Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2023 Mazda CX-5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Impreza 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 Impreza 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.

Compared to metal, the Impreza’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-5 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Impreza 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Impreza	CX-5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	247 lbs.	274 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	117	156
Neck Injury Risk	34%	37%
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	76/57 lbs.	449/262 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Mazda CX-5:

	Impreza	CX-5
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	449

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 Impreza, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 7.4% to 7.9% less likely to roll over than the CX-5, which received a four-star rating.

Warranty

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

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Impreza has a 130-amp alternator. The CX-5’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The CX-5 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Impreza 5-door
AWD	Manual	2.0 DOHC flat-4	24 city/31 hwy
		Sport 2.0 DOHC flat-4	22 city/30 hwy
	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/36 hwy
		Sport 2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/35 hwy
CX-5
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Impreza 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.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

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

The Impreza 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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Impreza stops much shorter than the CX-5:

	Impreza	CX-5
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	136 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Impreza’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-5’s standard 65 series tires. The Impreza Sport’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the CX-5 Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door handles at .80 G’s, while the CX-5 pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-5 (27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

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

Chassis

The Subaru Impreza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 750 pounds less than the Mazda CX-5.

The Impreza 5-door is 3.9 inches shorter than the CX-5, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Impreza is 8.1 inches shorter in height than the CX-5, making the Impreza much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The front grille of the Impreza Sport/Limited uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the Impreza Sedan is 4.9 inches lower than the CX-5 (12.7” vs. 17.6”). The Impreza Sedan’s rear step up height is 4.2 inches lower than the CX-5’s (14” vs. 18.2”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Impreza easier. The Impreza’s trunk lift-over height is 26 inches, while the CX-5’s liftover is 29.4 inches.

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

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Impreza 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 Impreza has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The CX-5 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

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

The Impreza’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.

Model Availability

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Mazda CX-5 isn’t available as a sedan.

Economic Advantages

The Impreza will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Impreza will retain 53.58% to 57.04% of its original price after five years, while the CX-5 only retains 50.99% to 51.37%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the CX-5 because typical repairs cost less on the Impreza than the CX-5, including $85 less for a muffler, $126 less for fuel injection and $165 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Impreza will be $5649 to $13747 less than for the Mazda CX-5.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Impreza and the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance.