Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester: MPG, Fuel Cost, Recalls and Safety
On EPA ratings the 2025 Subaru Forester's best version gets 35 mpg combined against 28 mpg for the Mazda CX-5.
Mazda CX-5
28mpg
Best 2025 version: 2.5L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · auto start-stop
Subaru Forester
35mpg
Best 2025 version: 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT
The cheapest Subaru Forester to fuel costs $1,850 a year at EPA's prices, $450 less than the cheapest CX-5. NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2025 CX-5 and 4 recalls for the Forester.
Side by side
| 2025 model year | CX-5 | Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy (EPA) | ||
Best combined rating | 28 mpg 2.5L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic · auto start-stop | 35 mpg (clearly better) 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT |
Best gas rating Gas engines only; hybrids and diesels excluded | 28 mpg | 29 mpg |
Hybrid or plug-in available | No | Hybrid 35 mpg |
AWD or 4WD available | Yes | Yes |
Lowest annual fuel cost 15,000 miles at EPA fuel prices | $2,300 | $1,850 (clearly better) |
5-year fuel cost vs average new vehicle Cheapest-to-fuel version (EPA) | Same | Saves $2,250 (clearly better) |
| Safety (NHTSA) | ||
Safety recalls, 2025 model year Counts depend on sales and time on sale | 0 | 4 |
Owner complaints, 2025 model year Filed with NHTSA so far | 27 | 93 |
NHTSA overall crash rating Range across tested versions | 5 stars | 5 stars |
Rollover risk Range across tested versions; lower is better | 16.9% (clearly better) | 17.4% |
Marks the clearly better figure. Small gaps (under 2 mpg or 5%, $100 a year in fuel) and overlapping crash-test ranges are not marked, and recall and complaint counts are not scored because they depend on how many were sold.
Best combined rating by model year
The best-rated version of each, every model year since 2016. The CX-5 rated higher in 2 and the Forester in 8 of the 11 years both were sold; they tied in 1.
- Mazda CX-5
- Subaru Forester
2025: Mazda CX-5 28 mpg · Subaru Forester 35 mpgTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Mazda CX-5 | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 29 | 27 |
| 2017 | 27 | 28 |
| 2018 | 29 | 28 |
| 2019 | 29 | 29 |
| 2020 | 28 | 29 |
| 2021 | 28 | 29 |
| 2022 | 26 | 29 |
| 2023 | 26 | 29 |
| 2024 | 28 | 29 |
| 2025 | 28 | 35 |
| 2026 | 26 | 35 |
Recalls by model year
Safety recalls NHTSA lists for each model year. Counts depend on how many were sold and how long each model year has been on the road.
- Mazda CX-5 (left bar)
- Subaru Forester (right bar)
2026: Mazda CX-5 0 recalls · Subaru Forester 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Mazda CX-5 | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026 | 0 | 3 |
More on each model
- 2025 Mazda CX-5 MPGEvery version and a fuel cost calculator
- Mazda CX-5 by yearMPG, recalls and complaints
- 2025 Subaru Forester MPGEvery version and a fuel cost calculator
- Subaru Forester by yearMPG, recalls and complaints
Questions
Which gets better gas mileage, the CX-5 or the Forester?
For 2025, the Forester. Its best version is rated 35 mpg combined; the CX-5's best is 28 mpg.
Which is cheaper to fuel?
The Forester. At EPA's assumptions its cheapest version costs $1,850 a year against $2,300, a $2,250 difference over five years.
How do they compare in NHTSA crash tests?
The 2025 CX-5 is rated 5 stars overall and the Forester 5 stars. Rollover risk is 16.9% for the CX-5 and 17.4% for the Forester.
Sources and method
- US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026, and EPA fuel prices.
- NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.
We compare the best-rated version of each model unless a row says otherwise. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.