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2026 Subaru Outback vs 2026 Mazda CX-50

Price, size, cabin, cargo, towing, safety and ownership side by side. Every value comes from the cited sources in each model-year profile, and gaps stay labeled instead of guessed.

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Key differences

Where the published numbers differ

No overall winner: each line is one source-backed figure. Decide which ones matter for how you will use the SUV.

AOutback has

  • Overall lengthlonger by 5.9 in
  • Ground clearancemore ground clearance by 0.4 in
  • Front headroommore front headroom by 1.9 in
  • Cargo behind rear seatmore cargo behind the rear seat by 3.2 cu ft
  • Maximum cargomore maximum cargo by 24.2 cu ft

BCX-50 has

  • Starting pricelower starting price by $5,095
  • Wheelbaselonger wheelbase by 2.7 in
  • Rear legroommore rear legroom by 0.3 in

=Same figure

None of the compared fields are identical.

Head-to-head

The numbers, side by side

Bars share one scale starting at zero, so small real differences are not exaggerated. Where a profile lists several figures, the highest published one is used.

OutbackCX-50
Starting price2026 Mazda CX-50: lower starting price by $5,095
$34,995
$29,900
Overall length2026 Subaru Outback: longer by 5.9 in
191.7 in
185.8 in
Wheelbase2026 Mazda CX-50: longer wheelbase by 2.7 in
108.1 in
110.8 in
Ground clearance2026 Subaru Outback: more ground clearance by 0.4 in
8.7 in
8.3 in
Rear legroom2026 Mazda CX-50: more rear legroom by 0.3 in
39.5 in
39.8 in
Front headroom2026 Subaru Outback: more front headroom by 1.9 in
Up to 41.0 in
39.1 in without moonroof
Cargo behind rear seat2026 Subaru Outback: more cargo behind the rear seat by 3.2 cu ft
34.6 cu ft
31.4 cu ft
Maximum cargo2026 Subaru Outback: more maximum cargo by 24.2 cu ft
80.5 cu ft
56.3 cu ft

Decision snapshot

Six buyer questions, without an overall winner.

Each card compares one documented criterion. A lead is shown only when both source-backed values use a compatible measurement; otherwise the raw facts stay visible and the criterion stays unresolved.

Starting priceStarting MSRP
AOutback$34,995Premium
BCX-50$29,900Manufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Mazda CX-50 has lower published starting MSRP by $5,095.

EfficiencyGas / base fuel economy
AOutback25 city / 31 highway mpgSubaru published estimates
BCX-50Not verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Maximum cargoMaximum cargo volume
AOutback80.5 cu ftSubaru published figure
BCX-5056.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Subaru Outback has more published maximum cargo volume by 24.2 cu ft.

Rear-seat roomRear legroom
AOutback39.5 inSubaru U.S. specification
BCX-5039.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Mazda CX-50 has more published rear/second-row legroom by 0.3 in.

Maximum towingMaximum towing
AOutback2,700 lbProperly equipped
BCX-50Not verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Basic warrantyNew-vehicle / basic warranty
AOutbackConfirm the 2026 Subaru warranty bookletCoverage tied to in-service date and mileage
BCX-50Verify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Table view

At a glance

Key specifications

4 of 8 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
Starting MSRPDifferent$34,995Premium$29,900Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Primary engine / systemData gap2.5L SUBARU BOXER four-cylinderSubaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Primary outputData gap180 hp2.5L BOXER—No source-backed value verified yet
DrivetrainDifferentSymmetrical AWDStandardAWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification
SeatingData gap52026 Subaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent34.6 cu ftSubaru published figure31.4 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum cargoDifferent80.5 cu ft2026 published figure56.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum towingData gap2,700 lbProperly equipped—No source-backed value verified yet

Price & trims

Pricing and trim lineup

4 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
Starting MSRPDifferent$34,995Premium$29,900Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Entry trimDifferentPremium · $34,9952.5L naturally aspirated2.5 S Select · $29,900Gas AWD
Highest listed trimDifferentTouring XT · $47,9952.4L turbo2.5 Turbo · $37,900Turbo AWD
Trim lineupDifferentPremium · Limited · Touring · Wilderness · Limited XT · Touring XT6 researched trims2.5 S Select · 2.5 Turbo · Hybrid Preferred3 researched trims

Performance

Engine, output and drivetrain

1 of 6 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
Engine / primary systemData gap2.5L SUBARU BOXER four-cylinderSubaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Primary outputData gap180 hp / 178 lb-ftSubaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
High-output / turbo engineData gap2.4L turbo SUBARU BOXERWilderness and XT models—No source-backed value verified yet
High-output / turbo powerData gap260 hp / 277 lb-ftSubaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
TransmissionData gapLineartronic CVTSubaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
DrivetrainDifferentSymmetrical AWDStandardAWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Fuel & efficiency

Fuel and efficiency details

0 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
Gas / base fuel economyData gap25 city / 31 highway mpgSubaru published estimates—No source-backed value verified yet
AWD / alternate fuel economyData gap21 city / 29 highway mpgSubaru published estimates—No source-backed value verified yet
Off-road trim fuel economyData gap21 city / 27 highway mpgSubaru published estimates—No source-backed value verified yet
Hybrid fuel economyData gap—No source-backed value verified yet39 / 37 / 38 mpgManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Size & footprint

Exterior dimensions

3 of 5 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
WheelbaseDifferent108.1 inSubaru U.S. specification110.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Overall lengthDifferent191.7 inSubaru U.S. specification185.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Overall widthData gap74.0 inSubaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Ground clearanceDifferent8.7 inMost trims8.3 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Off-road ground clearanceData gap9.5 inWilderness specification—No source-backed value verified yet

Cabin

Interior space and seating

4 of 6 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
SeatingData gap52026 Subaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Front legroomDifferent43.0 inSubaru U.S. specification41.7 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Rear legroomDifferent39.5 inSubaru U.S. specification39.8 inManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Front headroomDifferentUp to 41.0 inRoof equipment dependent39.1 in without moonroofManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Rear headroomData gap40.5 inSubaru U.S. specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Passenger volumeDifferentUp to 112.3 cu ftWithout moonroof100.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Cargo

Cargo space and practical measurements

2 of 8 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent34.6 cu ftSubaru published figure31.4 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum cargo volumeDifferent80.5 cu ftSubaru published figure56.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Cargo length, seats upData gap42.8 in2026 published specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Cargo length, seats foldedData gap75.9 in2026 published specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Width between wheel housingsData gap43.3 in2026 published specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Hatch-opening widthData gap44.3 in2026 published specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Hatch-opening heightData gap31.5 in2026 published specification—No source-backed value verified yet
Cargo-area heightData gap34.1 in2026 published specification—No source-backed value verified yet

Utility

Towing, seating and capability

2 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
Maximum towingData gap2,700 lbProperly equipped—No source-backed value verified yet
All-wheel driveData gapSymmetrical AWDStandard—No source-backed value verified yet
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent34.6 cu ftSubaru published figure31.4 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum cargoDifferent80.5 cu ftSubaru published figure56.3 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Safety

Published safety ratings

0 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
IIHS small overlap frontData gapGood2026 rating—No source-backed value verified yet
IIHS updated moderate overlap frontData gapGood2026 rating—No source-backed value verified yet
IIHS updated sideData gapGood2026 rating—No source-backed value verified yet
IIHS headlightsData gapGood2026 rating—No source-backed value verified yet

Ownership

Warranty and service planning

1 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Subaru OutbackB2026 Mazda CX-50
New-vehicle / basic warrantyDifferentConfirm the 2026 Subaru warranty bookletCoverage tied to in-service date and mileageVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

Safety systems

Driver-assistance equipment and context

A2026 Subaru

Outback

The redesigned 2026 Outback earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Subaru also makes EyeSight, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking and DriverFocus part of the new-generation safety story.

  • EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
  • Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Reverse Automatic Braking
  • DriverFocus distraction mitigation
B2026 Mazda

CX-50

Driver-assistance equipment is kept separate from crash ratings. Check the exact 2026 model on IIHS and NHTSA before relying on a rating or award.

  • Automatic emergency braking / forward-collision features
  • Lane-support features
  • Blind-spot systems where equipped
  • Check trim for available advanced driver assistance

Cabin technology

Infotainment, connectivity and convenience

A2026 Subaru

Outback

  • A 12.1-inch center touchscreen is standard on the redesigned 2026 Outback.
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are integrated into the current STARLINK system.
  • DriverFocus is standard in the new-generation equipment strategy.
  • Upper trims add comfort, audio and driver-assistance equipment without changing the core cabin dimensions.
B2026 Mazda

CX-50

  • Infotainment and phone integration vary by trim.
  • Camera, parking and premium-audio features vary by equipment.
  • Connected-services availability and trial periods can change.

Evidence ledger

Source links and research freshness

Buying context

What to check before choosing a trim

A2026 Subaru

Outback

  1. This redesign is large enough that 2025 dimensions should not be used as substitutes for 2026 fit questions.
  2. The 2.5L is the efficiency-focused choice; the turbo is the relevant configuration for shoppers who need the higher tow rating or stronger acceleration.
  3. The hatch opening is lower than the maximum interior cargo height, so a tall rigid item can be limited by the doorway before the cabin itself.
  4. The 80.5-cu-ft maximum cargo figure and 75.9-inch folded floor length make the Outback unusually well documented for long-load planning.
Research caveat

Maximum hatch width, lower hatch width, wheel-housing width and internal maximum width describe different points. SUVLook keeps those fields separate so a larger number is not mistaken for guaranteed rectangular clearance.

Updated 2026-09-163 research sources
B2026 Mazda

CX-50

  1. AWD is standard across the lineup.
  2. Hybrid towing is lower than the referenced gas-model limit.
  3. The moonroof lowers published front headroom.
Research caveat

Use the exact trim, drivetrain, roof equipment and powertrain when a number is configuration-sensitive. Cargo volume does not prove that a rigid item fits through the hatch; measure the exact vehicle for close-fit use cases.

Updated 2026-09-232 research sources

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