Off the beaten track
Fancy a Japanese SUV? We see if Subaru or Mazda is a better buy
Subaru Forester 2.0D XC Premium Years: 2016 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 145bhp Insurance grp: 25 Official econ/co2: 46.3mpg/158g/km Why? Rugged and no-nonsense, the Forester combines refinement with off-road ability Prices from: £22,995
WHILE the SUV market increasingly focuses on style and on-road driving, the Subaru Forester has a defiantly old-school character.
Central to this is the brand’s trademark combination of all-wheel drive and a fourcylinder boxer engine positioned low under the bonnet. While the motor is characterful, the 145bhp on offer in the 2.0-litre turbodiesel Forester can’t trouble the 173bhp of the 2.2litre Skyactiv-d unit fitted in the Mazda CX-5.
Despite this disadvantage, the Forester is still commendably capable off-road, and versions equipped with the Lineartronic CVT gearbox boast X-mode hill descent control, too, which gives the Subaru the edge over the Mazda when things get steep and muddy.
The vehicle’s capability off-road clearly resonates with owners; the Forester finished 10th overall in our Driver Power 2017 new car satisfaction survey, with Subaru as a brand ranking fourth out of 27 manufacturers.
Mazda CX-5 Sport Nav 2.2D AWD Years: 2012 to 2017 Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 173bhp Insurance grp: 21 Official econ/co2: 51.4mpg/144g/km Why? The CX-5 packs style and performance, while it’s one of the better SUVS to drive on road, too Prices from: £18,995
A NEWER, shinier Mazda CX-5 might be in showrooms, but the previous-generation car, which was on the receiving end of a facelift in 2015, is under the second-hand spotlight here.
Style is important for buyers in this segment, and even the old CX-5 still looks smart. Inside, the cabin quality and the infotainment system beat what’s on offer in the Forester, too.
On the road it’s better to drive than the Subaru and more powerful, while official figures point to it being cheaper to run, with official fuel economy sneaking into the 50s and CO2 emissions of 144g/km. The Mazda should prove to be a cheaper vehicle to insure, too.
Venture away from the tarmac and the CX-5 is still capable, but the Forester remains the better choice for those driving off-road.
The CX-5 didn’t feature in our Driver Power 2017 survey, but other Mazda models fared well. The Japanese manufacturer finished fifth overall in our table of 27 car makers, too.