Rolling onto U.S. soil for the 1996 model year, it was a pioneering vehicle offering a blend of passenger-car civility with SUV ruggedness. While the first batch looked spunky, new-generation RAV4s appear to be in attack mode. Rear-end boxiness and tall, ribbed body cladding have been vanquished.
Lines are cleaner and bolder, upping both macho and refinement.
The 2001's double-grooved hood rises well above front fenders, and both grille and headlamps have been enlarged. Adding more bulk is a taller band of black protective covering wrapping the bumper fascia. Big-lens foglamps boldly planted in the bumper are optional. Muscularity is increased at the sides with swells outlining wheel arches and more of a wedged beltline. Light creases arc across bodysides to form a shallow scoop-like effect.