# Help me decide - Subaru Forester or Mazda CX-5? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [December 28, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402 "2019-12-28T00:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![steve41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@steve41](https://community.cartalk.com/u/steve41)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/42 "2020-01-01T17:19:29Z")
Mazda CX-5 of course. Let me know how it is working out. Looking at buying a CX-5 for myself ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Quinlan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@Michael\_Quinlan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Michael_Quinlan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/43 "2020-01-02T13:00:40Z")
Just focussing on the flatter boxer-style engine and the design of the vehicle so that in the event of a crash the engine will go under the passenger compartment. As a company, I think Subaru puts more emphasis on crashworthiness, than does Mazda. A bit like Saab used to. As for servicing costs, I would happily provide you with the link to the review I watched but its in french. It reflects experience in the Quebec market, and the opinion of the reviewer that Mazda real maintenance costs are a fair bit higher than what they claim. I have no doubt this can be the case for Subarus as well. I am of the school that less upfront maintenance in the early years tends to cost you in the later years. As for replacing two vs four tires, well there are some specific situations that may lead you to want to do this ( mainly involving bad luck), again I think its better to rotate and replace with 4 new matching ones when the time comes to replace. I do share the preference for a geared transmission for long term reliability even if it means a slight gas mileage penalty. In my case, I am rocking the Subaru 4EAT in my 2011 Forester, rather than getting a newer one with a CVT. With regard to AWD my attitude is that its not really necessary, but there are times its really nice to have. While the poster in Texas may not use it as much as I do during the winter season in Canada, there will be the odd time it will be useful. Its a luxury rather than needed, but if you get it, there is benefit there. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/44 "2020-01-02T15:49:15Z")
I agree that folks should look at many factors when comparing and shopping vehicles. However, no offense, but I think you’re over-thinking this. Most modern vehicles sold currently are safe, some possibly a little more than others, and reliability is pretty good, too. If history demonstrates that 2 vehicles being compared are relatively close in safety and cost/frequency of maintenance and reliability is decent then it’s a choice of taste and how a car feels to a buyer. _ **CSA** _ 🌴 🕶 🌴 ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/45 "2020-01-03T04:53:38Z")
> [@Michael\_Quinlan](#): > > As a company, I think Subaru puts more emphasis on crashworthiness, than does Mazda And why do you feel that way . . . ?! ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/46 "2020-01-03T13:36:11Z")
I second that, @db4690, but I thought we would just let it slide under the rug, as the argument is clearly missing any logical support. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Quinlan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@Michael\_Quinlan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Michael_Quinlan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/47 "2020-01-05T13:29:08Z")
Second it all you want, and then you can go buy a Fiat. Let us ponder the marketing of both companies over the past 20 years, one emphasizes speed, handling, and a touch of so called refinement, the other safety and fun with dogs. I will let you guess which is which. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/48 "2020-01-05T13:56:44Z")
> [@Michael\_Quinlan](#): > > Let us ponder the marketing of both companies over the past 20 years, one emphasizes speed, handling, and a touch of so called refinement, the other safety and fun with dogs. **Key word: marketing** Besides, whether a marketing gimmick or not, just talking about dogs in cars would turn me off. I don’t do dogs. Also, ads are nearly invisible to me. I don’t buy anything according to marketing gimmickry. _ **CSA** _ 🌴 🕶 🌴 ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/49 "2020-01-05T14:39:27Z")
> [@common\_sense\_answer](#): > > I don’t buy anything according to marketing gimmickry. I don’t either, but those Subie dog commercials are downright funny. Bud Light commercials are fun too, and I don’t buy their product either. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/50 "2020-01-05T18:36:25Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > those Subie dog commercials are downright funny. They’re certainy better than the Mazda commercials where kid said “zoom zoom” . . . I always thought those were annoying ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/51 "2020-01-05T20:29:24Z")
Is the “zoom-zoom” a remnant of Mazda’s ads for their rotary Wankel engines of the 1970s? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/52 "2020-01-05T21:17:57Z")
No, Mazdas tend to be more fun to drive than other vehicles in their segments. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/53 "2020-01-05T21:39:55Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Mazdas tend to be more fun to drive than other vehicles in their segments. That plays absolutely no role for me ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/54 "2020-01-06T02:20:53Z")
If you insist. @shanonia asked what zoom-zoom meant, and I answered. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/55 "2020-01-06T02:21:47Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > If you insist I’m afraid I don’t get your drift . . . does anybody still use that expression? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/56 "2020-01-06T21:55:36Z")
I don’t know and does it matter? Shanonia asked a question, and I told him what Mazda’s advertising claim meant. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/57 "2020-01-07T00:02:12Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > I don’t know and does it matter? Shanonia asked a question, and I told him what Mazda’s advertising claim meant. This the internet People constantly make comments that you weren’t expecting . . . ---
**Author:** ![sandysprings6700\_169115](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@sandysprings6700\_169115](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sandysprings6700_169115)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/59 "2020-07-23T21:35:13Z")
Does any one know if the Mazda CX-5 has blind spot alerting.? Years 2017 - 2019… I am definitely leaning toward buying one used. I think the car is very attreactive… and I don’t see alot of the in my neck of the woods, which is a plus, seems everyone around these parts drive the same 5-6 models of car/suv, …and I’d like to stand out a little. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/60 "2020-07-23T22:23:20Z")
> [@sandysprings6700\_169115](#): > > seems everyone around these parts drive the same 5-6 models of car/suv, …and I’d like to stand out a little. Here too. That’s why I want to go old school and drive a 1990’s car. A true classic never gets old, and never fails to turn heads. Everything sold today looks so similar, you could literally take the brand logos off, and no one would know what it is, or where it came from. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/61 "2020-07-23T22:26:05Z")
Might depend on the trim level but even the 2016’s had it on some models. ---
**Author:** ![Barry01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@Barry01](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barry01)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402/62 "2020-07-24T16:57:02Z")
Absolutely to many problems with Subaru [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-me-decide-subaru-forester-or-mazda-cx-5/155402.md?page=4)