Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2025 Subaru Forester

The Mazda CX-70 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Forester doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The CX-70 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Forester doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The CX-70 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 Forester’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-70 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Forester and its not available on the Base and the Forester’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the CX-70 and the Forester have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-70 weighs 1199 to 1688 pounds more than the Subaru Forester. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

The CX-70’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 100 more horsepower (280 vs. 180) and 154 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 178) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-70 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 143 more horsepower (323 vs. 180) and 191 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 178) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 160 more horsepower (340 vs. 180) and 191 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 178) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the CX-70 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Subaru Forester:

The CX-70 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Forester can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-70’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Forester doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-70’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Forester (18.5 vs. 16.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Forester (19.6 vs. 16.6 gallons).

For better stopping power the CX-70’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Forester:

The CX-70 stops shorter than the Forester:

For better traction, the CX-70 has larger standard tires than the Forester (265/55R19 vs. 225/60R17). The CX-70 Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Forester (275/45R21 vs. 235/50R19).

The CX-70’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 Forester’s standard 60 series tires. The CX-70 Premium’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Forester Sport/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Forester. The CX-70 Premium’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Forester Sport/Touring.

The CX-70 has 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 Forester doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-70’s wheelbase is 17.7 inches longer than on the Forester (122.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-70 is 5.4 inches wider in the front and 5.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Forester.

The CX-70 has 30.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Forester (141.6 vs. 110.8).

The CX-70 has 1.5 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Forester.

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Forester with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Forester with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 74.4 cubic feet).

The CX-70’s cargo area is larger than the Forester’s in almost every dimension:

The CX-70’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Forester’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Forester is only 1500 pounds. The CX-70 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The CX-70 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Forester uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The CX-70 Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Forester doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the CX-70 and the Forester have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the CX-70 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Forester prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The CX-70’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 Forester’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

On a hot day the CX-70’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Forester can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-70 has 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 vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring offers a Keyless Access and Start.

The CX-70’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 Forester’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-70’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring offers wireless charging.

The CX-70 Premium Plus has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Forester doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.