The First SUV? Toyota’s RAV-4 at 30

Apologies for the feeling that time is marching on, and perhaps feeling rather old right now, but Toyota’s RAV-4 is indeed 30 years old. It may not have the fascination of a classic supercar from the same era, or the interest of a low-production run curiosity. But it’s impact on automotive culture is undeniable. 

What was the first SUV?

This is a very tricky question to answer, mainly because definitions are rather fuzzy. Some will argue that the Jeep was the first, as the earliest car designed to be an off-road vehicle, but few will follow that logic. The Willys Jeep and Land Rover Series I et al are all too focused on getting anywhere, and hang the comfort, to be classed as a true ‘Sport Utility Vehicle’.  

Jeep’s name pops up again with its Cherokee (XJ) in 1984, though this again – despite its more comfortable interior, would not fit quite right. It’s still definitely focused on off-road ruggedness, and one might argue that the Range Rover is similarly – in fact, better – appointed, but arrived 14 years earlier. 

These models, like the Land Rover Discovery in 1989, are first and foremost an off-roader with some luxuries inside. What we’re looking for here is a car designed for the road, that still has the attributes of an off-roader. Which still keeps things vague, since Matra-Simca Rancho came along in 1977, but most think of this as the first crossover, a couple of decades before Nissan’s Qashqai. 

Toyota’s niche success

In 1989, Toyota presented the RAV-FOUR concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, but it took a further almost five years for the production model to make it to production. The all-wheel drive model was built on a monocoque body, and although was capable off-road, it was designed for on-road driving; all at a time before ‘lifestyle motoring’ was really a thing. 

Launched as a three-door, four-seat SUV, with the option of twin sunroofs, a five-door model arrived a few years later. Power came from a 2.0-litre petrol engine, making almost 130hp when new. Despite its high-driving position, the handling was set-up for on-road use, and was generally tailored for fun rather than utilitarian all-terrain transport. 

Developed over the years

The first generation RAV-4 proved a success, and got replaced in 2000 with a fresh design, but the same simple concept; off-road looks, on-road fun. By now, the competition had caught on, and rivals such as Land Rover’s Freelander and Honda’s CR-V, and more premium offerings such as Mercedes-Benz’s ML and the BMW X5 had come along. The SUV craze was taking off. 

Over the years, Toyota’s RAV-4 has developed into a more family-focused model, neatly sliding into the C-Segment SUV space that is now the cornerstone of every manufacturer’s offering. It’s grown-up, matured, and available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains – a thoroughly decent family car. 

But it’s the original RAV-4 that deserves recognition. The desirable attributes of many classic cars – individuality, fun, pioneering attitude, style… – these are all applicable to the Toyota, even if in an unusual form. And let’s face it, with three decades of SUVs, there are only going to be more of these reaching classic status in coming years.