Compare the2024 Mazda CX-5VS 2024 Subaru Impreza

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-5 Turbo Signature has standard Smart Brake Support-Rear that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Impreza doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 Impreza 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 Impreza’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 Impreza and its not available on the Base.

Both the CX-5 and the Impreza 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 and rearview cameras.

The Mazda CX-5 weighs 460 to 689 pounds more than the Subaru Impreza. 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 Impreza:

	CX-5	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	1.57 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	580 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.61 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	22 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.42 in	1.65 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.73 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	736 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 Impreza 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 Impreza’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 Impreza RS’ 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 Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	CX-5	Impreza
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	9.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.4 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	84 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 (250 HP engine) is faster than the Impreza RS 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	CX-5	Impreza
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	90.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 Impreza 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 Impreza:

	CX-5	CX-5 Turbo	Impreza	Impreza Sport/RS
Front Rotors	11.7 inches	12.6 inches	11.6 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.9 inches	11.2 inches	11.2 inches

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Impreza:

	CX-5	Impreza
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	144 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Impreza (225/65R17 vs. 205/55R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-5 has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Impreza. The CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Impreza Sport/RS.

The CX-5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Impreza; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 Impreza 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 Impreza (106.2 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the Impreza.

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 has a 2.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Impreza (7.6 vs. 5.1 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is 2.8 inches higher than on the Impreza (7.9 vs. 5.1 inches).

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Impreza (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 2.1 inches more rear hip room than the Impreza.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

Towing

The CX-5 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Impreza has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

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 Impreza 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 Impreza 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 Impreza’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 Impreza Sport/RS offers Keyless Entry and Start.

The CX-5’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Impreza’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Impreza’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 Impreza, and aren’t available on the Impreza 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 Impreza.

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 Impreza 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 Impreza doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the CX-5 and the Impreza 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 Impreza doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The CX-5’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Impreza’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Recommendations

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

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Subaru Impreza by over four to one during 2023.