2000 TOYOTA RAV4 3 Doors 2.0L VVT-i 5MT FWD (150 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The second generation of the Toyota Rav4 was introduced in 2000 and it was offered in a 3- or 5-doors. Despite sharing some components, the two versions were very different.

Shorter, but with the same width and height, the 3-door version was a very good urban cross-over, long before that term became mainstream. Its target-customers were women and it was based on the already proven Corolla/Carina platform.

The exterior styling was similar to the 5-door version up to the A-pillars. Its swept-back headlights over the hood and front fenders inspired agility. The front grille was trapezoidal, and complement by another air-intake in the front apron. From the side, the slightly sculptured door and rear quarter panels made the car look longer. The rear-mounted spare-wheel was good since there was limited room in the car, or underneath, to store it.

The interior featured a two-tone design for the dashboard, with a black upper part and a light-gray lower side. The instrument cluster was inspired, with three dials on a white background. The center console featured a look closer to a compact-size car than an SUV. In the back, there was limited room for adults, with not enough legroom if the driver was above the average size. The very small trunk could have been extended by folding the rear seats.

For the engine-compartment, Toyota installed two gasoline and one diesel versions. The standard transmission for all models was a 5-speed manual. On selected markets, a 4-speed automatic was offered at extra cost.