Compare the2026 Mazda CX-70VS 2026 Toyota Rav4

The Mazda CX-70 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-70. But it costs extra on the Rav4.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-70 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Rav4 SE/Woodland/XLE/XSE/Limited/GR Sport offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the CX-70 and the Rav4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-70 weighs 789 to 1558 pounds more than the Toyota Rav4. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Mazda CX-70 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Rav4 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CX-70 second among midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Rav4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

The CX-70 has more powerful engines than the Rav4:

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-70 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Toyota Rav4 (236 HP engine):

The CX-70’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 (18.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 (19.6 vs. 14.5 gallons).

For better stopping power the CX-70’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4:

The CX-70’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Rav4 are solid, not vented.

The CX-70 stops much shorter than the Rav4:

For better traction, the CX-70 has larger standard tires than the Rav4 (265/55R19 vs. 235/65R17). The CX-70 Turbo/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 (275/45R21 vs. 235/65R17).

The CX-70 PHEV’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 LE’s standard 65 series tires. The CX-70 Turbo/Turbo S’ tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Rav4 XSE’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-70 PHEV has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Rav4 LE. The CX-70 Turbo/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Rav4 XSE.

The CX-70 has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-70’s wheelbase is 16.9 inches longer than on the Rav4 (122.8 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The CX-70 Turbo S Premium handles at .83 G’s, while the Rav4 Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-70 PHEV SC Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Rav4 Limited (26.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-70 Turbo Preferred has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rav4 GR Sport (8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the CX-70 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-70 has 42.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 (141.6 vs. 98.9).

The CX-70 has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, 5.9 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Rav4.

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Rav4 with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 37.8 cubic feet). The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rav4 with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 70.4 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the CX-70’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Rav4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-70’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rav4’s (3500 vs. 1750 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Rav4 is only 3500 pounds. The CX-70 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Rav4 GR Sport is not recommended to tow, any CX-70 can tow a minimum of 3500 pounds.

The CX-70 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Rav4 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the CX-70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Rav4. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The CX-70 Premium’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Rav4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CX-70’s standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the Rav4 doesn’t offer a sensor on the cargo door.

The CX-70’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Rav4 LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-70 Premium Plus/Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Rav4 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-70 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Rav4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The CX-70’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Toyota only offers heated mirrors on the Rav4 SE/Woodland/XLE/XSE/Limited/GR Sport.

When the CX-70 Turbo S is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Rav4’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-70 Premium’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Rav4 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Mazda CX-70 and Toyota Rav4 offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-70 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Rav4’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.