Verdict
The CX-5 is about 24% cheaper. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
The Forester 2.5i-S EyeSight (RM222,689) sits above every CX-5 variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
What the CX-5 has over the Forester
Auto Start/StopTiptronicParking Sensor FrontHead-up DisplayPower Door
What the Forester has over the CX-5
Airbag Disable FunctionCup HoldersPaddle Shift
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The CX-5's wheelbase is 145 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom.
CX-5 4,690 × 1,860 × 1,695 mm · wheelbase 2,815 mmForester 4,655 × 1,830 × 1,730 mm · wheelbase 2,670 mm
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM168,510✓ | RM222,689 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM830✓ | RM838 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,720/mo✓ | RM2,275/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM4,728✓ | RM6,137 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | RM3,025 | — |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM15.12 | — |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM42,915 | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | SKYACTIV-G 2.5L DOHC 16-Valve with VVT and i-Stop, Direct Injection | 16-Valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,488 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 185 hp✓ | 182 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 257 Nm✓ | 247 Nm at 3,700 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Boxer 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 89.0 mm × 100.0 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 13.0:1 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-Speed EAT (SKYACTIV-Drive) | Lineartronic |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.7 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 7.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 187 km/h | 205 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,690 mm | 4,655 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,830 mm |
| Height | 1,695 mm | 1,730 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,670 mm |
| Weight | 1,654 kg | 1,643 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 56 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | — | 496 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R19 | 225/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R19 | 225/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver (T155/80 R17) | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Falken Ziex ZE001A A/S |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 24 inch | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 18 inch | 17 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Rear) | 14 inch | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) | 18" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) | 18" Alloys |
| Steering | Electronic Power Assisted (EPAS) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | — | SI-Drive and X-Mode |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver Knee) | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee & Front Passenger Seat Cushion, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 3-point All Seats, Front with Pretensioners and Load Limiters | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | 2nd Row with Top Tethers | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Smart Brake Support (Front, Rear, Turn-Across Traffic, Intersection, Front/Rear Crossing) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Vehicle Exit Warning, Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Driver Monitoring (DM), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Launch Assist, Auto Hold, Walk-Away Lock | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED (ALH) with Signature Illumination, Auto Levelling | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination with Signature Illumination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 10-way Power Driver Seat with Memory, 6-way Power Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Manual Reclining | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | None | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front 12V, USB-C Front and Rear, 1 Wireless Charger | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | LED Map, Overhead and Luggage Lights, Front Footlamps, Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | — | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 12.9" Touchscreen with Voice Recognition, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-Speaker BOSE Sound System | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | All Windows, One-touch Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Driver and Front Passenger Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation, Walk Away Lock, Auto Door Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with Stop & Go, Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS) | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Power Tailgate | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | Yes | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | Yes | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | Conventional | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Head-up Display, 360-degree View Monitor with See-Through View, Wireless Phone Charger, Power Tailgate, 10-way Power Driver Seat with Memory, 6-way Power Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats, Dual-zone Auto Air Conditioning with Rear Vents, Frameless Auto-dimming Rear View Mirror, G-Vectoring Control Plus | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | Complimentary scheduled maintenance including parts, lubricants and labour | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
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