I try to done my own scoring between CX5 and Forester, I use 1 to 3 points as the comparison.
[attachmentid=6713017]
No deny that Forester is 1 of the best safety SUV and CX5 also quite top ranking around the world. I would say CX5 win in majority of car review website due to the overall ranking from in to out, of cause include safety plus boot space. Forester loss due to it focus more on safety, offroad etc but lack on FC, outlook, fast handling (paultan review show Forester best comfort handling but lack of fast response compare to Subbie siblings as well as Mazda).... again I feel both are best car but just which 1 u give and take, no doubt if focus 100% safety plus offroad (fast cornering especially wet surface), more comfort back seat then Forester while prefer city, overall "pao ka liao" (Hokkien) plus safety (Mazda safety quite high ranking as well n appear as only slightly lower ptr to Forester in Youtube Jpn expert review)...
http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/pract...orst-to-best#32http://www.edmunds.com/suv/buying-guide/http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-...e-Compact-SUVs/http://2016.guideautoweb.com/best-buys-trucks.html#c08Car is extremely expensive in Msia, hence mostly Msian a bit kia su and choose overall apa pun ada car since spend almost 150k d....
I feel both r as good as each others... let just forget about RV, FC etc and final decision still depend on r u focus inner beauty or overall sikit inner sikit outter beauty hahah.....
Forester 2.0i-P win over Safety and Interior while CX5 2.5L take over Engine, Exterior and Value.
Prior to test drive CX5 2.5L, I mark the Forester as the 1st choice when compare to CX5 2.0L.
In term of CKD quality, I feel both quite solid. As for rattling, both CX5 2.5L and Forester 2.0i-P Test Drive units did showed some minor/soft "ngek ngek" from boot area while I did found a bit plastic sound from CX5 2.0L dashboard. Due to CX5 2.5L w/ bigger CC, accelerate engine sound seem to be not obvious but if compare 2.0L then Forester sound better due to CX5 2.0L w/ quite loud engine rev when step hard on pedal for more "juice".
Personally, I feel CX5 2.5L win as overall in and out plus value for 2.5L but if focus for inner beauty or safety then Forester. CX5 2.5L only win 1 ptr compare to Forester 2.0i-P which I believe that 1 ptr from higher CC engine as well as value for money.
I believe we are not extreme driver that need to speed every time during heavy rain @ highway..... of cause at time we might do that and Forester will buy you 200% insurances with the top ranking AWD hahah... if you are driving 2WD then jaga sikit loh and dont push it too much hahahah.....
Again those scoring mainly my own preference but might different from others.
Wow.. you did alot of homework... then you check which one have better resale?