2025 head-to-head · Small SUV

2025 Mazda CX-50 vs Subaru Forester

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,661/ year to fuel
28 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,603/ year to fuel
29 MPG

On fuel costs these two are nearly tied. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, the most efficient 2025 Mazda CX-50 (28 MPG) costs about $1,661 a year to fuel and the 2025 Subaru Forester (29 MPG) about $1,603.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Mazda CX-50
  • Subaru Forester

Side by side

Mazda CX-50Subaru Forester
$1,661 Your annual fuel cost $1,603
28 MPG Combined efficiency 29 MPG
25 MPG City 26 MPG
31 MPG Highway 33 MPG
322 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 310 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
2.5L 4-cyl Engine / motor 2.5L 4-cyl
6-speed automatic Transmission CVT
4WD Drivetrain AWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Mazda CX-50 vs Subaru Forester across model years

  • Mazda CX-50
  • Subaru Forester

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Among 133 2025 small SUVs, the Mazda CX-50 ranks 73rd and the Subaru Forester 61st for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2025 Mazda CX-50 or the 2025 Subaru Forester?

Measured by cost to drive, the Subaru Forester. The Mazda CX-50 is rated 28 MPG combined and the Subaru Forester 29 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2025 Mazda CX-50 vs. the Subaru Forester per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,661 for the Mazda CX-50 and $1,603 for the Subaru Forester.

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