Compact SUV rivals
The Forester is the most rugged, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance; the CX-5 has the most upscale cabin; the Tucson adds front-wheel drive and hybrid and plug-in versions rated 35 to 38 mpg combined. The Forester and CX-5 come with standard all-wheel drive and rate 26 to 29 mpg combined on gas.
The Forester is the most rugged, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance; the CX-5 has the most upscale cabin; the Tucson adds front-wheel drive and hybrid and plug-in versions rated 35 to 38 mpg combined. The Forester and CX-5 come with standard all-wheel drive and rate 26 to 29 mpg combined on gas.
Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab), after a week driving both, notes that the Forester and CX-5 each come with standard all-wheel drive, and measured 27.2 mpg for a Forester Wilderness over 126 miles against 26.2 for a CX-5 2.5 S Premium Plus over 102 miles. EPA ratings are 24 city, 30 highway and 26 combined for the CX-5 and up to 26/33/29 for the gas Forester, 24/28/26 for the Wilderness, with a Forester hybrid at 35 combined. The Tucson is the only one of the three sold with front-wheel drive: 25/33/28 combined that way, 26 with all-wheel drive, and hybrids at 36 and 38 combined plus a plug-in at 35.
Tom's Guide calls the Forester a boxy Swiss Army knife built for visibility, cargo capacity and all-weather confidence, and the CX-5 a trade of some utility for style with an upscale cabin. CARMIND (opens in a new tab) says cargo depends on use: behind the seats the CX-5 wins by about 4 cubic feet, with the seats folded the Forester wins by nearly 8. Unfinished Man (opens in a new tab) credits the Forester with 110.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, 8.7 inches of ground clearance and a 3,500-pound towing rating on the Wilderness. Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) says the Forester has excellent outward visibility, a roomy interior and a comfortable ride. U.S. News (opens in a new tab) lists the Tucson at 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 80.3 folded, and says its interior is more upscale than you would expect at its price.
Unfinished Man lists the CX-5 at 187 horsepower with a six-speed automatic, the Forester at 180 horsepower on a CVT or 194 with the hybrid, and notes the CX-5's standard 12-inch touchscreen with Google built-in against the Forester's standard EyeSight driver assistance and physical controls. The Tucson's base engine is a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four with an eight-speed automatic. Tom's Guide's as-tested prices were $40,465 for the Forester Wilderness and $41,080 for the CX-5 2.5 S Premium Plus, so the two are close once equipped; choose by whether you will actually use the Forester's clearance and visibility or value the CX-5's interior more.
On the CX-5 and Forester, yes, according to Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab). The Tucson is sold with front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option.
The Forester and the Tucson; the CX-5 has no hybrid until 2027. The Tucson also offers a plug-in hybrid.
The Forester, at 8.7 inches on the Wilderness, per Unfinished Man (opens in a new tab).
Lineup overview
The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5 launches with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 187 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic and Mazda i-ACTIV all-wheel drive are standard across the five-trim range.
The 2026 Subaru Forester range includes six gas trims and four hybrid trims. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard throughout. Conventional models use a 180-horsepower 2.5-liter boxer engine; hybrid grades are listed at an estimated 194 horsepower of total system net power. Forester Wilderness raises towing capacity from the normal 1,500-pound rating to 3,500 pounds.
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson family includes gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations. The gas model uses a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter engine with an eight-speed automatic. The hybrid produces 231 combined horsepower, while the plug-in hybrid produces 268 combined horsepower. Drivetrain and towing vary by powertrain.
Side-by-side matrix
Every figure below is the published family range across all trims — open each full record before applying a number to one specific vehicle.
| Decision field | Mazda CX-5 | Subaru Forester | Hyundai Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine options | 2.5L I-4 | 2.5L boxer (gas) / hybrid system | 2.5L (gas) / hybrid / plug-in hybrid |
| Horsepower range | 187 hp | 180 / 194 hp | 187–268 hp |
| Drivetrain | AWD | Standard AWD | FWD / AWD |
| Seating | 5 | 5 | Not published |
| Maximum towing | Not listed | 3,500 lb | 2,750 lb |
| Trim count | 5 trims | 6 trims | 7 trims |
Starting MSRP by trim is not yet independently verified across every vehicle in this record — pricing changes often enough mid-model-year that this page cites manufacturer configurators rather than publish a number that could go stale. Every other field above is sourced and dated per vehicle.
Trim ladders
2.5 S → 2.5 S Select → 2.5 S Preferred → 2.5 S Premium → 2.5 S Premium Plus
Base → Premium / Premium Hybrid → Sport / Sport Hybrid → Wilderness → Limited / Limited Hybrid → Touring / Touring Hybrid
SE → SEL → SEL Plus → XRT → SEL Premium → Limited → Hybrid / Plug-in Hybrid
Where each one wins
Ranked directly from the sourced figures above — nothing here is an opinion.
3,500 lb, ahead of the Hyundai Tucson's 2,750 lb, the Mazda CX-5's Not listed. Maximums require the specific powertrain and equipment noted in each full record.
7 trims against the Subaru Forester's 6, the Mazda CX-5's 5. More trims means finer-grained equipment choices, not necessarily better equipment at any one price.
Technology and what changed
Yes. Mazda identifies a 12.9-inch center touchscreen as standard equipment on the 2.5 S.
Open the evidence
Nearby comparisons
Sources
Mazda 2026 CX-5 trim comparison · Mazda reveals the 2026 CX-5 · Mazda pricing and packaging release
Subaru 2026 Forester overview · Subaru Forester specifications and trims · Subaru Forester comparison · IIHS 2026 Subaru Forester ratings
Hyundai 2026 Tucson gas specifications · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid specifications · Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid specifications · IIHS 2026 Hyundai Tucson ratings