2016 Mazda CX-5 vs 2016 Toyota RAV4
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2016 Mazda
CX-5
8/10
A Miata on stilts with a Corolla's maintenance bill — the last CX-5 before Mazda got fancy.
VS
2016 Toyota
RAV4
7/10
A sensible, high-mileage-capable crossover with a few nagging gremlins (peeling white paint, cloudy headlights, occasional stalling) but the 2AR-FE 2.5L and 6-speed auto are among the most durable powertrains Toyota ever built.
Milo scores the 2016 Mazda CX-5 higher — 8/10 against 7/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Mazda CX-5 |
Toyota RAV4 |
| Known failure points | 8 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 510 | 234 |
| Safety recalls | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 0 |
| Reliability | 82 | 86 |
| Cheap to own | 80 | 82 |
| Fun factor | 72 | 28 |
| Holds value | 70 | 78 |
| Enthusiast cred | 58 | 15 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2016 Mazda CX-5
Rear subframe / trailing arm corrosion in salt-belt cars
$800–$3,50080k–140k mi
2016 Toyota RAV4
Factory white paint (Blizzard Pearl 070 / Super White 040) delaminating from hood and roof — primer adhesion defect
$800–$3,50030k–60k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2016 Mazda CX-5
2016.5 (built April 2016+) Touring trim, AWD, in Soul Red or Machine Gray, with the Preferred Equipment Package and clean service records from a non-salt state. Manual transmission Sport FWD exists and is a unicorn for enthusiasts.
✅ 2016 Toyota RAV4
2016 RAV4 XLE AWD in a non-white color (Barcelona Red, Magnetic Gray, or Silver Sky), with the Advanced Technology Package (blind spot + power liftgate), one or two owners, and dealer-stamped service records showing transmission and rear diff fluid changes. Bonus points for the SE trim if you can find one.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.