Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Subaru Outback

The Mazda CX-5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Outback doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The CX-5 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 Outback 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.

Both the CX-5 and Outback have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the CX-5 has Smart Braking Support - Rear Crossing (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Outback’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-5 and the Outback 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Outback:

	CX-5	Outback
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	87
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	67	144
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	2.44 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	.98 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 21st.

The CX-5’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (187 vs. 180) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 178) than the Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	CX-5	Outback
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9 sec	9.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.6 sec	5.2 sec
Quarter Mile	17 sec	17.1 sec

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

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
Outback
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	21 city/29 hwy
		Wilderness 2.4 turbo flat-4	21 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Outback XT/Wilderness requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-5 higher (6 out of 10) than the Subaru Outback (5 to 6). This means the CX-5 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Outback every 15,000 miles.

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

	CX-5	Outback
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.4 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Outback:

	CX-5	Outback
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

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 Outback doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Outback (110.7 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

The CX-5 S Premium Plus handles at .83 G’s, while the Outback Touring XT pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-5 is 7.1 inches shorter than the Outback, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CX-5 S Premium Plus is quieter than the Outback Wilderness (38 vs. 39 dB).

The CX-5 has .2 inches more front hip room and .4 inches more rear legroom than the Outback.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CX-5 Premium Plus’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Outback doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The CX-5 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Outback (1058 vs. 900 lbs.).

The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s standard Entry/Exit Assist glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

On a hot day the CX-5’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Outback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Outback’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-5 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 56.65% resale value of the 2026 Subaru Outback after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner.

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