Compare the Toyota RAV4 to the Compact SUV Competition in Portsmouth, NH

Here at Toyota of Portsmouth, we understand why the compact SUV segment remains a popular option for drivers in the Exeter and Hampton region. Each new compact SUV offers remarkable efficiency, versatility and style for your daily commute. Lucky for you, you have many options to consider before leasing or purchasing a new SUV. The new Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Mazda CX-5 serve as exceptional representations of the segment, but each brings something unique to the streets. Compare these dynamic SUV models to find out how the Toyota RAV4 stacks up to the competition today!

2019 Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V

• RAV4 comes in a choice of five trims: base LE, step-up XLE, midrange XLE Premium, and luxurious Limited, plus a rugged Adventure trim. CR-V comes in only four, LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring, and Honda doesn't offer an off-road-designed model.
• A standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter Dynamic Force in-line four-cylinder engine revs eagerly under the hood. CR-V offers a choice between two engines, but they only put out 184 and 190 horsepower, making RAV4 the choice for better acceleration and a more confident driving feel.
• An eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission comes standard in all RAV4 models. CR-V incorporates only a CVT, which is belt- versus gear-driven, meaning it's more likely to wear and stretch, leading to you being on the hook for the occasional fix or outright repair.
• RAV4 makes available two all-wheel-drive systems. One has mud and sand, rock and dirt, and snow modes, as it's equipped with a Multi-terrain Select system. The other is Dynamic Torque Vectoring or TV-AWD, and it features a rear driveline disconnect to help make the most of fuel efficiency. The latter comes standard in RAV4 Adventure. CR-V features only one AWD system, and it's only available across the lineup.
• Toyota Safety Sense&#trade; 2.0 (TSS 2.0) and the Toyota Star Safety System&#trade;, our automaker's exclusive driver-assist and safety suites, come standard in every RAV4 trim. Comparable Honda Sensing driver-assistance technologies only come standard in CR-V EX and later.
• RAV4 can tow anywhere from 1,500 pounds to up to 3,500 in trims like RAV4 Adventure. CR-V, on the other hand, can only haul up to 1,500, regardless of trim.
• With five Entune&#trade; infotainment systems to choose from, along with 7- or 8-inch touchscreens, Qi-compatible charging support, up to five USB ports, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and six- and 11-speaker audio options, RAV4 shows itself better-equipped tech-wise than CR-V. The latter features only a 5-inch LCD at base; its infotainment system reaches only 7 inches in size in higher trims; there's no wireless charging and only up to 3 USB ports; you won't find Wi-Fi, and four speakers in base trims only graduate to up to nine in top trims.

2019 Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-5

• CX-5 offers five trims, Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature, but unlike RAV4, Mazda doesn't offer a trim designed for the outdoors, like Adventure.
• With a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force in-line four-cylinder engine capable of 203 horsepower, RAV4 is clearly the more energetic choice. CX-5 and its engine put out only 187 horsepower at base, and you'll need to go to the top of the line to get up to 250.
• The standard eight-speed electronically controlled auto transmission in RAV4 delivers some of the smoothest shifts around. The CX-5 auto only has six speeds, and that means transitions between gears that are not as smooth.
• With two all-wheel-drive system options, one with mud and sand, rock and dirt, and snow Multi-terrain Select modes, the other with Dynamic Torque Vectoring and a rear driveline disconnect for fuel economy improvement, RAV4 demonstrates that it's more capable than CX-5. The second system's even standard in the Adventure trim. The competition features only one, i-ACTIV AWD.
• Our automaker's proprietary driver-assist technologies, parts of its Toyota Safety Sense&#trade; 2.0 (TSS 2.0) and the Star Safety System&#trade; suites, come standard in all RAV4 trims. Comparable CX-5 features only come available individually, and many, only by ascending trims.
• You can tow up to 1,500 pounds at base in a new RAV4, and up to 3,500 pounds in Adventure trims. CX-5, however, can only tow up to 2,000 pounds.
• RAV4 features five Entune&#trade; infotainment systems to choose from. They come in 7- or 8-inch touch-screen format. Qi-compatible wireless device charging is an option, as are up to five USB ports, hotspot support via Wi-Fi Connect, and six- and 11-speaker audio, the latter from JBL. CX-5 features only one infotainment system, a 7-inch MAZDA CONNECT system. It doesn't offer wireless charging, you can only find up to 4 USB ports, and there are no Wi-Fi abilities, only four speakers at base, and only a 10-speaker Bose system comes standard at the top of the line. The verdict: RAV4 is tech-savvier.

2019 Toyota RAV4 vs Ford Escape

• With more trims to choose from -- LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, and Limited -- and the penultimate all-terrain model, RAV4 provides a drive suited to just about every need, whether it's the daily commute or you're heading off-grid. Escape features only four trims, S, SE, SEL, and Titanium, and there's no specifically ruggedly-designed model to speak of.
• RAV4 is the more powerful and better acceleratory option, owing to a standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter Dynamic Force in-line four-cylinder engine. Escape features only 168- and 179-horsepower engines at base, and you'll have to go all the way to the Titanium trim to get a 245-horsepower model.
• A standard eight-speed electronically controlled auto transmission delivers much more seamless gear shifts than the auto under the hood in Escape, which offers only six speeds.
• Toyota makes two AWD systems available in RAV4, one with a Multi-terrain Select system with modes for mud, sand, rock, dirt, and snow, and the other with the cornering precision of Dynamic Torque Vectoring (TV-AWD) and a rear driveline that can disconnect to enhance fuel efficiency. The latter comes standard in RAV4 Adventure grade. Escape, on the other hand, offers only one, an intelligent 4WD system, and its only optional.
• Both Toyota Safety Sense&#trade; 2.0 (TSS 2.0) and the Star Safety System&#trade;, comprehensive suites of driver-assistive and safety features, come standard, not to mention that many other passive and active technologies are optional. The available safety features in Escape are less comprehensive, only available individually, and only further up the Escape line.
• Between RAV4 and Escape, ours is the better equipped technologically. Toyota incorporates your choice of five Entune&#trade; infotainment systems with 7- or 8-inch touchscreens, for one. Wireless charging for Qi-compatible devices is also available, as are up to five USB ports and either six- or 11-speaker audio, the latter from JBL. Escape offers only two infotainment systems, SYNC and SYNC 3. The former is only 4.2 inches in size, there's no wireless charging offered, you can only find up to 2 USB ports, and there's only 10-speaker Sony audio at the top of the line.

Request Your RAV4 Test Drive at Our Portsmouth Toyota Dealership

Improve your daily commuting experience in the new Toyota RAV4 from Toyota of Portsmouth! We encourage all drivers from the Exeter, Dover, and York ME regions to browse our new Toyota specials regularly to find discounts on the models in our inventory. We look forward to pairing you with your ideal Toyota SUV soon!