Great comprehensive review, thanks Tom. We have the CX-5 GT Turbo and absolutely love it, but I can see why the new RAV4 Hybrid is so appealing with its more accommodating interior and superior fuel economy. It is well deserving of the top spot in the SUV sales charts. Having said that, we really enjoy driving the CX-5 on a day-to-day basis and it is more than practical enough for our needs with two small kids. From a financial point of view, we were able to negotiate a great deal on the purchase price, which perhaps would be more difficult with the RAV4 given the current demand, and we also got a 4-year free servicing deal via the Mazda corporate program which helps offset the fuel economy disadvantage. I think in general, cars are getting so good these days that it often comes down to subjective matters such as emotional appeal. You can’t really go wrong with any option if it makes you happy.

We almost bought the 2019 Rav4 fully loaded coming from the 2017 model year. But the Highlander ended up being the better option. We are all so tall now. And my mother loved the V6. We only miss the Rav4's great economy

Good to see you back Tom. Great comparison video. 🚗👍

I live in Australia & just bought a new 2019 RAV 4 GXL 2WD petrol & I love it. OMG its awesome & has a lot more features than my 2015 Mazda CX3 which was awesome as well but was out of warranty & I wished to purchase a bigger SUV.

Great review Tom. I have test driven the Cruiser AWD and CX 5 diesel Akera and ended up opting for the CX5. I agree with most of your comments however few other tings to add. I found the cabin noise of the Rav4 quite noisy around town and especially on highway compared to the CX5. Having the HUD on the CX5 is a big winner, being able to see your current speed, road speed and BSM while being able to keep your eyes on the road is wonderful. A small item but is worth a lot in terms of safety and vision.

ECVT in Rav4 hybrid takes time to get used to but once you do you'll appreciate its smooth, linear, quick acceleration. I added 19" rims to my XSE hybrid Rav4 and it corners very nicely now. Handling is solid as well, especially with 8.1" clearance. Perfect balance of on-road, sporty and off-roading. I found the CX5 a little too firm on rough pavement.

Fantastic review mate 😃👍

I test drove the RAV4 hybrid twice & the top spec CX5 2.2 diesel. I really wanted the hybrid but had to reluctantly conclude I couldn’t live with the revvy/noisy CV transmission engine combo when you put your foot down especially on hills and the open road. The more premium feel of the CX5 helped also.

Good video, editing and comparison. ta

Would be interested in your view of the Toyota RAV4 Adventure.

thanks for the interesting review - youve got a really good, pragmatic style - keep it up

Would darkest possible tint on the windows solve the reflection issue of sun on the dash or would it be too reflective of the dash on the window at night ?

I love my Mazda 3 and the rotary dial because I found with touch screens, if your tall like me, you have to move your back out of the seat and reach for the screen. When you haven’t done that for so long it’s actually really annoying! Although sometimes it’s annoying using Apple CarPlay to get to icons quickly. Also no touch screen means no fingerprints!

I have a 2016 mazda S GT 2.5 it's a blast to drive I'm extremely confident on cornering in this car i can imagine the new turbo 2.5 would add even more fun to the overall dynamics of the car.

Are your greetings getting longer...? 'I'm Tom Bakerrrrrr and this is Chasing Carrrrrrrrs' Great review again... Love the new Rav.

We test drove both these cars today and overall we prefer the mazda cx5. Didn't like the rav4 with the cluttered dash too much to try and focus on when driving especially in hybrid model. We like the look of the mazdas interior and feels nicer to drive.

I've already owned a Mazda CX-5 GT and it's fun to drive. Just the fuel consumption is a little stiff but the performance is excellent. I'm looking forward to getting another car, and coincidentally it will be the RAV4 Hybrid.

Thank you!

The cream, the white, the off white, the ivory, or the beige interior?

Mazda 6 gt vs camry hybrid comparison could you do?

The rear doors do not open "like more than 90 degrees". They open less than 90 degrees.

Please compare 2019 forester and hybrid rav4 GT please

Kudos, comprehensive review.

Is it true the rav4 is limited to only 180kph?

Must say the lighter interior of RAV4 is much preferable to CX5 interior however driving dynamics and looks means CX5 diesel for me although the desire for space would mean Megane GT wagon for me

Nice review. We test drove both and the CX-5, while nice, just felt a bit old tech. The Rav feels very modern with the Hybrid system paired with Toyota safety sense. Opted for the Rav and don't regret it. Fuel economy is outrageously good for an SUV and acceleration is great. Heavy traffic with electric & adaptive cruise takes a huge amount of stress out of the daily commute. Don't even bother with the petrol Rav. There's a reason there is now a 6 month wait in Australia for a hybrid. I noticed that you didn't comment too much on the tech that the cars come with. If you could touch on the safety and driving aids it would add a little depth to the review. I'm talking about the adaptive cruise, lane keep assist , AEB etc, and other driving aids. How do they compare with each other as I'm sure there's a subtle difference to how they operate in the real world and it can make a big difference when you have to drive the car every day e.g. i-stop on the Mazda felt unnatural while the hybrid setup felt OK, does the lane keep feature bounce you around between the line markings or keep you centered in the lane? Love your channel. Not many non-bullshit car review channels down under.

And after watching all those reviews im still which one to get

Would love to see a comparison review of the RAV4 hybrid vs the 2019 Tucson diesel Highlander; I think the Tucson might be a little ordinary in specific areas, but as a package, it's greater than the sum of it's parts IMO.

Great video Tom. I drove both the cars in this review. Agree with you about the flat seats in the CX-5 and poor infotainment in the RAV4. Try raising your driver’s seat in the CX-5 to get more rear leg room as you’ll need to move the driver’s seat forward. I moved from a 2017 SKODA Fabia 81TSI wagon and miss the simply clever boot and much much much better steering wheel than both. Ultimately the CVT gearbox and more clunky interior of the RAV4 ruled it out. The CX-5 GT 2.5T can run the family of 4 adults (kids are in there 20s with myself and son both 6’) around town and up to the Central Coast in luxury and comfort when needed, but 95% of the time it’s only one or two up so all this extra space you talk of is not needed. HUD is fantastic, sunroof is too small, white leather with LED lights looks stunning at night, Apple CarPlay works well and as I’ve also just sold my last Saab Turbo, the engine/gearbox combination is great. Keep the great videos coming.

So are you still of the impression that the Tuscon is the best all round riding SUV in the segment? Whilst the RAV4 sounds good I'm not sure I could bring myself to buy the 'Lego' car.😁 Keep up the excellent work mate.😉

I have the new tiguan rline can't wait to get rid of it makes so much cabin noise for what u pay, I tested the new rav too pricey for what u get the display screen shocking as well I'm getting the cx5 gt Turbo or the alkera model can't decide between the two

is he saying Mazda 630 ? i cant find it on google

So ed sheeran is reviewing cars now?

Doors open more than 90 degrees lol! For me the Forester is better than either of these. Nice review though.

The lane keep assist is deadly..i have that in my Corolla touring sport..if i havent aviod it.my car has crash in the middlefens in 100 km/h.. and it wana drive near the middle of the road..and if the two lane begins i will go over to the hig speed lane..terifying..

A good, honest, unbiased review. The CX-5 is the car that I want, but as a father and husband, the RAV4 is probably the car that we end up getting lol. Half as much gas, 7 seconds to 60, and more space is tough to pass up. It’s the same story with almost every Toyota v Mazda comparison. The Mazda6 is the car that I want, but dammit if the Camry isn’t compelling. The Mazda3 is sexy, but the Corolla is better equipped, more efficient, cheaper, and isn’t exactly ugly or cheaply made. It’s a story of heart v brains.

You do know the CVT in the Hybrid Toyota's are ECVT nothing at all like a normal CVT ... if to go to the "Weber University " channel Professor John Kelly does a excellent job of not only explaining but actually shows you how the thing works.

I wish they sell corolla wagon as in Europe. That will be my choice.

Which has the better seats and lumbar support?

hello camera man 3:08

Just noticed you drove past the grumpy Baker. That's not the real you is it Tom?

The rear door on the CX5 does not open more than 90° as stated. Know your angles...

I'm really frustrated with the delivery times of RAV4, ordered in June after your first video about RAV4, they gave me the estimated delivery by end of Oct, and now they are saying production might start in Oct and cannot give exactly when the vehicle will be available. Planning to cancel the order

was looking for cx-5 for few months until we test drove the Rav4 Hybrid. then we bought it lol main points better then cx5 is bigger 2nd row seats, bigger boot, WAY better economy. noticed @ 2:24 your cx5 avg 11L/100, my Rav4 hybrid does 5.7L/100 in real life driving

Our CX5 GT Diesel is more than 2 years old and I have to say we absolutely love it . Love the steering handling breaking and feel of the drive. The interior constantly surprises friends that own much more expensive cars. On the topic of tablets personally I find it ridiculous that there seems to be a race as to who can fit the biggest screen in trier cars, and this is from someone who has spent more than 29 years in the telecommunications industry.

I’m seriously tired of ‘car reviewers’ glorifying larger boot, passenger spaces in the so called medium SUV class. Surely points/comments should be negative towards a vehicle pushing outside its size class as not everyone is after a school bus sized SUV. If we wanted bigger than a CX5, RAV, Tucson, 3008 size we would be looking at Klugers and the like. I can see the 2030 ‘medium sized’ SUV the size of a semi and reviewers saying oh yes class leading room for all the family, rellies, friends and friends of friends 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

CX-5 all day.

I am at the moment still weighing these cars. Mazda, cx5, rav4 and outlander. Still thinking which one😂

So, if you are looking for space and consumption (and CVT) - Toyota but if you like driving ,dinamics and fun = Mazda

Be wary of the Mazda CX-5's brakes. There are complaints the brakes make a creaking sound when you release your foot off the brake pedal. Apparently there are quality control issues coming out of Japan, which has caused 3 recalls in the month of July.

Mazda looks and feels nice, but I'd take the RAV. Great video though, thanks,

RAV4 seven days a week rain or shine

The CX5 is starting to date. Mazda are also notorious for understating fuel consumption figures. The CVT is a no go for me. Awful set up. No to both cars.

If you want fuel efficiency, then get the Toyota, which also comes with poor exterior and interior looks, not to mention a CVT 🤢 If you want a driving experience that puts a smile on your face when you put your foot down, matched with style, then get the Mazda. Also, I'll take a rear boot with a lip over a flat floor any day. Nothing worse than parking on a hill and opening the boot and everything rolling out of it. I really don't get why car reviewers think a flat floor is better... It's not!!!

I tend to like Mazda cars because I find them aesthetically pleasing. So I hope they continue making cars for a while. But I have a hard time seeing it. At least here in the states, they have lost the edge in value. Hyundai and Kia are clearly winning that battle. They offer more tech, easier-to-use tech, competitive or better reliability, and better practicality than Mazda. In terms of driving dynamics, others have caught up and are perhaps exceeding Mazda (e.g., Corolla hatch v Mazda 3). The only area I see them with an edge is design, which is totally subjective. The new Mazda 3 for instance is a beautiful car, in my opinion. But there is no space in the thing. It's probably one of the reasons that I don't see it at all where I live. I have literally seen fewer than five Mazda 3s since its release this spring. I wonder if a combination of design and practicality would make Mazda more competitive in the market place?

Toyota is the best one ❤

I've got the 2019 CX-5 Diesel ... it is quite noisy when you give it ... I would much rather the hybrid Rav-4 , a lot more quite

RAV4 is surely a better car... Try both for a while & you will see what I mean

I’ll take the RAV4 over the CX5. The fuel consumption on the RAV is excellent 👍🏻

Mazda parts are more higher price than Toyota

I don't care about what they're doing on Australia it's not necessarily the same cars in the US

CX-5 is just an all around better car. More morden designs and interiors.

I own a Mazda CX5 GT Diesel so I am biased, the thing I have noticed about Toyota recently is that they seem to be going out of their way to make their cars ugly as possible not just the RAV4, shame really as I have always bought Mazda's and Toyota's, RAV4 CVT is off putting as well.

If I required a SUV my money would go on the Mazda for its conventional approach...turbo engine with a proper gearbox. As for size it's only for me so who give a rat's backside about the backseat.....I just purchased a G25 Astina manual hatch and love it. Engine enhancements will come soon from Corksport as I hate quiet. The RAV and Corolla just don't cut it for me on their design and that baby poo tan is foul.....