2023 Subaru Outback vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 showcased a design that was both sleek and rugged. Its styling featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with the cabin positioned towards the rear wheels, embodying the subtle seductiveness typical of Mazda's vehicles over the past decade. However, the CX-50 also introduced a newfound ruggedness with its blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and faux skid plates. The oversized air intake and vent designs added a performance edge without being visually offensive. When combined with the standard black grille, mirror caps, and available 20-inch alloy wheels, these elements created an appealing exterior. The introduction of the CX-50 Meridian Edition later in the model year added exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform.

Inside, the CX-50's interior was a blend of driver-focused design and quality materials. The test vehicle, a CX-50 GT Turbo Premium Plus, featured black leather with caramel-coloured accent stitching, polished metallic trim, and a mix of analog and digital gauges. The vertical air vents flanked the instrument cluster, with a lone off-centre vent in the middle of the dash. Despite this, the interior was well-appointed, with a terracotta upholstery option available on higher trims. Overall, the CX-50 was a good-looking compact crossover, both inside and out.

The 2023 Subaru Outback received a facelift that gave it a more aggressive appearance. The new front end featured redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding, creating the illusion of large air intakes at each corner. The addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model contributed to its bold look. While opinions on these changes varied, darker paint colours helped to tone down the design's excesses. The Outback Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the audacious cladding.

The Outback's interior, particularly in the Limited trim, was upscale and cohesive. The Cosmic Blue paint and Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery created a luxurious atmosphere. The leather, dashboard, door panels, and floor mat piping contrasted beautifully, with light gray contrast stitching on the dashboard matching the headliner. Despite the use of hard plastic in some areas, the interior didn't feel cheap. The flat, textured door sills served as steps for accessing the roof rack. The only downside was the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim on the centre console, which easily collected dust and smudges.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options. The base engine, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, produced 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It delivered fuel consumption figures of 9.7 L/100 km in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 8.9 combined. For those seeking more power, the CX-50 GT Turbo featured a turbocharged version of the same engine, generating between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used. Torque ranged from 310 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm on 87-octane gas to 320 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm on 93-octane fuel. The turbocharged engine provided smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. The CX-50's Mi-Drive system offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, though the differences between them were subtle. The CX-50's ride quality was slightly firmer than the CX-5, and it exhibited a hint of torque steer during tight turns. With a ground clearance of up to 21.8 cm, the CX-50 was capable of handling off-road situations, though it lacked a downhill assist control system. The Meridian Edition's all-terrain tires added some off-road capability, but it couldn't match the Subaru Wilderness models on challenging terrain. The CX-50's towing capacity increased to 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine, and it handled a loaded trailer well on flat highways.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard engine, a 2.5-litre flat-four, produced 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While the CVT made good use of the engine's power at lower speeds, passing and climbing power was limited. The Outback's towing capacity was 1,225 kg. Fuel efficiency was lower than expected, with a combined rating of 9.2 L/100 km, despite Natural Resources Canada's estimate of 8.3 L/100 km. For more power, the Outback XT models offered a 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four engine, producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. The XT models were less fuel-efficient, with a combined rating of 9.5 L/100 km, and the Wilderness trim rated at 10.1 L/100 km. The CVT was programmed to mimic an eight-speed automatic, with paddle shifters for manual control. The Outback's Active Torque Split AWD system varied power distribution between the front and rear axles as needed. The X-Mode traction system optimized the drivetrain for challenging terrain, with hill descent control standard. The Outback's ground clearance was 22 cm, with the Wilderness trim offering 23 cm. The Outback excelled off-road, handling mud, ruts, and trails with ease. In urban settings, its visibility, size, and high stance made parking and navigating tight spaces easy. However, the standard engine lacked urgency, and the CVT struggled to provide responsive acceleration on highways. The Outback's suspension tuning was excellent, offering a firm ride at lower speeds and a smooth experience at higher speeds. While the Outback handled well, it wasn't a sports station wagon, despite its decent steering and capable brakes.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 GT Turbo was well-equipped for winter with power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. Ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control added comfort in warmer weather. The driver and front passenger seats were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports on most trims. The rear doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle, making entry and exit easier. Storage space was adequate, though Mazda missed opportunities for additional bins. The available smartphone charger had its own slot under the centre armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 889 litres of cargo space, with a maximum of 1,595 litres when the back seat was folded down. The load floor was long but narrow between the wheel wells, with side bins and hooks for securing items.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with its roof rack, flat door sill trim, and dashboard storage shelf. The Limited trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with a manually adjustable thigh support bolster and an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. Both seats were heated, with a heated steering wheel and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The rear outboard seats were also heated. The Outback's interior was comfortable, with ample legroom and storage space. Wind noise on the highway was a minor issue, likely due to the roof rack design. The Outback's high ground clearance and height-adjustable front seats made entry and exit easy. Cargo space measured 923 litres behind the back seat and 2,141 litres with the back seat folded down. The flat, textured door sills served as steps for accessing the roof rack. While the Outback could use more practical storage space, the dashboard shelf was helpful.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The system came with a 10.25-inch display in Canada. Historically, Mazda Connect lacked touchscreen control, relying on centre console buttons, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 offered touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. An Active Driving Display, or head-up display, projected data within the driver's line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system in portrait orientation. Physical controls included volume and tuning knobs, climate control buttons, and defroster buttons. The base Outback's 7-inch system offered Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM. Starting with the Touring trim, the system provided wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Starlink system's usability improved for 2023, though the graphics and icons were not ideal. The voice recognition system was limited, struggling with navigation and radio commands. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, falling short of the Top Safety Pick+ designation due to some headlight configurations and night-time pedestrian collision avoidance results. The NHTSA had not rated the CX-50. Mazda provided a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with most features standard except for a few upgrades on higher trims. The active blind-spot monitoring system could prevent unsafe lane changes. Exclusive features included Traffic Jam Assist, front and rear parking sensors, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in.

The 2023 Subaru Outback was highly rated for safety, with new EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster. The IIHS awarded it top marks, including in the new side-impact crash test. The Base model's EyeSight system included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Higher trims added features like Automatic Emergency Steering and a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian and cyclist detection. The Outback's forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems were effective, though the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems felt artificial. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways, leading to jarring stops.