2025 Mazda CX-50 vs Toyota RAV4

Small SUVs are an excellent choice for a wide variety of drivers. They’re as performant and fun to drive as a sedan or hatchback but provide the interior space and comfort you’d expect from a modern SUV. The 2025 Mazda CX-50 and the 2024 Toyota RAV4 both fit that description. Keep reading to see how they compare in essential aspects, to help you make an informed buying decision.

Interior Space and Comfort

SUV buyers typically appreciate spacious cabins and comfort-enhancing features. The 2025 Mazda CX-50 certainly excels in this department, with its cabin having a luxurious look and feel. High-quality materials complement the upscale design, making the CX-50 one of the classiest-looking SUVs in its segment. It’s also very comfortable, mainly due to its well-padded seats, smooth ride quality, and excellent noise insulation system. There’s plenty of visibility for everyone inside and the wide-opening doors make it easy to get in and out. The climate control system is easy to use and does an excellent job of maintaining a constant temperature.

While the RAV4’s cabin is also well-designed and comfortable, it doesn’t quite reach the CX-50’s levels of sophistication. Mazda CX-50 also offers more interior space than RAV4 with 41.7 inches of front legroom as compared to 41.0 inches in the RAV4.

RAV4’s suspension system compromises between agility and comfort, which can provide some discomfort when going over larger road bumps. Also, noise insulation does a good job but tends to let in too much engine noise during hard accelerations. Overall, if you prioritize interior space, comfort, and design, the 2025 Mazda CX-50 is arguably the superior choice.

Engine Options

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 comes with a wide variety of powertrain configurations, so you can choose the one that fits your preferences. The base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that can generate up to 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. There’s also a turbocharged version of the 2.5-cylinder engine, with an output of up to 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, which can be increased to 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque by using 93 octane fuel. Finally, the hybrid version pairs the 2.5-liter engine with three electric motors, producing a combined output of  219 horsepower.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 is only available in one traditional engine option. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has up to 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. There’s also a hybrid version, which generates 219 horsepower, the same as the CX-50. The CX-50’s 256-horsepower turbocharged engine means that Mazda buyers have more flexibility when it comes to choosing their vehicle’s powertrain.

Performance and Driving Pleasure

While most people choose SUVs for reasons like comfort and safety, having a quick and agile vehicle is something that many drivers appreciate. The 2025 Mazda CX-50 certainly fits that description and is one of the quickest vehicles in its class. Its turbocharged version can go from zero to 60 mpg in only 6.4 seconds, while even the base version delivers a decent 0-60 time of 7.2 seconds. It’s also fun to drive, due to its precise handling.

The 2024 Toyota RAV is much less impressive when it comes to acceleration. When equipped with its gas-powered 2.5-liter engine, it needs 9.1 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph. Its hybrid version improves that time to 7.8 seconds, but it’s still slower than the slowest Mazda CX-50. Also, while the steering is fairly competent, it doesn’t provide the same sense of control as the CX-50 does.

Standard Features

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 comes with a long list of standard features, with many of them only being available as options on rival vehicles. These include the 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, and remote keyless entry and start system. It’s also very well-equipped with infotainment features. The large 10.25-inch touch-screen interface is sharp and intuitive, while smartphone connectivity is quick and easy through either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It also comes with a great-sounding eight-speaker sound system.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 is less equipped in its standard version. It also features LED headlights but only comes with steel wheels. The touch-screen interface is only eight inches wide and the sound system has six speakers. If you’re looking for features like alloy wheels, a larger touch-screen, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry and ignition, and synthetic leather upholstery, you’ll have to pay extra for a higher trim.

Safety Features

Safety is high on the list of priorities for SUV buyers and  Mazda and Toyota acknowledge that. Both the CX-50 and the RAV4 come with multiple driver assistance technologies, with many of them in their standard versions. These are some active safety systems available for both models:

• Forward collision warning with automatic braking: It warns the driver if it detects an imminent collision with another vehicle, object, or pedestrian. It can also hit the brakes automatically in situations where the driver doesn’t react in time.
• Adaptive cruise control: It makes highway driving safer and easier by keeping a steady speed. It also adjusts automatically it to keep a constant distance from the vehicle in front.
• Lane departure mitigation: It constantly makes minor steering corrections to keep the vehicle centered in its lane.
• Blind-spot warning: It alerts the driver if another vehicle enters their blind spot while changing lanes. On the Mazda CX-50, this system also alerts you if a vehicle enters your blind spot while reversing.
• Surround-view camera system: It gives the driver a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings, which can be useful when parking in tight spaces.

Come Try out the New CX-50 at Capistrano Mazda

Both the Mazda CX-50 and the Toyota RAV4 are quality SUVs. However, the CX-50’s superior interior comfort, engine choices, performance, and standard features make it a more attractive option. If you’d like to see it for yourself and take it for a test drive, come over to our dealership in San Juan Capistrano, California. We’ll answer all your questions and help you make sure you have all the information you need to make a decision. Contact us today by phone or via our website.