2023 Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester Comparison & 0-60 / Hard Call 

CX5 has USB in rear arm rest

Can't content on the Suburu, but I had a 2016 CX5 that we bought at a year old with about 19,000 miles. Drove it until about 165,000 and it was excellent! Only time in the shop was for oil changes, brake pads, and changing the cabin filters. Gas mileage was excellent. Highly recommended.

Thanks for doing this comparison--the CX-5 almost always gets pitted against the CRV and RAV4, but as you point out, the Forester is a direct competitor also, although the CX-50 is aimed more at the Subie crowd than the CX-5. I bought a new CX-5 (non-turbo) last fall and still thoroughly enjoy every drive. It replaced a hot hatch (Fiesta ST) because I needed a bigger, better all-arounder. What's surprised me is how close the CX-5 is in terms of everyday driving fun, even though obviously it doesn't approach the ST by any performance metric. But I actually prefer the steering feel of the CX-5, and steering is one of the ST's strong points! In contrast, I've driven a lot of late-model Subaru crossovers (and the household had a Crosstrek for many years) and find them mundane--although hardly bad--to drive. I was never remotely tempted to push them on twisty roads, whereas the CX-5 is a lot of fun in the curves, just begging to be flung around with enthusiasm. Plus I worked at a Subie dealership for awhile and was surprised how many relatively low-mileage cars were coming back with engine or CVT issues. But I know a number of people with 2017 or later Mazda crossovers (mostly CX-5s), and none of them have had any problems. I totally get the appeal of the Forester though, and for a lot of people, it's the right choice. Your video is an excellent buyer's guide for people who aren't considering a Honda or Toyota (there are actually some of us out there!).

I considered both, went with the Forester. Love the visibility and room. Its like driving around in a greenhouse.

I worked at a Dealership service department that serviced both brands for 4 years. Forester is solid, but CX-5 has it beat hands down, no contest, when it comes to long term reliability.

Forester! I have a nine year old unit and am buying a new Forester… keeping my older unit as well. I feel safe driving a Forester!!

This was a great comparison. The CX-5 and Forester are in the top 5 on my shopping list this year for a new compact SUV. Probably in the top 3. The differences come down to just what you said. Fun and extra quality vs practicality. On paper, I think I lean towards getting the CX-5 for a number of reasons. 6-speed auto, no stop/start, more luxurious interior, handles in the hatch area to fold down the rear seats on all trims, ventilated driver seat, chi wireless charger, turbo option, fun to drive. These are all features the CX-5 has over the Forester. And, as you said, the CX-5 more represents my values. The Forester wins with more interior and cargo room, better mileage, bigger sunroof, and CD player built into the stereo. Yes, I still love CDs for the sound quality but I can always move all my music to my phone or a memory stick. If I lived in an area with crappy roads, I would lean towards the Forester, but I live in South Florida where the roads are mostly smooth. Ventilated seats would be a big plus in this heat. Standard AWD in both cars is a plus with all the rain we get here. Anyways the other cars in my top 5 list are the Rav4 Hybrid, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Outback. I like RDX as well, but probably won't spend that much.

I traded in a 2016 Forester XT for a 2019 CX-5 Turbo. The practically of the Forester was a step above almost all, the boxiness made it roomy and had great visibility. But even with the turbo power in the previous gen Forester, the CVT made it feel awful. I had to put a couple mods into it to make it drive more sharply. The CX-5 was amazing in comparison. Drove brilliantly, quality felt near-luxury. Options like a heads up display and ventilated seats made the Subaru feel like an antique in comparison. And say what you will about a six speed auto being "old", but the turbo had such a smooth torque curve you never felt like you were hunting for a better gear. If you need the utility, if you *actually* go off road, get the Forester. But if you spend the majority of your time on pavement and you're not hauling mountain bikes or something, treat yourself and get the Mazda.

I purchased a CX-5 Carbon Edition. Have had for 2 months and so far, no complaints. In Subaru, I looked at the Crosstrek. In test driving, I liked the Crosstrek but liked the CX-5 just a bit more, plus leery of the CVT transmission.

I own an older forester, and hate to say it, but it’s given me nothing but problems. Every time I turn around there’s a 1200 repair bill. I’ve had multiple Mazdas in the past. I’ve finally had it with the forester and will be heading back to Mazda.

Thanks for a good review young fellah - here in Tasmania there are more Subarus per citizen than elsewhere in Australia and the ACT (Canberra) has the highest number of Foresters per citizen in Australia - I’ve owned 10 Subarus from the Leone station wagon through to a WRX and XT Turbo Forester - I stopped buying Subarus when the car maker introduced the awful CVT - I now drive a Toyota Hilux but still have my trusty 2007 Forester Auto non-turbo as a daily commuter. We don’t use salt for snow management so it’s very rare to see rust on a Subaru which are all imported from Japan - the Mazda has pretend AWD (it’s not always there when you need it) and too harsh a ride for my comfort.

We went with the Forester because of the better seats, superior awd and excellent outward visibility. Like someone said, sitting in the Mazda was like sitting in a cave. That also goes for there other models. The Forester does have some CVT drone but the Mazda’s auto is not exactly a dual clutch. I felt the Mazda had the edge in handling but not enough to overcome the other deficits. And the Subaru jumps off the line very nicely without much effort. It’s not as slow as many reviews would lead you to believe. It’s no GTI though and neither is the Mazda.

I drove both these trying to decide what to buy. The Mazda is a hoot to drive but the driver’s area is so claustrophobic and the visibility was not great. I had a Mazda 626 long ago. Great car, no problems. I bought a Forester though. Lots of room in the driver’s area and great visibility. Not as much fun to drive though it is very stable on the road, needs a touch more oomph.

The forester premium is definitely subarus best value for money model and spec right now imo

i Went with cx-5 turbo. 4 yrs later , no issues. love the driving performance

Cx 5 hands down.

We tested both (and many others) before we bought the CX5, we thought the Subaru was not even close in ride quality, seat comfort, fit and finish. The Subaru was very low on the list of all the SUV's we tested and researched. The final three were the Honda CRX and Toyota Rav4 and the Mazda, of course the Mazda won over the Honda and last was the Toyota.

Which is better depends on where you live. On icy / slippery / snow covered roads, Mazda's "grip and slip" Haldex part-time AWD is no match for Subaru's full time AWD. And if you plan to do some off road driving, again the Forester is by far the better choice - any channel where they do off-roads, like "Driving Sports TV" does explain why the Subaru is better

Thanks for the comparison. One deciding factor for me was repair and maintenance costs. The CX5 keeps it simple and economical.

THIS IS A COMPARISON I can't wait to see... I'm looking at BOTH of them now.. for different reasons.. Would love for this to have been MAX CX-50!!!

I would love to see a comparison between the CX50 and the Outback (both in turbo or higher trims).

On my third Forester, now driving a Sport model, and have loved them all. I like the more kind of rugged look of the Forester over the more sedan like look of the CX 5. Drove my 2015 Forester from Kingston, NY to Houston, TX and it was like buttah! Lol!

I own a 2020 CX-5 signature trim turbo. I would say, if you want a sporty car feel in your SUV, go with the CX-5. If you are going off-road (dirt, or extreme bumpy roads) every weekend, go with the Forester. Snow handling in the CX-5 with cross climates is the best and is probably just as good in the Forester.

I'll take the Mazda every day .. In fact i did i bought one !

I would need to drive both. Wife totaled her Camaro and we needed a car quickly. The subaru line I had been researching for a while to replace my lincoln mkx as milage went above 100,000. Up to 127,000 now. Was comparing the Crosstrek sport against the CX-50. After research because I read the cx-50 needed premium gas that eliminated that option, the Buick encore rear seat leg room was unacceptable since we would have two car seats back there. The crosstrek sport was 10-12 weeks out and they had a premium on the way so we purchased that, still took 7 or 8 weeks to get. Used cars were out of the question due to the elevated prices and what our insurance payout was. We love the crosstrek.

When I took Forester on a highway and did an emergency handling test - I was scared the car would flip over. Never felt that with CX5.

Drove the cx-5, very nice. Did not like the view thru the rear view mirror. Vehicle is narrow and rear seat headrests block most of the view. The newer design cx-50 is much better.

I don't CARE about all the extra BS-- the tech junk and all that crap-- wipers, mirrors, all that type of BS--- Iwant to know a comparison of RELIABILITY in general- how the engines hold up- and how the car overall will LAST in actual REAL LIFE USE-- I don't give a damn about what kind of freakin wipers it has or how big that stupid screen is-- and all that crap that has NOTHING to do wtih how the car will LAST.

Very good information BUT really hard to follow which car you are talking about throughout.

Better comparison would be Forrester vs CX-50.

Very tough decisions which I have made recently. This comparison is spot on. I had a 2012 Subaru and had head gasket issues with very low miles. That left a bad taste in my mouth. Seats, visibility, AWD, room/storage all in Forester's favor. In the CX-5's favor is Mazda's reliability in my experience (I also have a Miata), engine, and styling. As far as handling, I think they are both pretty good. I wound up getting the CX-5 turbo and the MPG I get is 18 MPG in around town driving. I still go back and forth whether I made the right decision.

🎉🎉 thank you for the informative video!

Had to buy a Forrester because it was the only car my father-in - law could get through the front door. He complained about getting through the front door on the Mazda. He died just about he time the wart was up. Within days I ordered a new CX5. My ass didn’t like Forrester’s hard flat seats. Subaru could never make my iPhone work. It became a joke watching for the shade of trees or overpass because eyesight would slam on the breaks. My wife would always joke of the rubber band snap of the CVT. I detest the screaming noise. Most all the lights burned out during ownership. The cheap plastic around the doors cracked. After having an Indiana built Subaru I was hoping for better quality coming from Japan. Still never figured out what the ticking noise coming from the front on left turns was but it is all gone with my red Mazda. I appreciate the Mazda’s mpg as it does 2 mpg better than the Forester and I’m driving a turbo CX5.

i would love to see a crv subaru comparo done like this. great video

CX5 no contest. Better transmission and engine. Great interior and handling.

CX5

I love my cx30 it's 2years now... but i ordered the new cx5 here in japan sport appearance to be specific... ❤❤❤❤

I prefer steering feel and response more than uneven road dampening. I also like the upscale feel of the CX-5 with it's great styling and fit 'n' finish build quality. I am not 6' 3" and drive it from the front seat - I don't have many passengers in the back and none come close to 6' so legroom isn't an issue. I like the knob controlled infotainment system. I am a long-time BMW owner having had (3) 328ix from 2011 to 2014 and this is straight out of BMW design - that's how their system works so it suits me to a T. I have driven Mazda 3 (wife's car) and the CX-50 which came out after my Turbo CX-30. If I needed more room I'd go with the CX-5 and would have gone with the CX-50 instead of the CX-30, but it wasn't available. I have also owned 2 Subaru Legacies and they were comfortable, but deadening in the driving. Great cars that would put me to sleep on long drives - they are the opposite of "fun" cars but great when I had to drive my mom to and from Drs - but the CTV transmissions are straight-up awful in my opinion, from a mechanical view of the technology to the day-to-day blandness of it. I felt like I was driving my grampa's Grenada - but I did think they were comfortable and quiet. I've also driven my friend's Forrester, and design-wise they are boring to look at and with the CVT, they are still deadening dreadful to drive - never know what the wheels are doing, too much travel off center needing correction - but they did do a better job of isolating you over rough roads. That would be my only positive about the Subarus - they isolate you better from the road.

Cx5 every day!

CX 5

All the Mazda wonderful features are negated by the seats that very Very uncomfortable being too firm. This is how Mazda probably turned the car to make it appear more "sporty" in harmony with suspension turning having to be less stiff.

Mazda is a nice city SUV but once bad weather or road conditions appear you're going to take a Subaru. The tall wagon is frumpy look but from the inside, the visibility, comfort and airiness of the Forester interior is amazing.

Mazda is always the answer.

Forester: Real men car. CX5: Cute but small, lower roof.

Great comparison

Nice review sir.

Decision would be much easier if one of them offered a hybrid version.

Very nicely presented.

Forester!!!

The difference CVT vs six speed, my pick is 6 speed, we have crosstrek 2.5 and going to 2024 cx5. Way better interior of cx5 and 6 speed transmission, all Subarus burn oil like no one else 6k on synthetic oil is what they want and tire rotation every oil change be aware that leaks $150 every six months.

You can tell he likes the forrester more throughout. I could feel the bias.

CX-5 -- you'll notice those A pillars.

"unless you have needy backseat goblins." That's a new one.

I own a Cx30 and is fantastic.

Easy decision. Forester uses the H4. Unless Subaru implements a dry sump solution to their consumer level market as standard, I will never purchase a Subaru.

How tall are you? Which is better in a winter setting?

This seemed like a strange comparison. Each car does certain things well. It depends on what you want in your SUV.

Massive CX5 FAN. It's like BMW Better Value

I would go with Cx5, if there was legroom lol

Great comparison video. Thank you so much for detailed insights into two of the most sought after vehicles in this segment, which is packed with so many worthy competitors. Adore CX-5's city-centric design and no-nonsense approach to overall ride quality and handling, though Subaru is a clear winner if you are looking at a car that you can take out with equal measure of confidence on as well as off road.

How is Forester’s CVT long term reliability?

Love my Mazda

We've owned both a CX-5 and a Forester. These SUVs don't really compare if you are going farther than the grocery store. I like the exterior design of the Mazda, but that's where it ends. You can comfortably haul 4 adults in the Subie, it is quieter, just as quick, and gives up nothing to the Mazda. Subie for us...thanks for the review!

looks good or solid

I've had both........Mazda overall builds a better overall car.......AND one thing NO ONE mentions.......Mazda's have about double the low rpm torque...below 1500---2000 Rpm.........So You can drive forever in this rpm range if You are not heavy footed........Making the Mazda almost noiseless...........I can climb a 10% Grade north of My house at 1500 rpm......Subie needs 2500..........I will agree with Others, tho, that if I lived in a Town filled with potholes I would take the Subie..........Mazda's are firm...................Paul

I had a Subaru Outback 2008 which got totaled in an accident not my fault 😮 I replaced it with a Mazda CX-5 which I absolutely love ❤️ Luxury and so fun to drive!

Really like the way you thoroughly describe each vehicle then recap the plusses and minuses at the end. I admire the sleek Mazda but the proportions and competence of the Forester appeal to me more, plus the fact that NW CT where I drive a lot, sadly has many crappy roads like those in Indiana. Until the roads improve, my vote is for the Forester. Cheers~

I already made my choice. I bought a 2022 Forester Wilderness. I'm 6' 2", so I like the taller seating arrangement. I also find it to be more utilitarian, as I drive it on back country roads. I definitely don't like the iPad infotainment screen in the Mazda. I just hit 8000 miles in my Forester and I'm very happy with my choice.

Great review, I really enjoy your balanced approach in all your videos, except for one thing I’ve noticed in almost all your Subaru reviews…2012 was the last year for the engine family (EJ25) that had head gasket issues for Subaru so I don’t think it’s relevant to keep mentioning that in regards to reliability in every Subaru review you do

Earlier Forester had CVT problem and I lost confidence in the car. Bought a CX-5 and the transmission is smooth plus the car rides and handles very nicely.

Not a Forester, but I got a Outback last May after planning to get a CX-5. On the test drive, the Outback was the easier car, felt smooth, basic, great visibility, lots of room. I always explained it as the CX-5 being what I wanted and the Outback being what I needed (for my lifestyle). After doing more research over the past many months I wish I got the CX-5. Everything I've read has led me to believe that the Outback has lots of small maintenance issues whereas the CX-5 tends to go a while with nothing but fluid changes. After my Nissan Rogue, I swore to never get another CVT but here I am. The speakers in the Outback are subpar, and I have grown to dislike the big screen. Not to mention the amount of rattles that appeared. I miss physical buttons. Contemplating trading to a CX-5 but that is easier said than done obviously. Both great cars but for what I am going for the CX-5 now seems like a better option.

Forester - if you live where roads are bad and/or constantly need to lug lots of stuff/people around. CX-5 - for everything else.

Subaru Forester hands down!

We have a CX-30 and love it. We have owned Audis and the quality of the Mazda interior is close to being on par with them. The Mazda has a German car practicality that I like. The simpleness of the engine and all-wheel drive design is a plus for longevity. The styling isn't like the boring cars in this class and the classic Mazda zoom-zoom handling much like German vehicles beats the other offerings. And when was the last time you needed fog lights anyway?? It's rude and illegal to use fog lights at all times for merely driving in the dark. And CVT? Come on man! Car people don't drive CVT's. But the best selling point is NO STOP/START. I passed on every model with that annoying feature. In my opinion, the Mazda is a driver's car. Enjoy!

Your word choice and structure for these reviews is amazing man. Sometimes I watch these comparisons for fun and even as someone not looking I have no idea what the winner or the true pros and cons are.

I traded in my 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. It was the biggest piece of shit I have ever owned. One problem after another. I now have a 2023 CX-5. And I love it. Going from a CVT to a standard 6 speed is like God coming down from the heavens.

Should I eat a banana or an apple? That’s kind of like the choice between these two very different vehicles. They really don’t compete in the same arena or attract the same buyer.

I've never had an issue with the gears on the Mazda neither have any other car testers for that matter... In fact, they praise the 6 speed regular transmission as one of the best !

Great review. Yeah, Subaru seats are really good. I bought a '21 Legacy just for that reason (nappa leather, pull out thigh extension). I've had a few loaners while the dealer has chased rattles (Crosstrek, Outback) and even their low spec cloth seats were better than average. Plus the ride quality on every current Subaru I've driven has been very good. I haven't driven a CX-5, but I have read a number of reviews and forum posts saying its seats and ride quality could be better (although its quiet). I couldn't pick without an hour or two with each. I will say after a low mileage oil pan leak on my turbo Legacy the reliable powertrain in the Mazda would be a big draw.

Mazda is the only way to go, no CVT... Zoom zoom😂😂

I've driven both, along with the Toyota RAV4 , Honda CRV and Volkswagen Tiguan. After much debating with myself I've landed on buying the Subaru Forester Wilderness. For me, I don't want a turbo, the 2.5 NA engine is just fine. Now I'll wait to see what the 2024 will offer. If it has that big honkin screen like the Outback, then I'll go with the 2023.

I did tons of research before buying my car. The list of cars I looked at is pretty long: Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, VW Tiguan, Skoda Karoq & Kodiaq, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester & Outback, Honda CR-V, Suzuki S-Cross, Ford Kuga/Escape, Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi Outlander, Range Rover Evoque, Dacia Duster. They all got compared on performance, driving, space, finishing, maintenance and price, of course. All were 2023 or 2022 models given I did this beginning of the year so. not all 2023 models were out yet, like the new CR-V or Outlander. Price played a part mainly because I paid cash for it as I didn't want another monthly payment on top of the mortgage and various insurances - LOL! But overall it was down to how I felt when driving it, how I felt (hope you didn't think this was going to be the most objective post) about the brand and maintenance - as I didn't want to buy a car and spend more time servicing it than on the road. So the RR and Ford were discounted from the start. 🙂 Nissan started having a dodgy reputation in terms of reliability so I skipped it as well. Suzuki are too expensive for what they offer. Toyota was the obvious choice but even though it's the class leader I don't like the design, both interior or exterior. To each their own, I say. Hyundai was among those I favored but the new designs (from Kia as well) are quite sketchy and on looks alone I skipped them. CR-V was nice but something didn't click, and just like with Suzuki, it felt it cost more than what it offered. To cut things short, it came down to these two - Forester and CX-5. And if I was a super practical guy that would spend lots of time off-road then I would've gotten the Forester. But 90% of the driving I'll do will be on paved roads. And the CX-5 felt more like a sedan when driving it. Plus, the trim level I got (Homura) has the same features as my buddy's Audi Q5 - only he paid double for it! So, if you're looking to haul stuff on a regular basis then maybe the CX-5 ain't the best. But if you want to have a car that you'll love driving around, that has a great entertainment system (Bose), is packed full of sensors and has top safety marks then the CX-5 is the car you should go for! Plus, where I live, the Forester is only available with a 2.0L 150HP engine which I believe is underpowered for such a car. Not to mention the CVT. Why, Subaru, why? Let me know your thoughts - has anyone else do such research before getting their car?

The Subaru engine is garbage. I have a friend who is a Subaru mechanic and is quite well off because he has plenty of Subaru engines to repair.

Forrester hands down..

IMHO there is no more beautiful color than Mazda's Soul Red Crystal Metallic

I picked Mazda CX-5 after test driving both Forester and CX5. I just felt more connected to the road and the interior feels much more premium. Subaru has to work on its busy interior layout. In addition, the adaptive cruise control, Heads up display and the Tech in general on Mazda CX-5 felt superior.

I had a 2018 outback and around 80k miles the cvt transmission started to get a little sloppy and doing some really weird things especially on acceleration from a stop. I traded it in 2021 on a new mazda cx5 and I love it. The handling is way better and just overall a better class of vehicle and just has a much better feeling of quality.

Subaru wins every time. It's a Subaru.

I had to go with Cx-5 GT (Ontario). Did a test ride on the Premium Forester but felt lacking few things. Besides, I felt the Forester was a bit boring with the pickup maybe because of the CVT. One thing, I wanted to know further was why the wireless carplay is missing in the Cx5. The Pano roof & touchscreen are some other misses on the CX5.

I had a 24 Forester as a rental and I hated it. Bought a 24 CX-5 turbo a couple weeks ago, love it.

Nice review, until you mentioned the Subaru head gasket problems at 16:45. Here is a quick run down of those problems, which cars and when. 1999-2010 Forester 1999-2011 Impreza 2000-2009 Outback 2000-2009 Legacy 2003-2005 Baja For the CVT, as long as you regularly service the CVT, it will not give you problems. Don't go heavy 4WD mountain trekking, it's not designed for that. You will overheat the CVT and ruin it. Also, many people do make the mistake of Subaru's CVT problems with Nissan. Nissan's has real bad problems. Shame. Now, I'm talking from the perspective of living in Taiwan, and servicing over here is every 3,500 miles and for that, cars last. I've love Subaru, had a Legacy from 2009 until 2020 and nothing went wrong, Regularly services. Forester is great, also. Mazda, great and reliable also. Oil is cheap, engines are not. Look after the two of them and they will run happily for you.

I have owned a Forester 2022 for a year now.... great vehicle, very smooth ride and comfortable..... I have owned other Japanese brands as well, they are all top quality..... I find that the main difference with CX-5, Rav4 and CR-V is basically: 1) its AWD system (that is available in all trims and is really reliable), and 2) its ground clearence (highest in the market). For traveling and weekend trips is the best option in the market in my opinion. For daily driving in the city and traffic jams I use a Corolla (I very much prefer driving this car and not the Forester in the city, can't imagine riding the subbie in traffic jams, it seems to me that it's too much of car for it).

The Mazda looks way better.

If you're doing even light off-roading, there is no choice but the Forester, with its 1.5 inches of additional ground clearance.

What’s the advantage of automatic rain sensing wipers? Can someone explain, I’m genuinely curious. It just seems like something that will get messed up down the line and cause issues

I had the benefit of driving a family member's Subaru Forester before driving a CX-5. The Forester felt like it wants to be a mid-trim Toyota Corolla Cross that could drive off-road. The Mazda CX-5 felt like it wants to be a Lexus RX AWD available for a lower price than the Toyota Corolla Cross.

Great video. I own both (2022 Forester Sport and 2021 CX5 Grand Touring) and I think the video gets it 100% right: the Forester will have more universal appeal, but a driving enthusiast will strongly prefer a CX5. The CX5 is a joy to drive, but buyer beware, because the seats are brutal for me personally (really unforgiving bottom seat bolsters.) It's a beautiful car, and looks significantly more expensive next to the Forester, but when it comes to virtually everything utilitarian, the Forester wins out. The safety systems on the Forester are better and so is the gas mileage. The seats in the Forester are more comfortable, the backseat and cargo space are noticeably larger, and having a touch screen infotainment makes life a lot easier. And, yeah, it isn't as engaging as the CX5 to drive, but it is a still a joy thanks to the massive windows and great visibility. The cabin is so much lighter and more airy than the CX5 which is dark and drab by comparison. Personally, I find the Subaru a lot easier to live with everyday and much better car, by far, for a family. But if you're a single person or a driving enthusiast, it won't be a comparison and the CX5 will be the clear winner.

I compared the Toyota Venza, Rav, Mazda CX-5 and the Forester . All comparisons were the top of the line models. I loved the Venza but I couldn’t get it with Tan or Brown leather, as it only comes in 1990 Gloomy Grey or Boring Black interior colors. The Rav didn’t have the quality of fit and finish like that of my 11 Rav 4WD Limited. The CX-5 could only be had with the Tan interior with the turbo engine. I wanted a naturally aspirated engine for reliability. The Forester had much better visibility, comfort and cargo area over all the rest, as well as the most ground clearance. We live in the mountains and get 5-6 feet of snow every winter. Ultimately I chose the Forester Touring. It’s Bronze with Saddle Brown interior. The Subaru is much cheaper to insure than the others that I compared. The Venza was the most expensive to insure (an additional $1K per year). After selling my Rav and insuring my Forester, my yearly insurance premium dropped. Even though the Forester is peppy, I will miss the 269hp 3.5 V6 from my 11 Rav. But I Love the fuel economy from my Forester.

I rented a Forester from a rental agency...it drove great and would highly recommend it. Also, Consumer Reports hands down gives Subaru the highest safety records.

I have the 2023 CX5 Preferred and bought it because it has a non turbo engine and a regular transmission. I also love the fact that it does not have start stop feature. My last car had that and drove me nuts. There is a video on how complicated those start stop systems are and they don't even save any gas. By the way I really like this Mazda.