2021 MAZDA CX-5 Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
I just purchased a 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD with all the bells and whistles and I must say - wow - color me very impressed. I have only put about 150 miles on it so far, but in this short time it has been nothing short of stunning. This vehicle hits way above its weight class, it feels more like an 80k SUV rather than a 40k SUV. In typical Mazda fashion (and like the previous generation CX-5), the driving dynamics are simply spectacular for a crossover. It handles like it weighs a thousand lbs less than it does, the electric-steering actually has some tactile feedback that most other numb electric steering vehicles simply lack, and bonus - the ride is substantially improved over the last generation CX-5. No more jolting shots through the spine when hitting a bump or a pot hole. But that handling - wow. Slicing through the Colorado canyons is a blast, it feels like a sports car. But this is nothing new for Mazda. Then there is all the little things - refinement details that only a small company like a Mazda can do that the large companies seem to miss for the same price category; great soft interior materials all around, excellent french stitching, perfectly centered steering wheel, well placed knobs and buttons, multiple USB ports both front and back, heated seats, heated mirrors, heated steering wheel, and everything inside just feels like it was designed to revolve around the driver. The amount of sound deadening they used vs the previous gen has really paid off as well, as the road noise is basically nill and the engine noise is lessened. The 2.5L Skyactiv naturally-aspirated inline 4 in this refresh has a beautiful throaty sound for a 4-banger, and it pulls very linearly on both ends. Throttle response from a dead stop is a bit laggy requiring more throttle than I prefer, but I am hoping a custom tune helps with that. Other than that, this engine has plenty of pickup, so I am not really quite sure why it gets panned so much for not having enough power - it has plenty to move this machine around. Oh and the transmission has been excellent so far - very firm quick shifts without a hint of harshness. Where it really stands out over the previous gen though is in the technology. Beautiful 7 widescreen display on the dash operated by a dial on the center console (simply the easiest way to use such a system), backup camera and GPS navigation that shows on display, stop & go radar that really works, automatic high/low beam LED adaptive headlights that bend with the turn, and an active heads-up display that projects the vehicle speed onto the windshield. It will even display upcoming road signs on the windshield, as well as upcoming turns and distance until target for the navigation. It has lane-assist and blind spot technology too, but I find most of that to be more annoying than helpful. Thankfully nearly everything can be enabled or disabled in the settings, along with various sensitivity settings. Overall after spending many years previously driving boring and bland crossovers, this SUV just makes driving FUN again. Do yourself a favor - even if have a recent previous gen CX-5 - and run over to your local Mazda dealer for a test drive. You wont regret it.
VS
Critical Review
Because of all the great online reviews and hype, I really wanted to love this car but I ended up trading it after only 2 months. This is the only car I have ever traded so soon after buying it. I usually keep my cars for 8-10 years. Thinking that my old BMW could have potential engine problems, I traded it for the CX-5 signature thinking that is was a good choice and great value for all the features. But I soon found out that I was so wrong. The CX-5 features starting getting on my nerves. The heads-up display was distracting, the beeping from the safety features were annoying (I don't like a bossy car!), the non-touch screen was frustrating, the cup holders were in a bad place, the armrest was too short that I couldn't use it--it's positioned too far back for a female driver, the seats are too straight that I would slide while making turns, the window line is too high--it's too small going through a drive-thru as there is not a good clearance to receive orders, the back windows do not fully roll down, it does not have knee airbags, the heated steering wheel only partially heats—I would touch cold parts during backing out, the key fob is a cheap quality with small buttons on the side that are difficult to see, the car is a gas guzzler with a small gas tank (I didn't like all the extra stops for gas and the flimsy gas lid), the turbo lags, the ride is bumpy, the interior paint around the inside doors is cheap and does not have a gloss coat like the car exterior, the wheel wells have cheap felt inside them making them difficult to clean, the interior lighting is poor even with the included floor lighting in the signature, and the driver's side leather seat was starting to wrinkle after only 2 months! Also, I did not like the goofy grin on the grill of the car. The worst part was the dark and depressing interior. The size of the sunroof was incredibly disappointing. I didn't realize how much I'd miss having a panoramic sunroof. I honestly started to hate this car and could not wait to get rid of it. I looked at several luxury SUVs, and ended up trading the CX-5 for another (new) BMW X3. Thankfully, I pay cash for my cars so it was an easy trade-in. The BMW drives like a dream with a smoother transmission and ride, much better build quality, has a light interior with lots of lighting including ambient, a panoramic sunroof, and a bigger gas tank with better gas mileage. I'm so happy driving it! Got a great deal. It didn't cost much more than a CX-5 signature. I'd rather have a true luxury vehicle for this price range. I won't make that mistake again.
2021 CX-5 Reviews
Showing 8 of 167 reviews.
Features, SAFETY, blind spot monitoring, cruise adjusts to vehicles ahead to prevent wreck, heated seats in front and rear, heated steering wheel, back up camera, speed traveling and speed limit shows on windshield. Many more features but those are my favorite so far!
Paint chips, small chips but still chips
I previously had a 2016 Grand Touring that I loved. I bought my daughter a 2015 CX-5. In a little over two years I totaled my 2016 (safe vehicle). I knew that my next vehicle would be a CX-5 as well. I do not ever see me purchasing anything other that a CX5. I am sold with the looks, features, and safety! The only downside is no factory remote start on the models I've had but that is an easy add. The 2015 did not come with the navigation "brain" but could be installed. The 2016 had an occasional glitch with the screen where it would adjust my navigation sound on its own. And the 2018 the paint is chipping in spots. All are great cars that I am very pleased with! The bells and whistles on the 2018 have me amazed. As a side note I did a lot of research on all the vehicles and there models over a 10+ year time span through Consumer Reports. There magazine has all the information reported. And there is a lot!
Too many to list
I bought this car new July 1, 2024 and traded it May 5, 2025 with 9501 miles on it. It was the worst vehicle I have ever owned. This was the 7th Mazda I have owned and we have loved everyone of them. My friend had also purchased a 2024 CX-5 a few months earlier and loves it. What better review is that! The online reviews from various sites were great except for the infotainment system. Those reviews said it was not really very user friendly. Well, the first week I owned it the automatic locking system locked the keys in the car even though it isn't possible to lock the keys in the car. The Android Auto connection would randomly drop in areas of my city where I've never had issues with my previous car dropping the connection. I never was smart enough to get it to reconnect without pulling over, cutting off the engine and then restarting the car. I tried all the "fixes" I found online. Dropping the connection when you're driving down the expressway in a strange city with an upcoming exit is harrowing!!!! When you pick up the phone to look at the screen the phone is blank with a message that it's connected to car. The adaptive headlight feature was great when it worked. The car would randomly choose not to put the lights on high beam even when there were no street lights or traffic on the road. When the car developed a tiny oil leak at 9300 miles and I had to add a quart of oil to get the oil light to go was the signal that this car had to go. And the final straw the night before I traded.....the headlights wouldn't come on. There will never be another Mazda in my garage. One final note: My friend's CX-5 decided to uninstall Apple Carplay all by itself. I guess the demon that possessed my car moved over to hers when I traded.
It has power like the control and it's big on the inside
The seats are horrible they're hard and they're not shaped good for people's bodies
I bought my Mazda cx 5 over a month ago it drives and performs great. The driving comfort of the seats are like sitting on church pews they're hard and very uncomfortable the headrest keeps hitting you in the back of the head. I have bought three different car seats to go in the driver seat I can't find one that is comfortable enough I'm having a really difficult time driving I drive 40 minutes one way I constantly moving back and forth trying to stay comfortable but by the time I get there my whole back end is just hurting I have bought three Mazdas in my lifetime this will probably be my last one. if I can even keep this one so think twice about your comfort make sure the seats will move like you want that is just as important as all the safety features they have on them.
Fun to drive, comfort, quiet
unexpected expensive breakdowns
I've had my CX5 for 5 years now and its very comfortable and fun to drive. But, I just had to shell out $1400 to stop an oil leak from my timing chain cover. That really hurt. The shop said a lot of manufacturers are starting to leave out the gasket for the timing chain cover and instead just use a bead of silicone. How stupid. Now I'm wondering what is going to happen next.
We love our CX5! It's quick, responsive and fun to drive. Plenty of power with the turbo and the interior looks much more upscale and of higher quality than any of its competitors. I love everything about it except for the leather seats. They are not comfortable on long drives and have very little cushion. But, all in all a very good vehicle that I would highly recommend.
Bought a new 2025 CX-5 Turbo Premium (over the CX-50 due to some seat issue I had in the CX-50). Turns out that there is a different seat issue in the CX-5. THere is a hard lump on the seat bottom where it meets the seat back. It pressed into my tailbone causing a presure point. I readjusted several times but after driving it for 2100 miles, its causing pressure and burning on my sit bones (no...its not the heated seat element). I've tried readjusting many times, now I have a seat cushion on it - but thats causing other issues. Dealership wasnt helpful since the seat was just like the others. I've opoened up a complaint with mazda corporate.
I purchased my CX-5 NA Perferred pkg new. I now have 77k and only issues so far is the driver headlight which was covered under my warranty and the thermostat which was covered under recall. Otherwise regular maintenance and it’s been super reliable. Would recommend. I live in SD with snow and ice, handles great! The seats are uncomfortable. It could be a littler bigger in the back seat so it not for adults in the back, small kids only. But otherwise I have zero complaints. Love it!!
The front seats are to close together my wife and I are both average to small people and we still bump elbows. The steering is to tight one little look in a direction and your car is in another lane. The great reviews this car gets are I believe not warranted,the garage door opener button does not even light up at night how are we supposed to see the button. The smart cruise brakes to hard if a car in front slows down and no bluetooth apple or android car connection also no satellite radio connection.
