Compact SUVs are the best-selling class of vehicles today, drawing millions of buyers with their practicality, efficiency, and easy driving manners. So it’s little wonder that the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 are the most popular vehicles for their respective brands. Each is a 5-passenger compact SUV with the latest safety and tech features, yet each brings its own personality to the table.
To help you decide which may be the better pick for you, here’s how the 2025 Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 compare to each other.
2025 Mazda CX-5
The 2025 Mazda CX-5 is practical, affordable, and efficient. But it goes far beyond simply checking off the points shoppers want in a compact SUV. The Mazda CX-5 also happens to be one of the most fun-to-drive vehicles in its class. Even with the base 187-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, this Mazda is more taut and athletic than you might expect. If you opt for the turbocharged CX-5 with up to 256 hp, this SUV becomes a downright hoot to drive.
All CX-5 models come with a long list of standard features, including all-wheel drive (AWD), plus driver assist features like adaptive cruise control. For the 2025 model year, the base S trim returns, which means an even more attractive starting price.
Mazda CX-5 Highlights
Standard all-wheel drive: Mazda is among the few automakers whose lineup of SUVs comes standard with all-wheel drive. The Toyota RAV4 offers it, but you have to pay extra.
Premium design: The CX-5 is stylish inside and out. Its exterior is curvy and athletic, and Mazda continues to create some of the most eye-popping paint colors we’ve ever seen on a mainstream brand. Where the RAV4 is more angular and workman-like, the CX-5 looks dressed in designer clothes.
Turbo engine: If you’re buying a Mazda CX-5 for its athletic nature and really want to make the most of its excellent chassis, consider opting for this upgrade engine. The RAV4 offers no such performance upgrade.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CX-5 models for sale near you
2025 Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is one of the first compact SUVs, entering the U.S. market in 1996 and leading the way for today’s crop of rivals. The 2025 RAV4 is now in its final year of this generation before an all-new one arrives for 2026. Still, the current model has a lot to offer and attracts scores of buyers. In fact, it was the third best-selling vehicle in the U.S. last year. The RAV4 is also offered as a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. We focus on standard gasoline models here.
Toyota RAV4 Highlights
12.3-inch digital display: Standard on the Limited trim, this customizable, all-digital instrument cluster adds panache to the top RAV4. You won’t find one of its size on any CX-5.
Ventilated front seats: Also standard on the Limited, you’ll be thankful for this feature whenever the temperature rises.
Digital rearview mirror: Yet another excellent feature not available on the Mazda, this option gets you a rearview mirror that can switch from a traditional mirror into a digital screen that shows a wide, camera-based image of what’s behind you. It’s an asset when your view is otherwise compromised by cargo or passengers’ heads in the back seat.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the RAV4 models for sale near you
Similarities
The Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 come with an extensive set of active safety systems and technology, seating for five, 4-cylinder powertrains, and easy driving manners.
Pricing
New 2025 MAZDA CX-5 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$30,265 |
$29,075 |
|||
$31,595 |
$29,933 |
|||
$32,245 |
$31,338 |
|||
$33,845 |
$32,426 |
|||
$36,895 |
$35,673 |
|||
$38,695 |
$37,298 |
|||
$39,495 |
$38,096 |
|||
$42,295 |
$41,106 |
New 2025 Toyota RAV4 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$30,645 |
$29,532 |
|||
$32,155 |
$31,154 |
|||
$35,045 |
$33,951 |
|||
$38,950 |
$37,263 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 MAZDA CX-5 vehicles and New 2025 Toyota RAV4 vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 MAZDA CX-5 | 2025 Toyota RAV4 | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Towing Capacity | 2,000 pounds | 1,500 pounds |
| Horsepower | 187 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 203 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 186 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 184 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm |
| Transmission | automatic, 6-speed skyactiv-drive w/manual & sport modes | automatic, 8-speed w/direct & sequential shift |
| Fuel Economy | 23 city/29 highway/25 combined mpg | 27 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 106.2 inches | 105.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 180.1 inches | 180.9 inches |
| Width | 83.3 inches | 73.0 inches |
| Height | 66.1 inches | 67.0 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 39.1 feet | 36.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.7 inches | 37.7 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.0 inches | 39.5 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.0 inches | 41.0 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 39.6 inches | 37.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.1 inches | 57.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 54.8 inches | 56.4 inches |
| Cargo Behind Second Seat | N/A | 37.5 feet |
| Cargo With All Seats Down | 59.3 feet | 69.8 feet |
Specification table reflects the typical configuration of vehicles shown.
Conclusion
Here’s a choice between two winners. If you want sleeker styling and a more vivacious and fun driving experience, the CX-5 easily appeals, all the more so when configured with a turbo engine. The Toyota RAV4, even in its last year of this generation, still entices with more cargo room, appealing yet easy-to-use technology, and a well-earned status for reliability and resale value that make it a bestseller. There’s no wrong answer between these two. Weigh their merits, test drive each, and see which wins your heart.
