Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5VS 2026 Toyota Rav4

The Mazda CX-5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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.

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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Smart Braking Support - Rear Crossing, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Rav4 SE/Woodland/XLE/XSE/Limited/GR Sport offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the CX-5 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, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

The CX-5 has more powerful engines than the Rav4:

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

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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the Rav4 (110.7 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Rav4’s (36.8 feet vs. 36.9 feet). The CX-5’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Rav4 GR Sport’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rav4 GR Sport (8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-5 has 7.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 (106.5 vs. 98.9).

The CX-5 has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom and 2.8 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4.

While the Rav4 GR Sport is not recommended to tow, any CX-5 can tow a minimum of 1500 pounds.

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s standard Entry/Exit Assist glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Rav4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium Plus 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 CX-5 Preferred/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.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota Rav4 offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-5 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Rav4’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.