Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 67% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| CX-5 | Forester | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 570 500 | R 699 000 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 9 971/m | R 12 217/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 82% | 82% |
| Retained after 3 years | 67% | 67% |
| Value after 3 years | R 380 703 | R 466 453 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 189 797 | R 232 547 |
| Value after 5 years | R 302 345 | R 370 446 |
| Our tier | Mainstream | Mainstream |
Mazda CX-5 →
Mazda's best seller in South Africa since it landed in 2012, fighting the Tiguan, RAV4 and Sportage. Earlier ranges offered 2.5 petrol and 2.2 diesel options, but the current lineup centres on the 2.0 petrol automatic. It is a dependable used buy with decent, if not Toyota-level, resale.
Known for: reliable family suv and brand best seller
Subaru Forester →
Subaru's best seller in South Africa since the late 1990s, valued for standard all-wheel drive and mechanical durability. The sixth generation launched here in 2025 from R699k with the 2.5 boxer petrol. Reliability is well regarded, but the small dealer network keeps resale a step behind the RAV4 and CR-V.
Known for: dependable awd family suv
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Mazda CX-5 or the Subaru Forester?
They are close to inseparable: 67% vs 67% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Mazda CX-5 loses about R 189 797 over three years and the Subaru Forester loses about R 232 547. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Mazda CX-5 runs about R 9 971 per month and the Subaru Forester about R 12 217, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.