The Toyota RAV4 debuted in 1996 as a quirky vehicle that drove like a car but had ground clearance like an SUV. Hardcore off-roaders dismissed it as not rugged enough. No one predicted that vehicles like it would soon take over the automotive landscape.
Today, the crossover—a unibody vehicle with tall ride height—is the dominant body style in new cars. Traditional car enthusiasts curse the RAV4 for starting it all. However, an imported Japan-market RAV4 Type G like the one currently for sale on eBay Motors in Lutz, Fla., might change the mind of even the most ardent car nut.
The First Crossover?
Toyota bills the RAV4 as the first crossover SUV, but that’s a bit misleading. First, in the US, crossover is defined as having a car-like unibody platform for a softer ride and better fuel economy. An SUV has a body-on-frame architecture that is heavier and more rugged but sacrifices comfort and mpg. The term “crossover SUV” is an oxymoron unless you’re loosely defining SUV to mean any high-riding two-box vehicle.
Secondly, Toyota wasn’t really the first. That distinction goes to the AMC Eagle, a 4×4 wagon that debuted in 1980. The XJ Jeep Cherokee followed in 1984 under AMC ownership.
A Tale of Two RAVs
The RAV4 was popular for its effortless, car-like drive. In the US, it shared a 119 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with the Camry and borrowed components from the popular Corolla sedan. Toyota offered two body styles on the RAV4: a two-door short-wheelbase version that resembled a Suzuki Sidekick and the more common four-door long-wheelbase version. For the 1998 model year, output increased to 127 horsepower, which was adequate but not sizzling.
In Japan, however, RAV4 came in a high-performance version not sold in the US. The RAV4 Type G was equipped with a 2.0-liter Beams engine that generated an impressive 177 horsepower. With the more powerful Beams engine, high ground clearance, and all-wheel drive, the short-wheelbase RAV4 Type G was more like a dune buggy than a city runabout.
Fun in a ’90s Throwback
The car’s original owner looks to have checked every option box when equipping this RAV4. In addition to the top-shelf engine, it comes with a premium stereo, automatic transmission, and Aero Sports Package that adds sporty front and rear fascias, side skirts, and a roof spoiler. Somewhere along the way, it gained a set of 17-inch Fifteen52 wheels and Falken Wildpeak A/T tires.
With only 49,402 miles on the odometer, the RAV4 Type G is a time capsule of the late ’90s. It even comes with the original, charmingly retro blue-and-pink seat fabric pattern. The listing says that the car is rust-free with a Florida title and ready to be enjoyed. As a Toyota, the drivetrain will likely be solid as a rock. There aren’t many cars this unique available for $17,998. If Toyota had sold this version here in the 1990s, perhaps the RAV4 wouldn’t have the dull reputation it does today.
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