2026 Mazda CX-50 vs Toyota RAV4: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the RAV4 — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–3 across 7 categories, winning on better fuel economy (43 mpg vs 38 mpg best EPA combined) and more available power (324 hp vs 256 hp). Choose the CX-50 if the lower sticker matters most ($29,900 vs $31,900 to start).
Scorecard: CX-50 3 pts · RAV4 3.5 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 CX-50 | 2026 RAV4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $29,900 | $31,900 | CX-50 |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.18 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | — | 63.7% | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 38 mpg | 43 mpg | RAV4 |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 256 hp | 324 hp | RAV4 |
| Max towing (1) | 3,500 lb | 3,500 lb | Tie |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 31.4 cu ft | 37.8 cu ft | RAV4 |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 4.8% off MSRP | 2.2% off MSRP | CX-50 |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | — | 5 | No data |
| Weighted points | 3 | 3.5 | RAV4 |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the RAV4 — 43 mpg vs 38 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the RAV4 — 37.8 cu ft vs 31.4 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the CX-50 — $29,900 vs $31,900 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $27,731 for the CX-50 vs $28,621 for the RAV4.
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — CX-50 3,500 lb vs RAV4 3,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The CX-50 starts at $29,900 and tops out at $42,900; the RAV4 runs $31,900 to $48,500 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified CX-50 buyers paid a median 4.8% off MSRP across 27 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 5.7% off. Verified RAV4 buyers paid a median 2.2% off MSRP across 70 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 4.2% off. Used, the median asking price is $27,731 for the CX-50 and $28,621 for the RAV4 (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- CX-50: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- RAV4: 0.18 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 98th percentile among the SUVs we track).
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: CX-50 2023 (caution), 2024 (solid), 2025 (caution).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 CX-50 | 2026 RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $29,900 | $31,900 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $42,900 | $48,500 |
| Horsepower | 187–256 hp | 226–324 hp |
| Max torque | 320 lb-ft | 170 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 25–38 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 38–43 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 3,500 lb | 3,500 lb |
| Max payload | — | 1,340 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 31.4 cu ft | 37.8 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| CX-50 | RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 185.8 in | 181 in |
| Width | 75.6 in | 73 in |
| Height | 63.5 in | 66.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in | 105.9 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.3 in | 8.1 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
There's no 5-year retention figure for the CX-50 yet. A 5-year-old (2021) RAV4 lists for a median $26,414 — 63.7% of today's median new price of $41,446.
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More on the Mazda CX-50
More on the Toyota RAV4
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the CX-50 better than the RAV4?
On our data, no — the RAV4 comes out ahead. Our pick: the RAV4 — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–3 across 7 categories, winning on better fuel economy (43 mpg vs 38 mpg best EPA combined) and more available power (324 hp vs 256 hp). Choose the CX-50 if the lower sticker matters most ($29,900 vs $31,900 to start).
Which is more reliable, the CX-50 or the RAV4?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet.
Which holds its value better, the CX-50 or the RAV4?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the CX-50 or the RAV4?
The CX-50 starts lower: $29,900 vs $31,900 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 4.8% off MSRP on the CX-50 (27 deals) and 2.2% on the RAV4 (70 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the CX-50 or the RAV4?
The RAV4: up to 43 mpg combined vs 38 mpg for the CX-50 (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026 Mazda CX-50 vs Toyota RAV4: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/mazda-cx-50-vs-toyota-rav4, updated November 8, 2026.