1995 Toyota RAV4 goes for a drive

The mark 1Toyota RAV4 brought the compact SUV to the mainstream, whats this 1995 car like 25 years later?

[TregTube]

I always thought those things were as terrible as they looked back in the day....that was, until I ended up with one identical to the one in the video, almost by accident. I was so impressed that I have used it as a rally car for 6 seasons (winning last years championship) and when it’s not being rallied, I use it on 4x4 club events. Surprisingly good on road as well once you dial into it. These things are a hidden gem

[whatevernevermind]

I absolutely love these “Goes For a Drive” videos on this channel!

[SERGUMUM]

Best Rav4 ever made!. In terms of keeping the original spirit. I bought a 1999 5 doors one in 2017 and I use it to work in the farm and everyday very tough, reliable and good 4x4 traction. Not a proper off-roader by the book but it may surprise you. This model stop selling in 2000. I bought one and I would buy another, simple fantastic car if you have to go through bad roads, or working in the countryside. Modern SUV are are just bigger cars so much more costs.

[MrPeteJMc]

Had a 5 door in 1995 and since then I'm on to my 8th RAV4 a 5th gen hybrid So have driven all models. Love the ravs. My first one is still going strong and I often see it driving around, an elderly lady drives it now. 24 years old and still looks good and going well.

[matthewgodwin]

Nearly bought one of these once, but in the end I decided that I didn't really need the 4×4 and went for a Ka instead. Another fun and funky little car that's sadly missing in it's manufacturers line up today. I know they still make a car called a Ka, but it just isn't the same. Just as today's Rav 4 is nowhere near as good as that wonderful first generation. Original is always best.

[GhostOfAMachine]

This is the best Rav4 ever made, and getting hard to find

[whatevernevermind]

This car would be very fitting with an Oasis CD inside

[rudolphguarnacci]

These were the best "bitchin' mobiles". I tried to get a friend of mine to buy one but he was too cheap and too scared to get a driver's license. He had a beautiful dog at the time and he could've tossed him in the back with a surf board or somerhing, driven to the beach and enjoyed life. Then Toyota destroyed this great, original, perfect design by making it bigger. I'm so glad you reviewed it. LOVE THE SCARF :D

[perkin]

Got a 1994 three-door auto on my drive. Sadly I think it's beyond saving, well, certainly beyond my limited mechanical skills.
However, of everything I've driven, it's the most loveably spirited vehicle. With some chunky tyres on it, mine was almost shockingly good off road, eager on the road, reliable (until only spring this year), comfortable, nippy, drove over snow and ice as if it wasn't there... just brilliant and fun.

I replaced it as a daily with a V8 S-Type. As refined, powerful and fast as that was, I was glad to see the back of it. If I ever have the disposable income to get the RAV up and running again, it will return to daily service.
I suspect, due to the number of people who have offered to buy it off me without knowing anything of the car's history, they might even start appearing on classic car 'wanted lists'.
Although I fear most folk who've shown an interest in mine wanted it for banger racing.

Anyway, great video, keep up the good work! :)

[guyemmott]

Blimey..Had one of those..! 2.0 Auto 3dr with A/C.. UTTERLY reliable and drove really well..
Great review..

[itsallrobbish]

We had one of these cars, higher spec, but it looked great. I have to say, the plastics used to vibrate and it was really noisy, whereas you seemed to think it was quiet, we must have had a dodgy one. One thing I will say, it handled like a little hot hatch, with a nice ride. Super strong, my wife rolled it in a ditch over twice, all the doors could still open. With the insurance claim, we got more than we paid for it and bought an import Mark one CRV and boy, that was in another league, soooo much better made, smooth, quiet, spacious and still did great mileage. We have a mark three RAV4 now and I still think the CRV is by far the superior product. Good video though squire.

[secondopinion]

Your rear seats stow forward in 4 steps. Remove headrests. Fold seat back all the way down flat onto seat bottom. Flip entire folded seat forward and secure with the braces embedded in seat bottoms. The headrests stow in the matching holes which are now pointing upward. For a completely open cargo area the rear seats are easily removed by the 4 mounting bolts at the front.

[ViperJustinACR]

I will always love this design. I was about 14 when this came out in the USA. The one thing I remember is my dad saying "there's no rear bumper." And yes, there's not rear bumper. I still think about picking one of these up from Japan just to drive it as a daily instead of my Land Cruiser. Either this or maybe a del Sol. Both were funky, fun cars from one of the best eras of Japanese cars.

[greatares]

*It’s a Exotic safari car of the Late 80s, Early and Mid-90s.
Hatchback ToySUVs. Those turquoise squiggly seat patterns are so aesthetic. The grey plastics, the numeric binary digital display. Love it. I think this car keep was designed all international markets of the world and used widely in climates of Far East Asia, South Asia, Caribbean, Pacific, Oceania, South Americas, Central America, Africa etc. it’s commonly seen there to have a use, where some countries only have 4x4 and FWD due to the terrains. Its a off-road hatchback utility car and the Jimney is a Kei car on large wheels. It does look like Tokyo Motor Show Concept from 1988 and it’s a RAV and gimmicky “GS” label”

[Steven-i]

Hi Matt, nice review on this Rav 4 SUV, there ain't many of these around now, a tidy example of this one.

[buddy]

My mother owns a 96 4-door RAV4. Bought in 98. Currently has just 172 thousand miles on it.😀

[aarongreenhow]

one of my favourite compact SUV's. I got the chance to drive a nice manual example, and it felt like a little go cart!

[BobM]

Engine sounds take me back to my old Carina E. Another once fairly common but now extinct motor

[michaelcarroll]

Hundreds of these in South Auckland nz no salt on the roads.

[mattw]

Really neat styling for the mid 1990s.
The front end resembles a Daihatsu Applause. Remember those?!