When the first idea of an urban luxury 4×4 was conjured up, the idea was to provide a luxury 4×4 for the rich farmer, contractor, site engineer, timber merchant… You get the idea!
However, along the way, middle-class families decided that a 4×4 would be a better buy over the boring luxury van, i.e. the MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) and so, the SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) was born.
Today, the SUV market is the fastest-growing market segment in the automotive lineup, and almost every vehicle manufacturer has jumped on the bandwagon with their own version.
Some have a ‘killer’ range and others provide more of a luxury station wagon with 4×4 engineering like the Volvo XC70 did decades ago. Years later, this phenomenon has now hit the used car market in Malaysia with great success.
Advertise a SUV and you will not be disappointed with the results. It sells faster and better than the previous bread-and-butter sedan, and this is why today we are looking at a used first-generation Toyota RAV4 SUV.
*Disclaimer: Car availability and pricing are accurate as of the time of publishing.
About The Toyota RAV4 1st Gen Model
Arriving officially in Malaysia as a fully imported unit from UMW Toyota, the high selling price of the Toyota RAV4 reduced its appeal initially, and the locally-assembled Honda CR-V took a lion’s share of the segment sales.
A few years later, Approved Permit (AP), a.k.a. reconditioned used car importers, started bringing in used units from Japan and the Toyota RAV4 began to sell without any issues. Urban Malaysians simply loved its curvaceous styling and Toyota reliability.
Toyota RAV4 1st Gen Model Features
When you find a used Toyota RAV4 for sale, request a test drive. With its fully independent suspension, this Toyota should ride and handle like a normal saloon or large hatchback. It is a comfortable vehicle with a good all-round view.
Inside, you will find 2 airbags, a manual control A/C system, power windows on four doors, with electric side view mirrors as well. Some units come with a power sliding glass sunroof (these are probably the used reconditioned units).
Under the hood, you will find a simple DOHC 16-valve Toyota 2.0L engine that produces about 120 horsepower and works with a 4-speed automatic gearbox.
It is a simple setup and finding replacement parts and maintenance should be easy. Please note that this is already a 20-odd-year-old vehicle, so the current owner should have spent some money on wear and tear parts. Ask for service and repair bills dating at least 3-4 years back. If there are no records, exercise caution before purchasing or have a trusted mechanic share their opinion.
Size Of The Toyota RAV4 1st Gen
This first-generation RAV4 is not large. It is 162 inches long, which is about two feet shorter than a Toyota Camry from the same year. It is quite light, weighing in at 1,150kg only. This RAV4 sits nine inches higher than a Camry, giving proper ground clearance for city floods and driving over kampung roads.
The Price Of A Toyota RAV4 1st Gen
The price of a 1996 Toyota RAV4 model varies from RM8,000 to about RM14,000, depending on overall condition and if it is a 2-door or 4-door. Yes, there is a cutesy 2-door version that rides along the same lines as the Suzuki Jimny.
Lately, the value of the 2-door version has risen in popularity with young adults for its sporty look. Find a Toyota RAV4 1996 for sale on Mudah.my and grab them quickly, as they do not stay for sale long – but it’s best to take your time and find one that ticks the service records, maintenance bills, and accident-free boxes before anything else.
