2022 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Mazda CX-5

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims—base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring—starting at an MSRP of $25,195, topping out at $35,295 for the Touring. The destination charge was an additional $1,125, with a myriad of dealer-installed accessories to personalize the compact SUV. Standard all-wheel drive was a highlight in every model.

The Forester Wilderness trim was tested in Bend, Oregon's rugged Cascade Mountains. The SUV featured white paint, dark gray interior fitted with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, starting at $33,945 including destination. An optional package installed navigation, Harman Kardon premium sound system, power rear liftgate, and a skid plate, bringing the test vehicle's price to $36,014.

Aesthetically, the Forester has always been considered plain. The Wilderness trim, while rugged, did little to enhance its looks with massive protective cladding, matte-black hood decal, and copper-colored details making it look more utilitarian than sleek. Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality with hard plastic and soft surfaces, creating a cabin that exuded quality construction despite feeling somewhat dated and inexpensive.

Comparatively, the 2022 Mazda CX-5 made fewer visible changes but introduced new LED headlights and taillights, updated bumpers, a revised grille, and a redesigned liftgate. The top-of-the-line Signature trim featured body-color lower exterior trim, enhancing its premium feel.

Inside, the CX-5 remained unchanged stylistically. The Signature trim was luxurious with Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The 2022 model introduced new seats, providing better comfort. The trim levels were overhauled offering CX-5 2.5 S and CX-5 2.5 Turbo variants. Prices ranged from $25,900 to $33,950 for the 2.5 S and $36,400 to $38,650 for the 2.5 Turbo, excluding a $1,225 destination charge.

The 2.5 Turbo test vehicle featured Soul Red paint and several option packages, bringing its total cost to $39,445. The CX-5, with its refined interior and exterior updates, offered a more luxurious feel compared to the more rugged and functional Forester.

Driving the 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized its practicality, though it fell short in acceleration due to its unchanged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. All models featured a CVT and standard AWD, with the Wilderness trim doubling the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA rated the Wilderness's fuel economy at 26 mpg combined, and test runs in Oregon showed an average of 25.9 mpg.

Near sea level, the engine's performance was adequate, emitting the distinct boxer engine grumble, but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. Despite this, the CVT with eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive’s Sport mode made the Forester reasonably energetic. Improvements included a retuned suspension for better ride and handling, and the Wilderness trim boasted a lifted suspension and all-terrain tires providing 9.2 inches of ground clearance and enhanced off-road capability.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S, with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque—slightly higher than the Forester. For 2022, the CX-5's six-speed automatic transmission was revised for better responsiveness, and AWD became standard. EPA estimates for the base engine stood at 26 mpg combined.

For increased performance, the CX-5 2.5 Turbo offered 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium gas (227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular). Its fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg combined, but tests showed 21.1 mpg. Both Turbo trims and higher-end 2.5 S variants featured Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road modes.

Driving dynamics in the CX-5 saw improvements with less noise and more structural rigidity. The 2022 model drove sportily, with better grip and reduced body motions, signaling Mazda's effort to position the CX-5 as a premium alternative.

The 2022 Subaru Forester focused on ease of use and practicality. Entry and exit were effortless thanks to tall seating positions, and the interior featured hard-wearing materials like water-resistant StarTex upholstery and all-weather mats. Comfort was a strong point with ample headroom and legroom for passengers, rear air conditioning, and quick-charge ports.

Cargo capacity ranged from 26.9 to 28.9 cubic feet, depending on the inclusion of a panoramic sunroof, expanding to 69.1 to 74.2 cubic feet with rear seats down. New roof rails supported a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, ideal for roof tents.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed past comfort issues with new, more supportive seats offering a sportier driving position. Heated and ventilated seats, a height-adjustable front passenger seat, and dual-zone climate control were emphasized in upper trims. However, the back seat remained snug compared to competitors.

Storage in the CX-5 was minimal but included a wireless charging tray and additional door bins. Its cargo capacity was 30.9 cubic feet with seats up and 59.3 cubic feet with them down, adequate compared to luxury SUVs but smaller than more mainstream compact crossovers like the Forester.

Base trims of the 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and Starlink services. Premium trims and above expanded to an 8-inch screen with optional navigation and Harman Kardon audio. The Wilderness trim added a useful 180-degree forward-view camera.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 featured a 10.25-inch display for the Mazda Connect system, but with no touch functionality. Navigation required using center console controls and voice recognition was subpar. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year connected services subscription. Higher trims offered a favorable Bose sound system.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the EyeSight 4.0 safety system with improved camera vision and added Automatic Emergency Steering. It featured adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and centering assists, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Forester earned a 5-star NHTSA rating and was expected to maintain its IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” rating.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5’s i-Activsense package included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Signature trim added surround-view cameras and a driver monitoring system. The CX-5 also achieved a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS.