Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-5

These are the two default choices in Australia's biggest new-car class. Both seat five, both drive all four wheels and both cover the family-SUV basics well. The real difference is how they are powered, what they cost to run, and how the cabin feels once you move past the entry grade.

Toyota

RAV4

From $45,990

Buy the RAV4 if

you drive a lot and want the lowest running costs. The hybrid does the heavy lifting here, and if you can charge at home the plug-in XSE and GR Sport go further again, covering well over 100km on electricity before they use petrol. You also get the bigger boot, cheaper capped-price servicing at $325 a visit, and wireless Apple CarPlay from the base grade up. The catch is money up front: the RAV4 starts about $6,000 higher, and all-wheel drive costs extra on most grades.

View the RAV4

Mazda

CX-5

From $39,990

Buy the CX-5 if

you want to spend less to get in and care more about the cabin than the fuel bill. The Mazda undercuts the Toyota at every level, includes all-wheel drive even on the base Pure, and its top grades feel close to a small luxury car, with a 15.6-inch screen and materials the RAV4 does not match. It carries a 5-star safety rating today and tows 1,800kg against the Toyota's 1,500. You pay for it at the pump, though: 7.4L/100km is thirsty next to any hybrid, and there is no electric option at all.

View the CX-5

The verdict

Put simply: the RAV4 costs less to run, the CX-5 costs less to buy. Every RAV4 is a hybrid and uses around 4.6L/100km against the Mazda's 7.4, and it is the only one of the two you can plug in, with XSE and GR Sport versions that cover most daily driving on electric power before the petrol engine takes over. The CX-5 answers with a starting price about $6,000 lower, all-wheel drive on every grade where the Toyota charges extra for it, and a cabin that feels a step plusher as you climb the range.

There are smaller trade-offs on top. The RAV4 has the bigger boot and cheaper servicing, at $325 a visit. The CX-5 tows 300kg more and already holds a 5-star ANCAP rating, where the new-generation RAV4 has not been crash-tested yet. Neither is a wrong answer, so it comes down to what you value more: the lowest fuel bills, or a lower price and a nicer interior.

Compare them spec for spec

Specs and prices change with each grade and configuration, so the fairest comparison is at the exact versions you are weighing up. Line them up side by side, down to the grade, in the interactive tool.

Compare RAV4 & CX-5

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Last updated August 2026