Toyota RAV4 vs. Mazda CX-5

Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews

Toyota RAV4

$429
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Mazda CX-5

$447
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Overall Reliability Rating

4
Excellent
The Toyota RAV4 Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 3rd out of 26 for compact SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $429 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The severity and frequency of repairs are both much lower than other vehicles, so the RAV4 is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road.
4
1
2
Excellent
The Mazda CX-5 Reliability Rating is 4.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 1st out of 26 for midsize SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $447 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The severity of repairs is low, and these issues are less frequent than average, so the CX-5 is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road.
Cost
Average annual repairs total
$429
inexpensive
expensive
$447
inexpensive
expensive
Frequency
Average annual repair shop visits
0.26
not often
very often
0.28
not often
very often
Severity
Percentage of annual repairs that are urgent
10%
not urgent
urgent
8%
not urgent
urgent

Overall Car Ratings & Details

5 (8)
4 (18)
3 (15)
2 (6)
1
(0)
“Love this car!”
“Love this car!”
5
(0)
4
(0)
3
(0)
2 (1)
1 (1)
“I am very disappointed in all the serious reports from previous owners of the Mazda CX-5 on the NHTSA website. These reports are not getting threw to the customers. All the while Mazda purchased...”
“I am very disappointed in all the serious reports from previous owners of the Mazda CX-5 on the...”

Vehicle Comparison Rundown

The Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5 are both compact SUVs, but each has its own priorities. While the RAV4 has become successful for being the reliable, utilitarian choice, the CX-5 is more of an upscale driver’s machine.

Just as with Mazda’s MX-5 Miata sports car, the CX-5 has been designed to give its driver the feeling of being one with the vehicle. The CX-5 has agile handling, encouraging you to explore its capabilities. Its new G-Vectoring Control helps pull you around corners in a way that other compact SUVs — the RAV4 included — just can’t manage. The CX-5 has more horsepower than the RAV4, and has a higher towing capacity. It also comes with a nicer interior, comparable with a luxury car.

The RAV4 bests the CX-5 in cargo space, both behind the rear seats and with the rear seats folded, thanks to a lower floor. It offers comparable safety features to the CX-5’s.

If utility and space are your primary concern, then the Toyota RAV4 is for you. Otherwise, you might prefer the Mazda CX-5.