The Subaru is an absolute dream in the snow. I once ended up in a squall in bumper-to-bumper nightmare traffic in my Subaru, and I have never felt so safe, and in such a steady car. And I used to live in ski country.

That said, agree that it is worth asking the kid, and doing a test drive, if you haven't already. The Outback is a much bigger car. It has great visibility and you can camp in it.

I don't think you can go wrong. People who drive Mazdas love them.

These two cars are very different sizes. Does your kid want a big car (Outback) or a compact (CX30)? That should be the deciding factor.

Is this going to be a surprise gift? If not, and you could go either way, I’d ask your kid what they prefer.

I don’t have any experience with Mazda, but my 11 year old Subaru Outback is great in the snow even with all season tires. A couple of my friends in Buffalo have bought multiple Subarus too so I assume they consistently do well in winter weather.

I do find routine maintenance from the dealership to be high for the price point of the car. It costs double for the same service when compared to my similarly priced Toyota. Of course there are independent shops that are likely cheaper.

You don’t need a dealer for Subaru maintenance. Especially in ski country.

both seem like good choices. I like to think about getting 10 years out of a car and that seems realistic with good cost of ownership. Will there be a Subaru dealership near where your kid goes to school? Subarus can be pickier about repairs and need consistent maintenance. Mazda may have lower repair costs and more readily fixed.

This car would be for a college student. We narrowed it down to these two. Kid needs AWD for winter weather and will use the car to drive to skiing and other outdoor activities.

The Mazda would have 10,000 miles on it. The Suburu would have 25,000 miles. I expect the kid would keep the car for several years after graduation.

The Suburu would be $25,000 and the Mazda about $24,000. How important is the length of the warranty after purchase?

Any thoughts?