Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester: Which Should You Buy?
A side-by-side comparison of price, depreciation, specifications and known issues to help you decide between the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester in the South African market.
Mazda CX-5
7.4
Strong Buy (Known Diesel)
VS
Subaru Forester
7.6
Solid buy if AWD & reliability matter
Mazda CX-5 is the more affordable option to buy used.
Mazda CX-5 holds its value better over 5 years.
| Mazda CX-5 | Subaru Forester | |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Retail Price | R380k | R445k–R510k |
| Est. Trade Price | R330k | R380k–R430k |
| Annual Sales (SA) | ~2,400 | ~2,100 |
| 5yr Depreciation | 28% | 32% |
| RideReport Score | 7.4 | 7.6 |
| Engine | 2.2L SkyActiv-D diesel | 2.5L naturally aspirated horizontally-opposed 4-cyl (Boxer) |
| Power | 129 kW (175 PS) @ 4,500 rpm | 180 PS @ 5,800 rpm |
| Transmission | Six-speed automatic | Lineartronic CVT with manual mode, AWD standard |
| Fuel consumption | 6.2–6.8 L/100 km (highway); 7.2–7.8 L/100 km (mixed) | 8.5–9.2 L/100 km (combined, real-world typically 9.5–10.2) |
| Known issues | 3 | 3 |
All information is either scraped, searched from live sources or AI training data. It is intended as a general research guide only and may not represent actual transaction values for a specific vehicle. RideReport is not a licensed valuations provider.