2017 Subaru Outback VS 2017 Mazda CX-5: Which SUV Car Deserves The Best Drive Award?

With the abundance of SUV brands, choosing which among those is a hard task. Fortunately, two brands such as Subaru and Mazda stood out from the crowd, making decision-making less complicated. But which one really is the best choice?

Historically, Subaru Outbacks which has naturally aspirated engines are impressively reliable in comparison with Mazda. But the release of Mazda CX-5 had changed the game differently compared to previous Mazda SUVs as it has visibly become better in terms of overall performance and reliability.

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 has also displayed its capability to handle daily services and its occasional desire for speed as it is built with a standard 2.0-liter four cylinder engine that provides a powerful 155 horsepower. This is paired to a six-speed manual transmission together with a front wheel drive driveline.It also has another option in case the owner opts for something more potent that can provide at least 184 horsepower. This is matched with a six-speed auto-transmission with a comparable drivetrain configurations as of its previous engine.

Meanwhile, the 2017 Subaru Outback also has its two engine options. First is the 2.5-liter flat 4, which according to The Car Connection, is able to provide 175 horsepower. The other option is a 3.6-liter flat-6 that delivers a surprising 256 horsepower and both are matched with a continuously variable transmission that issues its power over all-wheel drive (AWD) setting.

In terms of fuel economy, there is only a slight difference between the two. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 has a fuel economy of about 26 and 34 miles per gallon both on the city and highway while the 2017 Subaru Outback has 25 and 32 miles per hour rating respectively. But to shed light, car owners should not forget that Mazda has possessed the title as "Most Fuel-Efficient Automakers in America " for four consecutive years, according to AutoBlog.

Indeed, although there are two SUV brands that stand out, it is still a hard task to choose between the 2017 Subaru Outback and 2017 Mazda CX-5. The Outback has its advantage in regards to power while the CX-5 is powerful in terms of fuel efficiency. Guess it's up to the buyer's verdict and not to mention, the alloted budget for his brand new car.