (softtop). Powertrain: Petrol: 2.0 L 3S-FE I4; 2.0 L 3S-GE I4.
Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. Photograph: Cutlass, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons), from this generation's own encyclopedia entry.
Overview
The first-generation RAV4, known as the XA10 series, was constructed on a unique platform that shared Carina and Corolla elements. It launched in Japan in May 1994. Design and development commenced in 1989 under code-name 153T, with design approval and start of production development in the second half of 1991 on the 3-door version and in 1993 for the 5-door version. In March 1995, the 5-door was launched and introduced to the US in January 1996, with standard dual airbags. The XA10 series was available in both three and five door versions. In the US, a 2.0-litre straight-four producing 89 kW was available.
Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.
Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.
Against the other SUV / crossover models in this database (139 with this body type). Computed from the dimensions in the specifications, so it changes as the database grows.
- 196 mm below the median of 1,891 mm, and narrower than 98% of the 116 other SUV / crossover models in this database.
Who it suits
- Buyers who want ground clearance, a high seating position and load space: the typical strengths of the SUV body.
- Drivers buying for enjoyment rather than space: coupes and roadsters trade rear space for style and handling.
- High-mileage or city drivers who want lower fuel use without charging.
Check before you buy
- Ask for a battery state-of-health report: the traction battery is the main value driver in a used hybrid or electric car. Battery SOH tool
- Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
- Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
- Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
- Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator
General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.
Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
Other generations of the RAV4
- Fifth generation · 2018 - 2025; 2018-2022 (Russia){{Cite news; title=Toyota Ends Manufacturing Operations In Russia
- Sixth generation · 2025 - present
More from Toyota · all Toyota models
- GR GT · 2027 (to commence)
- bZ7 · 2026-present
- Highlander (Fifth generation) · 2026 (to commence)
- bZ3X · 2025 - present
- bZ5 · 2025 - present
- Hilux (Ninth generation) · 2025-present
Can I import a Toyota RAV4 (First generation) from Japan?
By production year alone, Toyota RAV4 (First generation) is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
What powers the Toyota RAV4 (First generation)?
Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: Petrol: 2.0 L 3S-FE I4; 2.0 L 3S-GE I4; electric motor: 50 kW, 190 Nm (electric).
Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.
- en.wikipedia.org (retrieved 2026-10-19)
Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.
- Complete guide · 13 minEV Specs Explained: EPA vs WLTP vs CLTC Range and Used EV Import GuideThe same EV can carry three different range ratings. Learn what EPA, WLTP and CLTC mean, how to read battery and charging specs, and what to check before importing a used EV such as a Nissan Leaf.
- Complete guide · 9 minEV Total Cost of Ownership: The Complete 2026 GuideSticker price is the smallest part of what a car costs you. This guide breaks down the full five-year total cost of owning an EV in 2026 — and how it compares to gas.
- Guide · 8 minEV Home Charging Setup: Costs and Options for 2026Home charging is what makes an EV cheap to run. Here's what a setup actually costs in 2026 — Level 1 vs Level 2, hardware, installation, and the tax credit that's about to expire.
- Guide · 8 minBest Used EVs to Import in 2026: What to Look ForImporting a used EV adds variables a domestic purchase doesn't have — charging standards, parts support, battery history. Here's the framework for picking one worth importing in 2026.
- Guide · 8 minEV vs Gas: The Real 5-Year Cost Breakdown (2026)Forget the slogans. Here's the real five-year cost comparison between an EV and a comparable gas car, using 2026 energy prices — and the conditions that decide which one wins.
- Guide · 8 minHow to Check a Used EV's Battery Health Before BuyingOn a used EV, the battery is the single most valuable — and most uncertain — component. Here's how to check its health before you buy, and what counts as normal in 2026.