Compare the2024 Mazda CX-5VS 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-5 Turbo Signature has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Crosstrek only offers a rear monitor.

The CX-5 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Crosstrek’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Crosstrek and its not available on the Base.

Both the CX-5 and the Crosstrek 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available driver alert monitors.

The Mazda CX-5 weighs 414 to 579 pounds more than the Subaru Crosstrek. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Crosstrek:

	CX-5	Crosstrek
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.42 in	2.17 in
Shoulder Force	424 lbs.	714 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.97 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Crosstrek has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

Engine

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (187 vs. 152) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 145) than the Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (187 vs. 182) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 178) than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited/Wilderness’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 74 more horsepower (256 vs. 182) and 142 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 178) than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited/Wilderness’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl. is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	CX-5	Crosstrek
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	4.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	10.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.4 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	83 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 (250 HP engine) is faster than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited/Wilderness 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	CX-5	Crosstrek
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	87.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Crosstrek Wilderness (26 city/31 hwy vs. 25 city/29 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-5 Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Crosstrek:

	CX-5 Turbo	Crosstrek
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.2 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

	CX-5	Crosstrek
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	140 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The Crosstrek’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5 has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Crosstrek (106.2 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Crosstrek.

The CX-5 handles at .82 G’s, while the Crosstrek Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 Carbon Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Crosstrek Limited (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Crosstrek Limited (66 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Crosstrek (103.6 vs. 100.5).

The CX-5 has .1 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear hip room than the Crosstrek.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The Crosstrek’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (30 vs. 19.9 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-5 easier. The CX-5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the Crosstrek’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Crosstrek’s in almost every dimension:

	CX-5	Crosstrek
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	38”	32.1”/63.9”
Max Width	57”	53”
Min Width	41.3”	43”
Height	32.4”	30”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Crosstrek’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The CX-5 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the CX-5 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Crosstrek’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The CX-5 has a standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness offers Keyless Access and Start.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Crosstrek’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-5 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Crosstrek, and aren’t available on the Crosstrek Base. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Crosstrek.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the CX-5 and the Crosstrek offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Recommendations

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