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I drove Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 for a week — here's the compact SUV I’d buy with my money

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I drove Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 for a week — here's the compact SUV I’d buy with my money

Over the past couple of years, I’ve tested more than 100 vehicles spanning the entire automotive gamut. Yet despite putting so many through their paces, one remained elusive: the Toyota RAV4. While I’ve had brief hands-on time with it at the past two New York Auto Shows, I had never been able to get it out on actual roads for a proper evaluation.

What makes my time with the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited particularly exciting is that the vehicle received a comprehensive makeover for the 2026 model year — both inside and out. However, it faces a formidable challenger in the 2026 Mazda CX-5, which deserves just as much credit for modernizing its cabin and tech up to contemporary standards.

That’s why I’ve been eager for this Toyota RAV4 vs. Mazda CX-5 matchup, especially with these two compact SUVs competing in the same ballpark at as-tested prices of $46,883 and $41,080, respectively. After driving each for a full week across city traffic, highway hauls, and routine errands, one clearly gets my vote.

Love it or hate it, Toyota’s redesign of the 2026 RAV4 is divisive — mainly because it represents such a drastic departure from the previous aesthetic. I personally like the change, as its bold, chiseled makeover borrows subtle cues from a Range Rover . The front end is particularly aggressive, headlined by a hammerhead-style grille and squared-off fenders. What surprises me most is that despite appearing more compact than the outgoing generation, its exterior dimensions remain remarkably similar.


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