Subaru or Mazda?

[Pew]

So, this is exactly why it is so important to research and go sit in them and drive for a bit. My wife has neck issues and has a very difficult time finding car seats that work for her. In fact, she found the seats in the CX-5 were so comfortable for her, that' one of the top 5 reasons she chose it. Completely opposite of your experience.

I have a '19 with the heated/cooled leather and I hate it. I was in a [brand new] '24 dealer loaner for a month with the cloth seats and those were a bit better but I didn't drive that much more than to the train or store. I think the heated/cooled leather seats in the '24 are still the same as the '19.

But to be fair, I'm realizing I really like soft cushions more now than before. If I can find some 1991 civic cloth seats, I'd probably swap the driver's seat.

 

[Urshurak776]

I have a '19 with the heated/cooled leather and I hate it. I was in a [brand new] '24 dealer loaner for a month with the cloth seats and those were a bit better but I didn't drive that much more than to the train or store. I think the heated/cooled leather seats in the '24 are still the same as the '19.

Yeah, hers are the leather. She loves them. Go figure!

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Mazda cx5 with the 2.5 turbo would be a fun car. They are fairly expensive to maintain vs other Japanese cars though.

 

[Greenbeforeblue]

Do either of the prospective vehicles have direct AND port injection like the Toyota Rav4?

 

[Al]

I am Partial to foresters. I have owned 3. But drive them both. I like the way the Forester sits up high and visibility is the best. Their CVT is very robust. But yea drive both.

 

[bobdoo]

We've owned 3 Subies. I bought a CX-5 in '16. Still love it.

Spent 3 years getting the wife to trade in her '12 Outback. After lots of test drives of Toyota, Outback, and Forester, she picked a CX-5. Best ride, best handling, best interior.

I wanted her to buy a RAV4, so I could play with it...

 

[pbm]

Thanks guys....My questions have been answered. I wanted to give every response a thumbs up but that would have been silly.
I'll let her (the family member) decide by reading this thread.

 

[Dave Hess]

CX5 non turbo engine with non CVT transmission is a great vehicle.

Ultra reliable engine / transmission combo.

Oil / filter and ATF changes are very easy.

 

[ae101]

19-21 Forester.
Thermo control valve failure issue. Drivable but have to tow it to dealership immediately to avoid further damage. I think, Subaru of America extended the warranty. Part was redesigned but what I've read is at least it will be stuck in open position if it fail. Last I heard, 2025 redesigned Forester went back to good old thermostat. Nevertheless it is a comfortable car, easy to maintain if you are a DIYer. Most of the parts are almost on top of the engine. Alternator, a/c compressor. Drive belt and oil filter is waving at you when you open the hood. Sparkplugs are not easy to access as an inline 4, but much easier to access compared to a transverse V6.

 

[Glenda W.]

Both Mazda and Subaru make pretty reliable vehicles. I love my 18 Outback. Really the only plus I give the Subaru is ease of maintenance. Everything is pretty easy to work on. Even the spark plugs after you’ve done them aren’t bad. Mostly just getting the correct combination of extensions on the drivers rear.

 

[4wheeldog]

I just passed my 2012 Outback to my son. 287k and it runs like new. Since new I probably spent less than $500 on actual repairs, to include a new MAF sensor and a $200 sensor for the transmission (Looked like a fancy oil pressure sensor and was leaking through the wires). I was anal about maintenance. It only visited the dealer for an airbag recall. All maintenance and repairs were done by me.
The secret of keeping a Subaru CVT alive is 40k fluid changes. I used Valvoline CVT fluid because when I first serviced it Subaru only sold CVT fluid in 30 gallon drums.
YMMV. But it was reliable as an anvil for us.

 

[Dave Hess]

I just passed my 2012 Outback to my son. 287k and it runs like new. Since new I probably spent less than $500 on actual repairs, to include a new MAF sensor and a $200 sensor for the transmission (Looked like a fancy oil pressure sensor and was leaking through the wires). I was anal about maintenance. It only visited the dealer for an airbag recall. All maintenance and repairs were done by me.
The secret of keeping a Subaru CVT alive is 40k fluid changes. I used Valvoline CVT fluid because when I first serviced it Subaru only sold CVT fluid in 30 gallon drums.
YMMV. But it was reliable as an anvil for us.

Wow. Lots of miles for a 2012 Outback.

 

[sohccammer427]

I know it sounds crazy, but check the insurance rates for both. I have four vehicles (see below). All with the same coverage. The Mazda 3 cost twice as much as any of my other three vehicles. I have got multiple quotes. The insurance agents tell me that the Mazda is considered a sports coup, hence the higher rates. If I had know that I would have gotten a 2nd VW.

 

[Dave Hess]

Mazda3 are great vehicles but definitely NOT a sports coup.

 

[redbone3]

I still believe a car that has to have 4 tires that are virtually identical has bad differentials (Suburu).

 

[IndyIan]

I still believe a car that has to have 4 tires that are virtually identical has bad differentials (Suburu).

I think this kind of preys on the demographics of the typical new subaru owner, who tend not to be too mechanically inclined, have low perceived risk tolerance, and can always afford new tires....
I read somewhere that the circumference spec is +-0.25" so about 3/32 in tread depth. But if you get a flat, the very much smaller spare is fine to put on the back as I don't think its possible on a clutchpack "centre differential" cars(all the CVT ones) to have the rears spin faster under power, so the system doesn't react when the rear axle over speeds. The centre clutch pack does have some drag at all times so running the spare is not recommend for very far or fast. In 2020 I think Subaru started putting full size spares in FWIW.
We have driven ours for a week in the summer with one of the !!~0.5"!! smaller circumference snow tires on the back. No dash lights or noises or anything.
For us anyways, the factory drivetrain warranty is long gone, so my plan if we ever do have to replace a tire and can't find something close is to run the slightly too large tire on the front, and maybe pull the abs fuse and do some understeer circles in a parking lot to get the tread depth closer...

 

[Ws6]

A family member asked me my thoughts on buying a new CUV and likes the Subaru Forester. I'm partial to Mazda (probably the CX-5 would be comparable to the Forester). Since I have not followed Subaru closely (but do like them) I have a few questions for Subaru guys.

1) I remember Subaru had some head gasket issues with the 2.5....has that issue been solved?
2) I also remember complaints of oil burning but that may have been the 2.0....does the 2.5 have oil burning issues?
3) I think the Forester has a CVT ??....has it been problematic (like Nissan's)?
4) Has there been much changed for 2025?. I ask because a 2024 can be bought for a couple of thousand less.

Any info or opinions, pro or con, on a new Forester would be appreciated. Would you prefer it or the CX-5? Thanks in advance.

I'm not a Subaru guy, but the CX5 or CX50 all day over a Scooby.

 

[IveBeenRued]

Subarus are reliable and dead simple work on and you can’t beat their AWD system at this price point. That said, every Mazda that I’ve rented in the past three years have been rock solid and drive wonderfully. If you are in a snowy area the edge goes to Subaru but if you are looking for comfort and amenities, Mazda takes the lead.

Oh, also be sure to get a price quote on insurance and tires. When I was shopping (2011…) the Subaru had significantly less expensive tires (24% discount) and insurance was less than half the cost of the comparable Mazda. That was years ago but be sure to check on that.

 

[panthermike]

Very interesting notes on the possible insurance difference, big thing to consider. I have not owned a Subaru, although I am definitely intrigued by them. We have a Mazda now. Don't remember the insurance going significantly up from what we had before but it's been a while!

 

[Pew]

I still believe a car that has to have 4 tires that are virtually identical has bad differentials (Suburu).

Evo was the same way. It's not bad differentials, just how it works. Putting any tire(s) on with more than 3/32nds would start locking up the diffs and could be monitored from the dash s-awc display. A proper front/center/rear LSD works a bajillion times better than any AWD system that we can get now (when considering most AWD cars now are just open diffs with the brakes acting as a pseudo-LSD.)