Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Toyota Rav4

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Rav4.

The CX-5 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Rav4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Toyota charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Rav4.

Both the CX-5 and the Rav4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	CX-5	Rav4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	82	152
Neck Injury Risk	23%	29.3%
Neck Stress	274 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/307 lbs.	400/388 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	156	284
Neck Injury Risk	37%	37.4%
Neck Stress	205 lbs.	258 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	95 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	CX-5	Rav4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	83
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	138 lbs.
Hip Force	189 lbs.	246 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	36 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	835 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Rav4:

	CX-5	Rav4
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	307	542
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Engine

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (256 vs. 203) and 136 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 184) than the Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Toyota Rav4:

	CX-5 4 cyl.	CX-5 turbo 4 cyl.	Rav4
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	6.4 sec	8.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	14.9 sec	16.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-5 Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4:

	CX-5 Turbo	Rav4
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.1 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Rav4:

	CX-5	Rav4
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	168 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5 has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the Rav4 Limited 4WD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Limited (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Rav4 LE/XLE’s (36 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The CX-5’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Rav4 Limited 4WD (76 vs. 77 dB).

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 (103.6 vs. 98.9).

The CX-5 has .2 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 7.6 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Rav4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rav4’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Rav4’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Rav4 LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Rav4’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Rav4 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the CX-5 with a number “1” insurance rate while the Rav4 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the Rav4 because it costs $255 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-5 than the Rav4, including $85 less for a water pump, $33 less for front brake pads, $138 less for a starter, $260 less for a fuel pump and $695 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota Rav4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-5 first. They ranked the Toyota Rav4 Limited 4WD fourth.