TOYOTA Australia is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of its RAV4 mid-sized SUV with an necessary milestone – 500,000 cumulative gross sales.
The official variety of 501,546 native gross sales was reached on the finish of June, a month that additionally celebrated the mannequin’s third decade in Australian showrooms.
Toyota says the recognition of the RAV4 domestically has accelerated through the years, taking greater than 11 years to achieve the primary 100,000 gross sales, however fewer than three years for the newest 100,000 deliveries.
The half-way level of 250,000 RAV4 gross sales was reached after greater than 21 years available on the market, but the RAV4 has now doubled that complete in fewer than 9 years – or greater than twice as quick. All of the automotive’s finest gross sales years have occurred up to now 5 years.
Toyota Australia says the RAV4 is on monitor to set one other full-year gross sales document in 2024 with its mid-year tally at a brand new excessive of 25,405 models. This consists of 5857 unit gross sales in April, of which 5504 had been hybrid electrical autos. Each figures are all-time information.
Hybrid variants had been launched with the fifth-generation RAV4 and since then have accounted for 72.4 per cent of all Australian mannequin gross sales.
Australia has punched above its weight with demand for the RAV4. Native clients account for about 3.5 per cent of the 14 million RAV4 fashions offered globally, though Australia’s inhabitants is simply 0.33 per cent of the worldwide complete.
The RAV4 was additionally the primary SUV to prime the Aussie gross sales charts when it turned the county’s best-selling automotive in July 2020. The next month, the RAV4 once more entered the document books when its hybrid gross sales alone outsold each different car out there in Australia.
Wanting again…
In 1989 Toyota signalled its curiosity in making a compact all-wheel drive mannequin when it displayed the RAV-FOUR (Leisure Lively Car 4-wheel drive) on the Tokyo Motor Present.
The manufacturing model was unveiled on the identical present in 1993 and launched in Australia in July of 1994.
Aimed primarily at city customers, the RAV4 is credited with beginning our love affair with the SUV. It mixed a better journey top with car-like journey and dealing with properties and fixed all-wheel drive and was powered initially by a 96kW 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to both a four-speed computerized or five-speed guide transmission.
In 2000, the second era RAV4 arrived as a bigger, and extra refined tackle the style. Once more supplied in three- and five-door physique kinds, the small-segment SUV now supplied twin entrance airbags, distant central locking, and a extra highly effective 110kW petrol engine.
A November 2003 improve noticed the introduction of a 120kW 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, coupled with improved steering and dealing with, and better gear ranges.
The third era RAV4 was launched in 2006 and was constructed on an all-new platform providing an extended wheelbase and wider monitor. With higher inside house and gear, the mannequin moved to supply a selection of 125kW four-cylinder petrol energy and part-time AWD.
In 2007 Toyota supplied the RAV4 with a 3.5-litre V6 engine for the primary time, the gutsy 201kW unit probably the most highly effective naturally aspirated engine supplied by Toyota in Australia on the time – and probably the most highly effective in its phase by a substantial margin.
The third-generation RAV4 was up to date in late 2008 with beauty adjustments becoming a member of the inclusion digital stability management and lively entrance seat head restraints. A two-wheel drive model was launched in 2010.
For the fourth era, launched in 2013, the RAV4 now provide two petrol engines, a turbo-diesel possibility, and an all-new AWD system.
Two-wheel drive variants had been powered by a 107kW four-cylinder petrol unit with six-speed guide or CVT providing, whereas all-wheel drive variants supplied a selection of a 132kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol or 110kW 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, each with both a six-speed guide or computerized transmission.
The vary was up to date in 2015 with Euro5 compliant engines, trailer sway management, and new lively security and driver help applied sciences.
For the fifth and present era, launched in 2019, we discover the RAV4 underpinned by Toyota New International Structure (TNGA) providing a lowered centre of gravity, lighter weight, and a stronger chassis.
The primary hybrid RAV4 is launched, providing 160kW front- and 163kW all-wheel drive choices, alongside a 127kW 2.0-litre petrol-powered front-wheel drive various. The range-topping RAV4 Edge gives a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol creating 152kW and paired with an eight-speed computerized.
“Buyer demand has by no means been greater for the RAV4 as a result of it delivers a successful formulation that mixes SUV enjoyable and journey with passenger-car journey, dealing with and economic system, simply because it’s finished for 3 many years,” mentioned Toyota Australia vp of gross sales, advertising and franchise operations Sean Hanley.
“The RAV4 enters honoured firm in reaching 500,000 gross sales in Australia, becoming a member of different Toyota icons in Corolla, HiLux, LandCrusier and Camry, all of which have now exceeded a million gross sales.”
