Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4VS 2025 Mazda CX-50

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Rav4 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Mazda CX-50, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Rav4 Limited AWD standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-50 doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Rav4 and the CX-50 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 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-50.

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’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Rav4’s reliability 15 points higher than the CX-50.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 7th.

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’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (203 vs. 187) than the CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 163) than the CX-50’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Rav4 is faster than the Mazda CX-50 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the CX-50:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-50 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Toyota Rav4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-50.

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the CX-50:

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Rav4 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Rav4 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Rav4 flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Rav4 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-50 (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-50 Hybrid Preferred (8.4 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 pounds less than the Mazda CX-50.

The Rav4 is 4.9 inches shorter than the CX-50, making the Rav4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Rav4 Limited 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-50 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Rav4 Limited 4WD is quieter than the CX-50:

The Rav4 has .4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The CX-50’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-50 with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-50 with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The CX-50 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rav4 Limited’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CX-50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The power windows standard on both the Rav4 and the CX-50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rav4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the CX-50 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 will cost $60 to $2505 less than the CX-50 over a five-year period.

The Rav4 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 will retain 60.29% to 62.45% of its original price after five years, while the CX-50 only retains 53.88% to 56.04%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 and the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Mazda CX-50 by almost 10 to one during 2023.