Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2022 Mazda CX-5

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek CVT are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru Crosstrek has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CX-5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek CVT’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Crosstrek and the CX-5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Crosstrek is 1.3% to 1.8% less likely to roll over than the CX-5.

There are over 16 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek’s warranty.

As tested in Motor Trend the Crosstrek Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek gets better mileage than the CX-5:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crosstrek CVT’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-5 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Crosstrek uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-5 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Crosstrek has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-5 (16.6 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-5 (5 to 7). This means the Crosstrek produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-5 every 15,000 miles.

The Crosstrek offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Crosstrek offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Crosstrek stops much shorter than the CX-5:

The Crosstrek’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-5’s standard 65 series tires.

The Crosstrek Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the CX-5 Turbo Signature pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the CX-5 (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the CX-5’s (35.4 feet vs. 36 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-5 (8.7 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Crosstrek’s minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the CX-5 Turbo (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches).

The Subaru Crosstrek may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 600 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

The Crosstrek is 3.6 inches shorter than the CX-5, making the Crosstrek easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Crosstrek has .1 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-5.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The CX-5 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the CX-5. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The power windows standard on both the Crosstrek and the CX-5 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crosstrek is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-5 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The CX-5 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The CX-5 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Crosstrek is less expensive to operate than the CX-5 because typical repairs cost less on the Crosstrek than the CX-5, including $83 less for a muffler, $126 less for fuel injection and $161 less for a power steering pump.