The Edmunds say 2019 RAV4 has quiet interior and comfortable ride quality. For 2020 RAV4 Toyota has added missing sound deadening pad beneath the hood which reduced the highway noise from 72db to 68 do at 70 mph based on some YouTube video. Toyota also added missing Android Auto with existing Apple CarPlay to the infotainment system for 2020 RAV4.
I have checked the engine noise in person, its only bad during idling with the hood lifted, not when youre driving. The shift on its 8-speed auto is not indecisive and it should be much better for 2020 RAV4 with updated AT software. The real world MPG is very impressive with high thermal efficiency Dynamic Force naturally aspirated 2.5L and 8-speed base on Fuelly with a big 7.6 mpg jump from 2018s 27.1 to 2019s 34.7!
According to most of the buyer reviews, real world MPG is nowhere near what Toyota is claiming. Don't swallow the cool-aid.
As for the 8 speed tranny, lots of complaints there too. If it was as good as you say it was in the 2019 MY, why reprogram it for 2020?
And what the heck does "high thermal efficiency Dynamic Force" naturally aspirated 2.5L" mean?. It's just a marketing slogan to suck you into thinking it's some sort of magic potion.
Sort of the same thing as Ford's "Military Grade Aluminum" garbage they always throw at you for their truck ads. (hint: there's no such actual thing).
I've read about 75% of the 30 something pages of buyer reviews on the 2019 RAV4, and there was only one reviewer who mentioned looking at a CX-5.
In that review, he still hadn't made his final purchase, and spoke well of the Mazda.
Every reviewer who mentioned comparison shopping against their RAV4, did not look at a CX-5.
In fact most of the Toyota buyers did zero cross shopping.
On the other hand, multiple reviewers who bought a CX-5 mentioned cross shopping it against CR-V's and RAV4's.
It just goes to prove that Mazda's biggest problem is brand recognition, and lazy buyers that can't be bothered to do any homework.