2018 Mazda CX-5 vs 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2018 Mazda
CX-5
6/10
Best-handling compact SUV of its generation, but budget for a possible engine-related surprise the accountants at Mazda clearly didn't.
VS
2018 Subaru
Crosstrek
7/10
The safest small crossover money can buy, if you can stomach that its own engine occasionally tries to kill it via coil failures and oil consumption.
Milo scores the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek higher — 7/10 against 6/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Mazda CX-5 |
Subaru Crosstrek |
| Known failure points | 5 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 116 | 194 |
| Safety recalls | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 58 | 66 |
| Cheap to own | 55 | 58 |
| Fun factor | 78 | 52 |
| Holds value | 70 | 72 |
| Enthusiast cred | 45 | 38 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2018 Mazda CX-5
Cracked cylinder head (2.5L Skyactiv-G, non-turbo) causing oil leak, white smoke, burning smell
$3,500–$6,50060k–90k mi
2018 Subaru Crosstrek
CVT (TR580) shudder or failure, especially on cars with skipped fluid changes
$3,500–$5,500100k–150k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2018 Mazda CX-5
2018 CX-5 Grand Touring with the 2.5L NA engine, low miles, full documented oil-change history, and — if you can find one — the later-production run (VIN indicating spring 2018 or later) which had running running engine software/build updates.
✅ 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
2018 Crosstrek Premium with the 6-speed manual transmission — avoids CVT risk, gets you 90% of the equipment (heated seats, roof rails, X-Mode) without Limited-trim price premium, and holds value well in snow states.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.