Can the New Mazda CX-50 Compete With the Subaru Forester?

Mazda has decided to dip their toes into off-roading with their new CX-50, but will it stand up to the stiff competition? The Subaru Forester has led the category for years, and it doesn’t look to be slowing down.
Written by Hannah DeWitt
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Over the past few decades,
Mazda
has built the reputation of building decent vehicles at fair prices. This includes the company's SUV line with its flagship CX-5, still one of their most popular in spite of its recent price increase. 
Nonetheless, Mazda SUVs maintained a good reputation. Despite the popularity of the CX series, Mazda decided it was time to attract a new type of driver. 

Mazda's SUV legacy

Today, Mazda SUVs are built for comfort and convenience. While they are great for big shopping trips at Costco and shuttling kids around from soccer practice, they aren't exactly made for weekend warriors who like to go into the wilderness. Seeing the success of Subaru's rugged SUV crossovers, Mazda decided they wanted in on the off-road SUV market. 
From this, the Mazda CX-50 was born. While very similar to the CX-5, the CX-50 is designed for those who spend more time offroading than they do scuttling around the suburbs. 
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Meet the new Mazda CX-50

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The more rugged Mazda CX-50 has several differences from it's CX-5 cousin. For starters, it will be a little more expensive. While cost will vary across trims and packages, CX-50 drivers can expect to pay about $1,000 more than their CX-5 counterparts. 
In exchange, they will get a vehicle that is better tuned for dirt roads and stormy weather. Every trim of the CX-50 comes with all-wheel drive and an Off-Road drive mode, as reported by
Kelley Blue Book
The lower end trim, appropriately named Base, is a little underwhelming in terms of what's under the hood. It only has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that can put out 186 hp. But the higher end trims will carry a more impressive turbocharged engine that can reach 250 hp. Regardless of the engine, it comes standard with an automatic six-speed transmission. 
The car operates on the same platform as the CX-30 and Mazda 3 compact car, so exceptional handling is expected. For the eco-conscious drivers, Mazda plans to have a hybrid CX-50 in the near future. 

How does the Mazda CX-50 stack up to the Subaru Forester?

MORE: You'll Only Find 2 Drawbacks in the 2021 Subaru Forester
It's no secret the Mazda CX-50 is trying to steal customers away from other mountainous crossovers like the Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota RAV4. But can they dethrone the original mountain trekker, the almighty Subaru Forester? 
The CX-50 has an advantage right off the bat in terms of pricing. For the lower end trim of the Forester, drivers are looking at a starting cost of about $34,000. But with that extra cost comes an established reputation. The Subaru Forester has long been a favorite of campers, rock climbers, and snowboarders. 
When you're driving off the beaten path, you want to be in something that has a proven track record. Sure, the CX-50 may be just as good. But with its novelty, it has yet to stand the test of time in the same way the mighty Forester has. 

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