Here is a comprehensive summary of the Toyota RAV4 article:

The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV that has become the best-selling SUV of all time, with over 15 million units sold worldwide as of 2025. Credited with popularizing the modern compact crossover segment, it made its debut in Japan and Europe in 1994 and arrived in North America in 1996, with its name standing for "Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive." In a historic milestone, the RAV4 replaced the Ford F-150 as the best-selling car in the United States in February 2025, ending the pickup's nearly four-decade reign. The first-generation model (XA10) offered both three- and five-door versions with front- or four-wheel drive, and it was named the 1997 Automobile of the Year by Automobile Magazine. Notably, Toyota also produced the RAV4 EV from 1997 to 2003, an early all-electric variant powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery that could travel up to 120 miles per charge.