2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2020 Mazda CX-5

Mazda executed the concept of premium better than its competitors with the 2020 CX-5. This model year saw more standard equipment, revised instrumentation, and control markings to enhance the cabin's appearance, along with modifications to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. The turbocharged engine received an increase in torque output, and AWD versions gained a new off-road traction assistance feature. Prices ranged from $25,190 to $37,155, with the test vehicle in Signature trim costing $38,680, including the destination charge. The CX-5's "Kodo" styling themes made it look appealing, distinctive, and upscale, a feat many automakers struggled to achieve.

Inside, the CX-5, especially in Signature trim, featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood, and a black headliner, giving it a luxurious look and feel. However, the Caturra Brown leather was almost indistinguishable from the otherwise black cabin, reducing the contrast that often makes a vehicle seem premium. Despite this, the interior reflected style and good taste, with classy-looking gauges and elegant metallic accents.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, priced at $42,083, including the destination charge, was fully loaded. Despite its high price, it looked like a standard RAV4, lacking the larger wheels found on the non-hybrid Limited. The RAV4 Hybrid's electronic AWD system wasn't suitable for an Adventure trim level. However, the RAV4 had a tough appearance, needing only bolder wheels to complete the look. Inside, it was stylish, functional, and practical, with a mix of impressive materials and glossy hard plastic. A rattle from the license plate vibrating on the tailgate was a minor annoyance.

The RAV4 Hybrid's interior offered comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front cushions. Rear passengers enjoyed decent legroom, excellent foot space, and heated rear cushions. The dashboard was well-arranged, with oversized climate control knobs and easy-to-use infotainment system. Storage was accommodating, with useful shelves and a roomy 37.5 cubic-foot cargo area, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode. Front-wheel drive was standard, with AWD optional. The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims featured a turbocharged version of the engine, generating 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel. The turbocharged engine, paired with AWD, provided a healthy amount of power for a compact crossover SUV, accelerating with authority despite a 3,825-pound curb weight. However, it was less efficient, rated at 24 mpg combined, compared to 26 mpg for the naturally-aspirated engine with AWD.

The CX-5 Signature was engaging to drive, thanks to its G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) technology, which stabilized the SUV when cornering. However, the SUV's excessive body motions when hustling down a back road detracted from the driving experience. Despite this, the steering and brakes were up to the task, making the CX-5 a delight in typical driving situations. It was quick off the line, agile in traffic, and enjoyable to drive, though not inspiring enough to take the long way home.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid paired a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack, generating 219 horsepower. The rear electric motor provided standard AWD. The RAV4 Hybrid felt lively when accelerating, thanks to the instant electric-motor torque, though the four-cylinder engine sounded unpleasant when revving. The EPA rated it at 40 mpg combined, and it averaged 39.7 mpg on the testing loop.

The RAV4 Hybrid's continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) operated transparently, and the regenerative braking system was smooth. The steering was nicely weighted, and the suspension design maximized ride and handling qualities. However, the test vehicle's tires had low levels of grip, making cornering less enjoyable. Despite this, the RAV4 Hybrid was agreeable to drive, with a relatively flat cornering stance and favorable driving dynamics. It excelled as a daily driver, soaking up bumps and potholes and quelling unwanted body motions. The Trail driving mode and 8.1 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle light off-road conditions.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5's interior was more cramped than its competitors, making it less practical and utilitarian. However, Mazda focused on an upscale cabin and a generous list of standard equipment to offset this. The interior reflected style and good taste, with classy gauges and elegant metallic accents. Touring trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and rear air conditioning vents. Grand Touring trim included a power height-adjustable front passenger seat, while Grand Touring Reserve added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Signature trim featured Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, and more.

The CX-5 Signature's front seats were comfortable, though small, and rear passengers might complain about legroom. Cargo space behind the rear seat measured 30.9 cubic feet, expandable to 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A power liftgate with a programmable height limit was standard on Grand Touring trim and higher.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front cushions. Rear passengers enjoyed decent legroom, excellent foot space, and heated rear cushions. The dashboard was well-arranged, with oversized climate control knobs and an easy-to-use infotainment system. Storage was accommodating, with useful shelves and a roomy 37.5 cubic-foot cargo area, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display in Sport trim, responding to touch only when the vehicle wasn't moving. Bluetooth, HD Radio, text messaging support, integrated internet radio apps, and E911 emergency notification were standard. Touring trim added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Grand Touring trim included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system. Signature trim enhanced the technology with a navigation system, a surround-view camera system, and a SiriusXM data subscription.

Interacting with Mazda Connect could be frustrating, requiring acclimation. The touchscreen, center console controls, and voice-recognition technology were not ideal. Maximizing the use of steering controls and setting up the system to personal preferences helped reduce frustration. For 2021, Mazda planned to update the system with a wider, more modern display, though operational issues persisted.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered several infotainment systems with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen display. They included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The top-shelf system in the test vehicle featured an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, dynamic navigation, and voice recognition with three years of free updates. The 8-inch display was flanked by shortcut buttons and anchored by stereo volume and tuning knobs. The dynamic voice recognition technology was impressive, though it couldn't adjust climate settings. The JBL sound system was satisfactory.

Toyota also offered camera-based technology, including a 360-degree surround-view camera system and a rearview camera mirror.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the i-Activsense banner. Standard features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers were also standard. The only optional safety feature was adaptive headlights, standard on Grand Touring trim. The CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist. Automatic high-beam headlights and a road-sign recognition system were also standard. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning were standard on all but the Hybrid LE trim level, and rear automatic braking was available on the Hybrid Limited. The RAV4 Hybrid earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top marks in all IIHS assessments except for its headlights.