Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota RAV4: cost to own

Verdict, over 6 years

The Toyota RAV4 costs about $7,047 less

That's $98 a month. Closest matching trims: same fuel and drive where possible.

CX-5 GX$1,118/moTrue cost

RAV4 LE✓ $1,020/moTrue cost

2026 Mazda CX-5

Closest matching trim: CX-5 GX

Sticker (MSRP)$36,300

+$8,265→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$44,565

+ running costs→↓− $19,967 resale

True cost$1,118/moA month to own, after resale

2026 Toyota RAV4

Closest matching trim: RAV4 LE

Sticker (MSRP)$37,500

+$8,359→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$45,859

+ running costs→↓− $24,454 resale

True cost$1,020/moA month to own, after resale

Line by line


Price
Sticker (MSRP)	✓ $36,300	$37,500	CX-5 by $1,200
Freight and fees, before tax	$3,138	✓ $3,083	RAV4 by $55
Sales tax (HST)	✓ $5,127	$5,276	CX-5 by $149
Drive-away price	✓ $44,565	$45,859	CX-5 by $1,294
Running costs, 6 years
Fuel or charging	$15,066	✓ $9,207	RAV4 by $5,859
Insurance (estimate)	✓ $13,923	$16,299	CX-5 by $2,376
Maintenance (estimate)	$9,132	✓ $8,239	RAV4 by $893
Loan rate	6.5%	6.5%	—
Loan interest	✓ $8,321	$8,593	CX-5 by $272
Lost return on your money	✓ $9,334	$9,583	CX-5 by $249
Resale after 6 yrs	−$19,967	✓ −$24,454	RAV4 by $4,487
Total
True cost	$80,465	✓ $73,418	RAV4 by $7,047
True cost a month	$1,118/mo	✓ $1,020/mo	RAV4 by $98
You pay each month	$1,196/mo	✓ $1,157/mo	RAV4 by $39
Practical
Fuel type	Gas	Hybrid	—
Seats	5	5	—
Carry-ons, 2 people	8+	8+	—
Towing, lb	1,500	✓ 1,750	—
Built in Canada	—	Woodstock, ON; Cambridge, ON	—
Cargo behind row 2, litres	954	✓ 1,070	—
Length	4.69 m	4.60 m	—
Ground clearance	20 cm	✓ 21 cm	—
Resale % after 6 yrs	55%	✓ 65%	—
US crash test	Not rated yet	Not rated yet	—
European crash test	✓ 5★ (2025)	—	—

Price

Sticker (MSRP)

CX-5 GX ✓ $36,300RAV4 LE $37,500Cheaper by CX-5 by $1,200

Freight and fees, before tax

CX-5 GX $3,138RAV4 LE ✓ $3,083Cheaper by RAV4 by $55

Sales tax (HST)

CX-5 GX ✓ $5,127RAV4 LE $5,276Cheaper by CX-5 by $149

Drive-away price

CX-5 GX ✓ $44,565RAV4 LE $45,859Cheaper by CX-5 by $1,294

Running costs, 6 years

Fuel or charging

CX-5 GX $15,066RAV4 LE ✓ $9,207Cheaper by RAV4 by $5,859

Insurance (estimate)

CX-5 GX ✓ $13,923RAV4 LE $16,299Cheaper by CX-5 by $2,376

Maintenance (estimate)

CX-5 GX $9,132RAV4 LE ✓ $8,239Cheaper by RAV4 by $893

Loan rate

CX-5 GX 6.5%RAV4 LE 6.5%Cheaper by —

Loan interest

CX-5 GX ✓ $8,321RAV4 LE $8,593Cheaper by CX-5 by $272

Lost return on your money

CX-5 GX ✓ $9,334RAV4 LE $9,583Cheaper by CX-5 by $249

Resale after 6 yrs

CX-5 GX −$19,967RAV4 LE ✓ −$24,454Cheaper by RAV4 by $4,487

Total

True cost

CX-5 GX $80,465RAV4 LE ✓ $73,418Cheaper by RAV4 by $7,047

True cost a month

CX-5 GX $1,118/moRAV4 LE ✓ $1,020/moCheaper by RAV4 by $98

You pay each month

CX-5 GX $1,196/moRAV4 LE ✓ $1,157/moCheaper by RAV4 by $39

Practical

Fuel type

CX-5 GX GasRAV4 LE HybridCheaper by —

Seats

CX-5 GX 5RAV4 LE 5Cheaper by —

Carry-ons, 2 people

CX-5 GX 8+RAV4 LE 8+Cheaper by —

Towing, lb

CX-5 GX 1,500RAV4 LE ✓ 1,750Cheaper by —

Built in Canada

CX-5 GX —RAV4 LE Woodstock, ON; Cambridge, ONCheaper by —

Cargo behind row 2, litres

CX-5 GX 954RAV4 LE ✓ 1,070Cheaper by —

Length

CX-5 GX 4.69 mRAV4 LE 4.60 mCheaper by —

Ground clearance

CX-5 GX 20 cmRAV4 LE ✓ 21 cmCheaper by —

Resale % after 6 yrs

CX-5 GX 55%RAV4 LE ✓ 65%Cheaper by —

US crash test

CX-5 GX Not rated yetRAV4 LE Not rated yetCheaper by —

European crash test

CX-5 GX ✓ 5★ (2025)RAV4 LE —Cheaper by —

✓ marks the better figure. Resale for both is from their own used prices (unless you lease). These trims differ in fuel (gas vs hybrid), which drives part of the gap. Their stickers differ by $1,200.