Compare the2024 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2025 Mazda CX-70

Both the Rav4 Prime and the CX-70 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Prime for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-70.

There are over 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Mazda.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mazda is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Mazda is ranked 7th.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 22 more horsepower (302 vs. 280) than the CX-70’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the CX-70 running its gasoline engine:

The Rav4 Prime can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 42 miles, up to 10% further than the CX-70 PHEV‘s -mile range on a full charge and a full tank of fuel. The CX-70 PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 26 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 Prime uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-70 PHEV requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-70 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Prime SE’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the CX-70’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the CX-70’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Prime XSE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-70 Turbo S/PHEV (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Rav4 Prime may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 900 pounds less than the Mazda CX-70.

The Rav4 Prime is 1 foot, 7.9 inches shorter than the CX-70, making the Rav4 Prime easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rav4 Prime is 5.5 inches narrower than the CX-70, making the Rav4 Prime easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Rav4 Prime uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-70 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 Prime easier. The Rav4 Prime’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the CX-70’s liftover is 31.2 inches.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Prime. The CX-70 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The power windows standard on both the Rav4 Prime and the CX-70 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rav4 Prime is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-70 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Prime as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.