2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2025 Subaru Forester

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 presented itself as a formidable contender in the luxury SUV market, challenging the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz with its sophisticated design and high-quality materials. Mazda had surpassed its Japanese counterparts, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, in terms of design and material quality, edging closer to the luxury arms of those competitors. The CX-90's exterior was a supersized version of the elegant design language seen in the smaller CX-30 and CX-5, with a length exceeding 200 inches. Its imposing presence was accentuated by a large grille, wide-set front end, and wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches, complemented by tasteful chrome trim. Inside, the top-tier models boasted interiors that could rival luxury brands, featuring brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic bits, creating an elegant and comfortable environment.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Forester, traditionally known for its practicality over aesthetics, received a notable visual update. The Forester's exterior was smoothed out, adopting a more generic look with standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels. The Sport trim, which was tested, featured bronze accents and 19-inch wheels, adding a touch of sophistication. The Forester maintained its large-greenhouse shape, with geometric wheel arches and a more decisive window shape. Inside, the Forester Sport introduced the StarTex material, offering easy cleaning and a pleasant feel, while higher trims like Limited and Touring provided genuine leather seating. The cabin was redesigned with structural dash elements, giving it a more intentional and refined appearance.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option and an all-new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the upgraded Turbo S version offered 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. All models came with all-wheel drive (AWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 Turbo S featured three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with Sport mode enhancing the engine's roar and performance. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It offered an all-electric range of 26 miles and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving. Both CX-90 models demonstrated impressive handling, with a double-wishbone front suspension and agile cornering capabilities.

The 2025 Subaru Forester retained its 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. It featured a Lineartonic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. The Forester's X-Mode system, standard on the Premium trim and above, enhanced stability and traction on challenging terrain. The Forester Sport and higher trims offered a dual-function version of X-Mode. While acceleration was modest, the Forester excelled in off-road conditions, providing stability and confidence on various surfaces. The Forester's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with slight variations for Sport and Touring trims.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered a range of seating configurations, with lower trims accommodating eight passengers and mid-level trims featuring captain's chairs. The Turbo S model had a two-seat configuration in the third row, with a total cargo space of 75.2 cubic feet in those models. Models with a three-across back seat provided 74.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The CX-90's interior featured clever storage options, including a large center console, spacious door pockets, and well-placed cupholders. The middle-row captain's chairs in the Turbo S Premium Plus model included a center console with additional storage. Despite not being the most spacious in its segment, the CX-90 offered comfort and elegance with its high-quality materials and panoramic sunroof.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, available on the Sport trim and higher. The Forester's cargo space increased slightly, measuring 29.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet with them folded down. The cargo area featured eight heavy-duty hooks for added convenience. While the Forester's cargo volume was competitive, it prioritized a roomy second row, offering a comfortable interior for passengers. The Premium trim included a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with additional features like heated seats and driver memory available on higher trims. The Forester's interior was designed for practicality, with a dark headliner to resist marks from pets and gear.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on reducing distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used hard buttons and a rotary control knob instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to enhance safety, the system's quirks and idiosyncrasies could be distracting. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software with facial recognition, adjusting settings to the driver's preferences. It also came standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless functionality in higher trims. The rotary controller worked with these systems, but touchscreen controls were available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with dual USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The base Forester featured two 7-inch touchscreens with wired smartphone projection. The Touring trim offered a voice-activated navigation system, an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and additional driver-assistance features. Subaru's Starlink connected services suite provided new capabilities, including Valet Mode and Remote Vehicle Configuration.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came equipped with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which included features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus model also featured cruising and traffic support, combining lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. While the CX-90 had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, its predecessor, the CX-9, received high safety ratings, suggesting similar performance for the CX-90.

The 2025 Subaru Forester offered Emergency Stop Assist, a new safety feature available on the Touring trim. This system detected unresponsive drivers and could slow the vehicle to a stop, notify emergency services, and unlock the doors. The Forester's EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technology came standard, with enhancements for 2025, including a wider field of view and an electric brake booster. While the 2025 Forester had not been crash-tested, the 2024 model received high safety ratings, indicating strong safety performance for the new model.