Toyota Motor Corporation, the well-appreciated Japanese auto major, has developed the next generation model of its iconic RAV4 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). Dubbed as the world's first crossover SUV, Toyota RAV4 helped its maker in recording impressive sales figures across the globe. Since 2005, the design of RAV4 has been transformed into a more compact form, which makes one wonder if the Japanese auto major could bring the vehicle to Indian markets, where compact SUVs are the hottest property at the moment.
The Toyota RAV4 in a compact SUV avatar seems like an interesting proposition for Indian utility vehicle market. During the second half of 2012 calendar year, prominent compact SUVs offered in domestic market, like Renault Duster and Mahindra Quanto, managed some highly impressive sales figures in the country. The immense popularity and demand for Duster and Quanto among Indian audience, lead other major car makers to accelerate operations at bringing their own compact utility vehicles in the country.
The Toyota RAV4 compact SUV seems like perfect option for those consumers looking for a vehicle that provides most perks of a utility vehicle, such as big cargo room, higher ground clearance, an All Wheel Drive (AWD) option, along with manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency of a small car. The name rendered to the vehicle by the Japanese auto giant, 'RAV4' stands for 'Recreational Active Vehicle with 4 wheel drive'. However, many variants of RAV4 do not have an AWD option, with the exception of few international auto markets.
Evidently, the domestic car enthusiasts' weak nerve for small SUVs has been identified by several major automobile firms. Ford India Private Limited (FIPL), a subsidiary of American auto major Ford Motor Co., is just few months away from the launch of its EcoSport compact SUV in the utility vehicle segment of Indian auto market. On similar lines of Ford India, General Motors India Private Limited (GMIPL) is also expected to bring its Trax compact SUV to Indian shores by the end of 2013. In all fairness, Toyota RAV4 seems like a subtle rival against the likes of Renault Duster and Mahindra Quanto in the Indian market, and its launch will surely be followed by a several domestic car enthusiasts.
