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Mazda CX-9 vs Subaru Forester

What's the difference?

VS
Mazda CX-9
Mazda CX-9

$24,888 - $49,990

2021 price

Subaru Forester
Subaru Forester

$35,990 - $55,007

2024 price

Summary

2021 Mazda CX-9
2024 Subaru Forester
Safety Rating
ďťż
Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.5L
ďťż
Flat 4, 2.5L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol
ďťż
Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
8.4L/100km (combined)
ďťż
7.4L/100km (combined)
Seating
7
ďťż
5
Dislikes
  • Expensive AWD option
  • Six-seater's compromises
  • Older ANCAP safety rating
ďťż
  • Uninspiring drivetrain
  • Price getting steep
  • Potential thirst for fuel
2021 Mazda CX-9 Summary

The second-generation Mazda CX-9 may have been on sale in Australia for nearly five years now, but it remains the second best-selling large SUV using unibody construction (as opposed to old-school, off-road-focused body-on-frame).

That said, it is getting on a bit, so Mazda’s given it an update with a twist for 2021, hoping to inject a little bit more life into its flagship model.

And when we say twist, we mean it. After all, who would’ve thought there’d ever be a six-seat CX-9? Well, we’ve checked it out to see if it’s the version we needed all along. Read on.

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2024 Subaru Forester Summary

There’s a new top dog in the Subaru Forester family (without getting into the hybrids, that is), and it’s wearing an STI badge.

But don’t get too excited about it, because this isn’t a full-blown piece of engineering from Subaru Tecnica International - rather a slightly modified special edition based on a high-spec Forester.

Is it worthy of the iconic pink badge? Or more importantly, is it worthy of your money? We’re putting this kitted-out version of Subaru’s likeable family SUV to the test to find out.

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Interested in a Subaru Forester?

Deep dive comparison

2021 Mazda CX-9 2024 Subaru Forester

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