I'm not familiar with the Subaru line of vehicles. Can you be more specific of the areas you feel Mazda is subpar to Subaru's safety electronics? I checked out the Viziv concept and like it a lot. I might want to trade in my Mazda CX-9 when it comes out depending on how well my CX-9 ages.
Lets first clarify that I am not implying that Mazda is unsafe, although we do not even know about the current model crash test yet. But we should guess is at least as good as the previous models, structurally. But in my opinion Subaru felt very solid, safe and with great electronic safety features, well implemented and coordinated internally by the car itself
Let me use ACC as the term for whichever name the Smart Cruise Control have on both Brand, and SCB as whichever name the smart brake/collision avoidance braking is named
1. When on ACC enable behind a car, and the car in front slows down, Subaru do not engage brakes immediately, unless the car in front is braking suddenly; Subaru would do first what a regular driver would do... suspend acceleration, let the car de-accelerate before engaging brakes. That is nice, as is smooth, and the car behind you would not curse you for sudden braking as reflected on the tail lights. So, Subaru does manage the throttle / accelerator even for deceleration
I understand that mazda applies the brakes, softly, but apply them; so you may become that F& guy on the road on the eyes of the other drivers
2. If traffic in front is coming to full stop, Subaru will continue slowing down you softly and applying brakes gently until full stop at a very reasonable not-dangerous distance; no hard brake at all on regular conditions. the Mazda, will continue slowing down until it reach around 16MPH and then, it will let you know the car disengage the ACC and let you on your own. you have to do the rest of the stop, not assisted. So, Mazda kind of do the deal half way on this scenario. I guess the SBC would engage later, but I have not dare to try. when the ACC disengage, the car just continue with the momentum towards the car in front and I just had decided to stop instead of get the chances of the SCB engage on a sudden harsh brake (if it does, as the manual says it would not if the driver is having any control on the car, brake pedal, accelerator pedal or even wheel)
3. If you are on full stop after the Subaru drove you to the smooth full stop, and the car in front begin to drive, Subaru will warn you (audio and visual) that traffic is moving so you just do a quick/small push to the accelerator and it will continue increasing the speed to the level you had set on the ACC. no need for you to re-engage ACC.
Mazda, in the other hand, since it disengage ACC at the 16MPH, would not reengage the ACC once traffic begin flowing, you have to accelerate until 15MPH and then manually click resume once you pass the 15mph
4. Subaru's eyesight does detect and act on pedestrians and motorcycles, both in the highway or at lower speeds (I mean warn and slow you down, not target and attack)
Mazda manual says that the CX9 would not detect motorcycles nor pedestrians
5. While backing the Subaru in reverse, the car have both warning cross trafic, but also automatic brake if the car detects a possible colission
the Mazda only warns you about crossing traffic, but does not apply any brake if a collision is imminent while reversing the car
6. The Blind spot on Subaru seems to detect the cars towards the end of your car on the sides regarding who is passing who
the Blind spot on Mazda seems to detect cars when they are coming to you from behind on your sides, but not when you are the one passing them
In the other hand,
I like that my GT (and the sig) comes with HUD, and the warning messages from the vehicle show on both Multifunction display and also HUD. Subaru does not have HUD. Both have the blind spot also on the mirrors but, in favor of Mazda,
Blind Spot in Mazda is audible as well, not only visual;
in Subaru is only Visual. Subaru's side mirrors are also auto-dimmable in coordination with the central mirror
On a related note,
Subaru come with 3 years of SiriusXM traffic and also 3 years of SiriusXM Travel Link; both of them helpful while on the road (although nowadays, an smart phone can help the same, it is not integrated with the car, as we do not even have Andriod or Apple car)
So, based on the unfortunate (for me) very positive experience of long trip on my Wife Subaru Outback 2017; I am already curious for the Subaru Viziv while I still enjoy my 2016 Mazda
Hope it helps this subjective perspective of a CX9 Owner
