That said, we can at least log information, statistics and opinions somewhere.
Maybe this will target the heart of the matter.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/co ... yota-rav4/
These were both high trims, costing ~$39k as tested. Not sure how lower trims compare to each other. I suspect the gap widens even further.
This just in: You already own a crossover. Just because it is probably the least appealing to a car enthusiast is hardly a convincing argument that the segment is stupid. I mean, unless you literally have driven nothing else (which I think is the case - if you think they all drive horribly, I feel bad for you, also, go drive different stuff please).2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD
Highs: The best chassis in the class, the best engine in the class, the best interior in the class.
Lows: One of the thirstiest engines in the class, narrow interior, small cargo hold.
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited
Highs: Humongous interior space, cushy seats, thrifty on fuel.
Lows: Noisy, feels brittle and insubstantial, polarizing styling.
It is interesting that they felt the need to state all of this but apparently people still need to hear it.The word "car" has long been considered a synonym for the more generic "vehicle." Nobody goes "crossover shopping"; they go car shopping. And what people are shopping for today, increasingly, is compact crossovers, such as the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4.
I think the case for the CX-5 is strong.From Honda to Volkswagen, tall compact hatchbacked SUV-like vehicles often are a brand's best seller. The only exception to this rule is domestic full-size pickups, which are all followed in their respective brands' sales charts by—you guessed it—compact SUVs. (See our rankings for the entire segment here.) Here we have two superlative best sellers: The Toyota RAV4 is not only Toyota's biggest seller, it's the best-selling vehicle in the whole class and the fourth-best-selling vehicle in the United States, period. With Mazda's humbler scale and presence in our market, the CX-5 didn't come close to the RAV4's 427,170 sales in 2018, but it does outsell all the rest of Mazda's lineup combined. How's that for proof of the crossover's dominance?
Cars in this class run the gamut from affordable to, well, affordable for wealthier people. You can spend as little as $25,395 on a Mazda CX-5, or you can spend about $40,000. All-wheel drive bumps the price up $1400 on the lower trim levels, while it's standard on the upper Grand Touring Reserve and Signature models. It's the same story in the Toyota showroom, where the RAV4 starts at $26,595 and tops $40K all loaded up. There, too, the ability to power the rear wheels adds $1400.
Actually the RAV4 has improved substantially. But...As our current 10Best winner in the segment, the CX-5 is our gold standard for compact crossovers. It's such a standout that, if we want to praise any other similar vehicle, we compare it to the Mazda. And this excellence is apparent from the moment a driver pulls onto the road. The CX-5 has great, rock-solid steering that, in a straight line, feels as though the wheel is fixed. Then you start to turn the wheel, and there's a satisfying buildup in effort. The CX-5 has real body control that doesn't feel as if it was designed to manage more than a driver in this segment is going to do with the Mazda but was designed to deliver outstanding ride comfort no matter what.
Anyway:The Bottom Line
The Toyota RAV4 is a spacious and comfortable cruiser and surprisingly engaging. On the one hand, the RAV4 joins the Camry sedan as unlikely indicators of a shift toward enthusiasm at Toyota. But on the other, both are the volume models, and their honing shows that Toyota is serious about modifying its reputation for building reliable yet staid vehicles. There's a competence to the latest RAV4 that has never been there before. All it needs now is a powertrain that doesn't sound and feel like it's two decades old.
Yet while the Toyota is competent, the Mazda is exemplary. It's not the most spacious people hauler in the segment, but for those whose needs track more toward the modest end of the spectrum, the CX-5 is, in the words of one staffer, "a class-above vehicle despite its middle-of-the-pack pricing." Another, considering the Mazda against any other competitor, called it "no contest." In a field full of mainstream nameplates, the CX-5 feels like a full-blown luxury offering. That it drives in a way that will please enthusiasts merely takes what already has broad appeal and further distills it for those who care differently.
- Affordable even with AWD
- Best interior in segment
- Good or even above average reliability (at least at the brand level)
- Best chassis in the segment (probably drives at least as good as your 3, yes really)
Negatives:
- Below average fuel economy (but performance blows away the RAV4 in this test, like 2 seconds faster 0-60)
- Cargo space compromised (but whether it is "sufficient" is something you will only find out by driving one and even taking it home for a bit which you can usually do)
CX-5
RAV4Wheelbase: 106.2 in
Length: 179.1 in
Width: 72.5 in
Height: 65.3 in
Passenger volume: 102 cu ft
Cargo volume: 31 cu ft
I'm not sure those are WORLDS apart....but it is 19% less cargo room in the Mazda. Noticable? Certainly. Show stopping? Doubt it. Both of those numbers are more than twice a typical small sedan. Bill, your 3 is 11.5 based on research. That is a significant difference.Wheelbase: 105.9 in
Length: 181.5 in
Width: 73.4 in
Height: 70.0 in
Passenger volume: 99 cu ft
Cargo volume: 37 cu ft
In fact a current gen Impala which is a large sedan only has 18.8. way bigger than the 3 but nowhere near these crossovers and they aren't even large crossovers.
I looked up our SRX: 32.4. Clearly 31 is a very serviceable number.