Used 2021 MAZDA CX-5

If you need the practicality of a compact sport-utility vehicle but still enjoy clipping apexes like you did when you were single and had a Miata, the Mazda CX-5 deserves your attention. Indeed, the 2021 Mazda CX-5 is one of the sportiest compact crossover SUVs available, thanks in part to its responsive steering and top-notch balance.

What’s more, the Mazda CX-5 feels like a premium model but is priced more like its mainstream competition, which includes the Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape and Chevrolet Equinox.

The CX-5 seats four in good comfort, or five in a pinch. It’s well equipped with convenience and safety features, while possessing impressive build quality and solid reliability and safety ratings. With its genuinely engaging driving manners and the choice of an economical 2.5-liter engine or a powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter mated to a conventional 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2021 CX-5 commands attention.

Did you really think all mainstream compact-crossover SUVs were boring to drive? If so, chances are you haven’t driven a Mazda CX-5. This compact Mazda crossover SUV, one step larger than the CX-30, is nimble and precise, able to change direction with grace thanks in part to a standard sophisticated torque-vectoring system.

The CX-5’s naturally aspirated 187-horsepower engine is entirely adequate, propelling this Mazda up to freeway speeds without strain. While putting it in Sport mode sharpens its responses, the turbocharged CX-5, with 250 horsepower (on 93-octane fuel), feels downright quick.

Although Mazda began selling a diesel CX-5 halfway through the 2019 model year, it has been discontinued for 2021.

While the ride quality lacks the suppleness of, say, a Honda CR-V, the CX-5’s suspension, steering, brakes, and standard G-Vectoring Control Plus conspire to make this Mazda especially rewarding to drive.

More premium than mainstream, the Mazda CX-5 interior is full of classy touches. Most notable for 2021 is a large 10.25-inch situated atop the center console. This multifunction screen works as a touchscreen, or you can operate it by a knurled rotary controller on the center console.

The CX-5 Signature, the top model, gets supple leather upholstery and an attractively stitched dash. The power-adjustable front seats are comfortable and supportive, and they can be ordered with heat, just like the Signature’s leather-covered steering wheel.

Like the competition, the CX-5’s rear seats accommodate two people much more comfortably than they do three, but the doors do open wide to make it easy to install a child seat. Rear air-conditioning vents (in most models) are a nice touch, and the rear seat cushions in the flagship Signature model are heated.

There are 30.9 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row, and that expands to 59.6 cubic feet when the CX-5’s 40/20/40-split/folding rear seat is folded down. The Honda CR-V, for comparison, has 37.6/75.8 cubic feet, while the Ford Escape has 34.4/60.8.

We think the 2021 Mazda CX-5′ is among the best-looking compact-crossover SUVs, especially in Soul Red Crystal, an optional color so deep and glossy that it would look appropriate on Italian exotic.

The new 2021 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition is distinguished by Polymetal Gray paint, a black metallic grille, black 19-inch alloy wheels, and black mirror caps.

ADVANCED SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT
This standard feature can reduce the severity of an impact or perhaps prevent one altogether. When an accident is imminent, the system will sound an alert. If the driver doesn’t respond in time, it will apply the brakes automatically. It works at speeds of up to 50 mph and includes pedestrian detection.

G-VECTORING CONTROL PLUS
Every 2021 Mazda CX-5 includes G-Vectoring Control Plus. GVC Plus makes subtle torque reductions and brake applications to help the CX-5 SUV go through corners like a sports car.

The least expensive Mazda CX-5, the Sport, comes standard with the new 10.25-inch center display, gray 17-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, two USB ports, LED headlights (with automatic high beams), rain-sensing windshield wipers, and dual exhaust outlets. The Sport also has cloth-covered seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob, a pushbutton starter, and an electric parking brake. When ordered with AWD, the CX-5 Sport gets Off-Road Traction Assist, which automatically brakes individual wheels to keep the CX-5 moving in slippery off-road conditions.

Standard safety features on the Sport (and all 2021 Mazda CX-5s) include an advanced suite with smart cruise control (with stop & go), automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), a lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

The CX-5 Touring adds rear privacy glass, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air conditioning vents, and a pair of rear USB ports. It also has a 6-speaker stereo and an auto-leveling feature for the LED headlights.

New for 2021 is the CX-5 Touring Preferred SV. This model ups the luxury quotient with leather upholstery, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, a power liftgate, a power moonroof, and power front seats.

The new 2021 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition is equipped much like the Touring Preferred SV but looks snazzier with its Polymetal Gray paint, black 19-inch alloy wheels, black door mirrors and an interior with red leather seats and black honeycomb trim. The Carbon Edition is available with the naturally aspirated 2.5 or the turbo 2.5.

A 10-speaker Bose audio system is standard on the CX-5 Grand Touring model, which also boasts leather upholstery, paddle shifters, 7-inch digital gauges, satellite radio, a power liftgate, and silver 19-inch alloy wheels. The Grand Touring comes with the naturally aspirated 2.5, but the CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve has the turbo 2.5 and a nifty head-up display.

The top CX-5, the Signature, is distinguished by Nappa leather seats, wood interior trim, a Driver Attention Alert, smart rear braking, a 360-degree surround-view camera, a black headliner and Sirius XM satellite radio.

A Preferred Equipment package on the CX-5 Touring model includes a 10-speaker Bose audio system, a power moonroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a power liftgate with a programmable height adjustment.

You can also get a GT Premium Package on the well-equipped CX-5 Grand Touring model. It’s highlighted by a head-up display, power-folding side mirrors, vented front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a windshield wiper de-icer.

Soul Red Crystal Metallic Paint is a $595 option; Machine Gray Metallic costs $495.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring models are powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. The new CX-5 Carbon Edition also has the naturally aspirated 2.5, but it also can be ordered with the turbocharged engine that’s standard in the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature models. This turbo powerplant puts out 250 horsepower on 93-octane fuel (or 227 hp with 87 octane), and that power reaches all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission with good shift quality.

2.5-liter inline-4
187 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
186 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/31 mpg (FWD), 24/30 mpg (AWD)

2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
250 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm (93-octane); 227 horsepower (87-octane))
320 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm (93-octane); 310 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm (87-octane)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/27 mpg (AWD)