Compare the2025 Mazda 3VS 2024 Toyota Rav4

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Mazda 3 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Mazda 3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Mazda 3 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.

The Mazda 3 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 Mazda 3 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Toyota charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Rav4.

Both the Mazda 3 and the Rav4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda 3 is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	Mazda 3	Rav4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	89	152
Neck Injury Risk	17%	29.3%
Neck Stress	214 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	205/212 lbs.	400/388 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	153	284
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	37.4%
Neck Stress	191 lbs.	258 lbs.
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	95 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	178/201 lbs.	340/190 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Mazda 3 is much safer than the Rav4:

	Mazda 3	Rav4
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	148	307
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

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 3 is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	Mazda 3	Rav4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	239 lbs.	246 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	10 inches	14 inches
HIC	199	299
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	36 G’s
Hip Force	527 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 3 Sedan is safer than the Rav4:

	Mazda 3	Rav4
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1004 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	156	542
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	.94 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	290 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	335 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Mazda 3, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 5.4% to 5.8% less likely to roll over than the Rav4, which received a four-star rating.

The Mazda 3 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Rav4 was last only a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023 but no longer qualifies.

Engine

The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (250 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 3 is faster than the Toyota Rav4 (automatics tested):

	3 4 cyl.	3 turbo 4 cyl.	Rav4
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	5.6 sec	8.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	14.1 sec	16.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.3 MPH	99 MPH	83.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Mazda 3 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda 3 higher (7 out of 10) than the Toyota Rav4 (6). This means the Mazda 3 produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rav4 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Mazda 3 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the Rav4:

	Mazda 3	Rav4
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Mazda 3 2.5 S Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mazda 3’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Rav4 (107.3 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan handles at .86 G’s, while the Rav4 Limited pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mazda 3’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Rav4 LE/XLE’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Mazda 3’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Mazda 3 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4.

The Mazda 3 Hatchback is 5.3 inches shorter than the Rav4, making the Mazda 3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Mazda 3 is 10.3 inches shorter in height than the Rav4, making the Mazda 3 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Ergonomics

The Mazda 3 Premium 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 Mazda 3 has standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Rav4 XLE/Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road offers a Smart Key System.

The Mazda 3’s power window, power lock, power mirror 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), power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Mazda 3 2.5 S’ standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. 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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Mazda 3 Premium has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Rav4 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Rav4’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Mazda 3’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Rav4 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Model Availability

The Mazda 3 comes in sedan and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Toyota Rav4 isn’t available as a sedan or four door hatchback.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Mazda 3 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Mazda 3 with a number “8” insurance rate while the Rav4 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mazda 3 is less expensive to operate than the Rav4 because it costs $173 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Mazda 3 than the Rav4, including $31 less for a water pump, $20 less for front brake pads, $186 less for a starter, $6 less for fuel injection and $629 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

The Mazda 3 has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Mazda 3	Rav4
Consumer Reports® Recommends	Top Pick	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE