1st gen Toyota RAV4 1996–2000

What it came with

• 2.0L four-cylinder¹

  120 hp in 1996, by Edmunds

Transmissions

5-speed manual^1,2, 4-speed automatic²

Drivetrains

Front-wheel drive¹, All-wheel drive¹

Trims

Base², Soft Top (1998–2000)^2,3, L Special Edition^2,4

• Model codes: XA10⁵
• Bodies: Two-door and four-door, and the two-door Soft Top from late 1998^1,2
• First sold: In Japan, from May 1994⁶
• RAV4 EV: A battery-electric version from the late 1990s, leased to fleets, with a 288 V nickel-metal hydride battery and 80 to 100 miles a charge. Sales to the public in California were due from February 2002.⁷

Rare finds

Rare trims, packages and options to look out for, and whether finding one is good news.

• Good find Soft Top Trim

  Sold in the US from 1998 to 2000 only³

  Why it is a good find: The Autopian calls the soft-top convertible an even cooler version of the three-door RAV4, and found none for sale.³

Sources

1. Edmunds 1996 review
2. Edmunds 1998 review
3. The Autopian (Soft Top)
4. Edmunds 1999 specs
5. Wikipedia (RAV4)
6. Toyota UK (RAV4 history)
7. Green Car Journal (1st RAV4 EV)