Subaru Forester 2018 or Mazda CX5 diesel 2018

The Terrain, which is an economy SUV, is just another GM rebranded Equinox, their other economy SUV. It's good to have economy SUVs because that's what most people buy.

The figure-eight tests are just a measure of grip. Steering feel in real world conditions is more important to the owner. In the CX-5 the ESC is over sensitive and that's why it got a lower score in the test, but in the real world it handles very well (probably better than the Terrain) when not pushed to the limit of the ESC kicking in. drjohn can't afford the base GMC Terrain which has 170 hp and manual climate control. All gas CX-5's get to 60 mph a full second quicker than the volume selling 1.5L in the Terrain, get better mileage, and have a nicer interior. The diesel Terrain 0-60 time is 10.6 seconds. The 2018 Terrain is a huge improvement, but if drjohn bought one it would be a base rental car model (GMC really strips the SL), which I'd avoid. The CX-5, CR-V, Forester, etc. will be a much better value, even with a base model.

MT figure eight test measure not only grip but accleration, braking power, along with shock dampening, sway bars, spring rates. It's the recipe that has the 2018 GMC Terrain one full second ahead of the 2018 CX-5 in that test. You see, the Japanese cook the books in making a lightweight, small, and great handling cuv that journalist rave about and get fuel economy as a result. When the buying public review the Mazda it is loud and rough riding and a turn off with just a ride around the block. So 2018 Mazda adds to the CX-5 missing sound deadening and adds heavier acoustic glass. Now the suspension is taxed with sway bar and spring rates from the previous updates along with shocks that need revalving. Braking performance has suffered with the extra weight with longer stopping from 60 than a 2018 Terrain by over 10 feet. And if you want to compare real world economy, fuelly.com-which are owners reporting, has the new 2018 Equinox 1.5T besting the CX-5. Sorry to burst your Japanese bubble but most everyone is on the same playing field today and many have passed them up and especially on the cost to buy front thanks to dealerahips advertising on places like cars.com. It is public perception that lags because of you and the journalist want to protect their internet clicks and keep inflated resdiuals as the prices are higher to buy than non-Japanese, negating any excellent resdiuals value. The auto auctions thank you guys. This is especially the case for the Honda CR-V. Regarding pricing and value the 2018 Terrain and CX-5 are dead even today and 3 year, 36,000 miles from now. The Subaru is $2,000 less today and $2,000 less in the same time period. This all based on info gathered from cars.com. It favors the Terrain if I used 2017 values as it is an out going model and the best deal here. Though the base 2018 Terrain doesn't have dual zone climate control it does have rear seat upper vents. The Mazda does not until you go up to the Touring model. The Terrain SLE has dual zone and the CX-5 Touring has rear seat vents starting the last two years or so. Both cars are the same price on cars.com Early Mazda models do not have rear seat venting. The 2018 Honda CR-V is the most expensive at $2,000 more than comparable 2018 Equinox. The Honda still offers the old 2.4l and is $5,000 more than a 2017 Eqyinox 2.4l. It is just over priced at all levels. And at 3 years, 36,000 miles later the CR-V cost less than a Equinox. Which means the more expensive, new Honda has dropped more in value than the Equinox. The Terrain 1.5T receives the 9-speed transmission and has not been tested. Only the Equinox 1.5t 6-speed has been timed.