CX-50

Make
Mazda
Segment
SUV

Just a few short days ago, one of Japan's biggest automakers presented us with the 2023 Mazda CX-50. The new crossover is far more rugged than ever before but hasn't lost any of its style. It looks like a pretty comprehensive package, but is it the best option out there or can you find something that's even more of an all-rounder? Well, if you want rugged dependability from your crossover, the go-to choice for ages has been the Subaru Forester. It, like the Mazda, was revealed recently with updates for the new model year, but which is best? Let's find out.

Design: Snazzy Vs. Simple

Mazda has fitted the CX-50 with black cladding around its wheel arches, lifted suspension, and various other off-road cues that include a faux front skid plate. The rear is even more aggressive with massive fake vents, a dual-exit exhaust, and a faux diffuser. LED lighting looks sporty with its numerous black accents, while a set of roof rails further bolster practicality.

In the Forester, the design is less modern and is a very light refresh of what has come before. That's no bad thing. Sure, the Forester is less attractive, but it's not offensive to look at either and features the same sort of off-road plastic accents and roof rails, particularly on the Wilderness model where you get particularly noteworthy off-road ability. The CX-50 is the car we'd rather look at, but we'd take the Forester if we knew that scratches and bumps were inevitable. On balance, the Mazda wins this round.

Interiors: Clean Vs. Cluttered

From a design perspective, the Forester looks far messier than the CX-50 inside, but both are remarkably well laid out and offer everything you could need in a crossover. The CX-50 offers a panoramic moonroof for the first time, along with the availability of leather with contrast stitching, a dash-mounted infotainment display, a clean and classy steering wheel, and a ton of storage bins. It looks spectacular, but the Forester is appealing in other ways. This cabin features mostly StarTex material with some copper accents adding some excitement alongside metal sport pedals. The eight-inch infotainment display comes with knobs and buttons, thankfully, but this interior is all about practicality, with Subaru promising exceptional resistance to dirt and moisture. We like the look of the CX-50 more, but regular adventurers will feel less pain when dirtying the Forester's interior.

Powertrains: Same Capacity, Different Methods

The CX-50 is offered with two Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter four-pots, the free-breathing of which is expected to produce around 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. The turbo option is capable of up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft, but electrified options are on their way. The CX-50 sends its grunt to all four wheels via a six-speed auto and the i-Activ all-wheel-drive system with various modes. Only one of these modes is off-road focused, which indicates that this is more of a pavement pounder than an enthusiast's off-roader. This will be confirmed or disproved once we get a go behind the wheel, but our prediction is that Subaru will handle the adventure stuff best while the Mazda will likely be more fun to drive on the tarmac.

The Mazda may come with an aging gearbox but the Scooby gets an aging engine that is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 2.5-liter boxer four in the Forester develops 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque and can help the crossover tow up to 3,000 pounds. With an X-Mode off-road drive mode that will make the most of the Forester's all-wheel grip, we expect that this will once again be an exemplary off-roader capable of embarrassing some supposedly more purpose-built options out there, especially in Wilderness trim. Again, we'll wait to drive both the CX-50 and the Forester before giving a concrete opinion, but based on past experience, we expect to thoroughly enjoy pushing the limits of the Subaru on the trails while we'll probably prefer the Mazda for the daily drive.

Pricing And Verdict: Predictable Or Pretty?

Mazda has not yet revealed pricing for the new CX-50, but we expect it to arrive with a base MSRP near $28,000 but not much more than $30k. If that is the case, then it will be a lot more difficult to make a case for the Forester. In Wilderness trim, this crossover starts at $33,945 including destination. Opt for the top Touring trim and you'll pay over $36,000. Of course, it's hard to put a price on dependable, reliable, safe Subaru quality, which we all know to be exemplary, but if Mazda does undercut the Forester by a long way, then our verdict is CX-50 all the way. Both are fantastic and fun family cars, but unless you're a regular off-roader, we think the Mazda is the winning choice here.