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Mazda MX-5 Roadster vs Subaru Forester comparison

Compare performance (132 HP vs 136 HP), boot space and price (28,400 £ vs 34,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mazda MX-5 Roadster or Subaru Forester?

Mazda MX-5 Roadster vs Subaru Forester: Key differences

Mazda MX-5 Roadster

  • visibly cheaper
  • visibly more efficient
  • substantially quicker 0–100 km/h
  • significantly lighter

Subaru Forester

4 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • marginally more power
  • substantially more trunk space

All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

MX-5 Roadster

Costs and Efficiency:

Looking at overall running costs, both models reveal some interesting differences in everyday economy.

Mazda MX-5 Roadster is visibly cheaper – starting at 28,400 £ , while the Subaru Forester costs 34,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 6,257 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mazda MX-5 Roadster uses 6.2 L/100km and is visibly more efficient than the Subaru Forester with 8.1 L/100km. The difference is about 1.9 L/100km.

Forester

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Subaru Forester offers marginally more power – delivering 136 HP compared to 132 HP. That’s roughly 4 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mazda MX-5 Roadster is substantially quicker – completing the sprint in 8.3 s, while the Subaru Forester takes 12.2 s. That’s about 3.9 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Subaru Forester delivers moderately more torque with 182 Nm compared to 152 Nm. That’s about 30 Nm more.

MX-5 Roadster

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Seats: Subaru Forester offers more seats – 5 vs 2.

In terms of curb weight, Mazda MX-5 Roadster is significantly lighter – 1,078 kg compared to 1,693 kg. The difference is around 615 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Subaru Forester offers substantially more boot space – 508 L compared to 130 L. That’s a difference of about 378 L.

When it comes to payload, the Subaru Forester carries substantially more – 492 kg compared to 152 kg. That’s a difference of about 340 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Subaru Forester is clearly superior overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £34,700
Forester

Subaru Forester

  • Engine Type : Petrol MHEV
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 136 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 8.1 L/100km
details

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Mazda MX-5 Roadster
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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Mazda MX-5 Roadster

The Mazda MX-5 is a featherweight, open-top sports car that turns ordinary roads into a grin-inducing playground thanks to razor-sharp steering and an engaging, tactile gearbox. It won’t swallow the weekly shopping or ski bags, but for anyone after pure driving fun and sun-on-your-face weekends, few cars match its sheer charm and value.

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Reviews Mazda MX-5 Roadster

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a practical all-rounder that quietly does everything right, with roomy comfort, excellent visibility and a real fondness for weekend adventures off the beaten path. It won't set your pulse racing like a sports car, but for buyers who prize reliability, safety and sensible charm, it's a brilliantly steady companion with a cheeky streak.

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Reviews Subaru Forester

4 (1 Reviews)
rate
Dirk
8 Dec 2025, 17:00:06

It's indeed much more expensive, but it drives brilliantly. I have the automatic — fantastic. It's a bit noisy for such an expensive car, and servicing at a Subaru dealer isn't cheap. It's certainly not economical.

On the other hand, very little breaks and it will never leave you stranded. And that space... 500 litres more is really about a 40% increase.

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Mazda MX-5 Roadster
Subaru Forester

Costs and Consumption
Price
28,400 - 33,800 £
Price
34,700 - 42,200 £
Consumption L/100km
6.2 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
8.1 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
140 g/km
co2
183 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
SUV
Seats
2
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,078 kg
Curb weight
1,693 - 1,739 kg
Trunk capacity
130 L
Trunk capacity
508 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,735 mm
Width
1,830 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
152 kg
Payload
446 - 492 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV
Transmission
Manuel
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
CVT
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
132 HP
Power HP
136 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.3 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
12.2 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
152 Nm
Torque
182 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
97 kW
Power kW
100 kW
Engine capacity
1,496 cm3
Engine capacity
1,995 cm3

General
Model Year
2,025
Model Year
2,025
CO2 Efficiency Class
E
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
Mazda
Brand
Subaru
What drive types are available for the Mazda MX-5 Roadster?

The Mazda MX-5 Roadster is available as Rear-Wheel Drive.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.