Subaru continues to be known for making vehicles that are ready to get dirty and for being one of the few automakers to stick with wagons. Consumers looking to combine these two qualities will find the Subaru Outback to be one of the few viable options on sale. Don’t be fooled by the Outback’s design. The rugged wagon means business with a generous amount of ground clearance, a spacious cabin, and a capable all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.
With the all-new Mazda CX-50, the Japanese automaker is looking to take Subaru on at its own game. Mazda is known for its sporty, upscale vehicles, but the CX-50 adds light off-roading capability into the mix.
Both the Outback and the CX-50 are vehicles with light off-roading capability, available turbocharged engines, and rugged designs. The two vehicles may share a lot of similarities, but there are quite a few differences that separate the two models. We’ll compare these two vehicles below to name a winner.
What the Subaru Outback Gets Right
The Subaru Outback may be a wagon, but it takes the edge when it comes to off-roading capability. Out of the gate, the Outback offers 0.4 more inches of ground clearance compared to the CX-50. Move up to the Outback Wilderness trim, and that model has 9.5 inches of ground clearance, while the CX-50 maxes out at 8.6 inches. The Wilderness also has a radically different design from the base Outback to help it tackle rugged terrain that’s joined by off-road suspension, a reworked AWD system, a special off-road mode, bespoke gearing, and Yokohama all-terrain tires. Compared to the CX-50, the Outback takes it to another level for off-roading.
Both the CX-50 and the Outback are available with a turbocharged engine, but the one in the Subaru makes more power. The available turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine in the Outback produces 260 horsepower. The CX-50’s optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine makes 227 hp with regular gasoline. Fill the Mazda’s take with premium fuel and output jumps up to 256 hp.
Despite its wagon body style, the Outback has more cargo capacity than the CX-50. The Outback offers up to 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a total of 75.7 cubic feet of total cargo space. The CX-50 has 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a total of 56.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
Higher Outback trims are available with a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen that’s vertically oriented. It’s larger than the CX-50’s display and has touch capability for ease of use.
Read Our Overview of the Subaru Outback
What the Mazda CX-50 Gets Right
The Mazda CX-50 is the more affordable vehicle of the two. Pricing for the CX-50 starts at $28,025, while the Outback is priced at $28,320. It’s not a large difference, as just $295 separates the two, but the SUV costs less than the wagon.
While the Outback is available with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, the wagon has a much smaller standard unit. The Outback comes with two seven-inch touchscreens with outdated displays and a confusing menu system. The way the screens are integrated into the cabin is also disappointing. On the flip side, the CX-50 comes standard with an 8.8-inch display that’s controlled via a rotary dial and a few physical buttons. The CX-50 also comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay.
On the inside, the Outback, has a straightforward design with rugged, durable materials. The CX-50 is the opposite, as it features lush materials and a premium design. Higher CX-50 trims feel like luxury vehicles.
Read Our Overview of the Mazda CX-50
Married To The SUV Body?
While the Outback is the clear winner in this comparison, the CX-50 has one major feature the Subaru doesn’t: an SUV body. Consumers continue to purchase SUVs in large numbers and wagons have all but disappeared from the market. Regardless of how good the Outback is, the CX-50 will be the more popular choice because of its SUV body.
Our Verdict
With more interior space, more cargo space, a more powerful turbocharged engine, a larger available touchscreen, and more off-roading capability, the Subaru Outback easily takes the win over the Mazda CX-50. The Outback’s interior isn’t as upscale as the CX-50’s and the wagon doesn’t come with the same standard features, but these are the only two areas where the Subaru loses ground to the Mazda.
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