Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4VS 2023 Mazda 3

The Rav4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Rav4 and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Mazda 3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

There are over 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mazda is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Mazda is ranked fourth.

The Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (203 vs. 191) than the Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 is faster than the Mazda 3 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Mazda 3 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mazda 3 AWD’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Rav4 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mazda 3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Toyota Rav4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 3.

For better stopping power the Rav4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 3:

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the Mazda 3:

For better traction, the Rav4 has larger standard tires than the Mazda 3 (225/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 3 (235/55R19 vs. 215/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 LE/XLE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Mazda 3 2.5 S. The Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Rav4 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda 3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Rav4 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Rav4 flat and controlled during cornering. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Mazda 3.

The Rav4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56.5% to 43.5%) than the Mazda 3’s (60.2% to 39.8%). This gives the Rav4 more stable handling and braking.

The Rav4 Adventure handles at .81 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Premium Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The front grille of the Rav4 Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 has 6.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mazda 3 Sedan (98.9 vs. 92.8). The Rav4 has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mazda 3 Hatchback (98.9 vs. 92.7).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The Mazda 3’s rear seats don’t recline.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rav4 Limited’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Rav4 has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Mazda 3 has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The power windows standard on both the Rav4 and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rav4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Mazda 3 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Mazda 3’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Both the Rav4 and the Mazda 3 offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Mazda 3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 (except LE/XLE/Adventure) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Rav4 and the Mazda 3 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rav4 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Rav4 Adventure/TRD Off-Road has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Rav4 is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because typical repairs cost less on the Rav4 than the Mazda 3, including $138 less for a muffler, $76 less for front struts and $121 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 and the Mazda 3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Mazda 3 by over 14 to one during 2022.