2021 MAZDA CX-5 Consumer Reviews
Review Summary
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 180 reviews.
I have owned 2 Mazda CX-5's. The first was a 2021 CX-5. The 2nd was a 2024 CX-5, and I am LIVING PROOF to share my testimonial about the crash rating. Both vehicles I owned were involved in 2 wrecks, BY the OTHER driver HITTING me. First was a nasty rollover. I walked away without a scratch, no bruise, nor injury, and it was a bad rollover, too, where I was T-boned by TRUCK that did not YIELD to me on my 2021 CX-5. 2nd accident I had was from a drunk driver in a Dodge Ram that SMASHED in to the rear of my vehicle on my 2024 CX-5. And again, I walked away without injury; no scratch, no cuts, nor bruises. So if saftey matters to you, THIS IS THE BEST OF THE BEST for integrity! As for reliability, the windshield on both vehicles heavily fogged up on the INSIDE, during COOL, damp/rainy weather. And both windshields were VERY PRONE to rocks cracking the windshield, so be careful to STAY WAY BACK from dump trucks! In other areas, my 2024 CX-5 had Key FOB issues where it stopped working within a month, and the 2nd one only lasted 9 months, and needed a new battery. The front headlamp, (headlight), developed a leak in my 2024 CX-5, under warranty, and was replaced, because water was collecting in the inside front headlamp. But I consider these issues TRIVIAL and MINOR, compared to engine and transmission, and air conditioning, as there were NO problems with engine, transmission, nor air conditioning. Of the 3 years I owned the 2021 CX-5 and the 2 years I owned the 2024 CX-5, I'm pleased to say I did NOT have ANY MAJOR MECHANICAL repairs nor problems to report. Sadly, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 has re-designed its bottom 3 trim levels with LOW-QUALITY SEATS. It's so repulsive, I'm looking in to a different car brand, because this 2026 re-design doesn't sit well with me. I don't like the center console that opens up in 2 different leafs, and cannot place my phone down without it falling off the edge, where the gear shift is at. The windshield wiper blades that I'm used to wiping can no longer be pulled UPward to wipe them on the 2026. That's a minor deal for the rest of ya's, but I like to keep wiper blades cleaned. They finally introduce a NEWER interactive touch screen on the 2026 design, so that's the ONLY move in the right direction with the 2026 design, but I very much DISLIKE the SEATS of the 2026 model. ONE more BIG issue to me was acceleration in both the 2021 and 2024 CX-5's that I had was SLOW and CLUNKY. There was dramatic LAG time between pushing down on the accelerator hard, and getting it to RESPOND to accelerate. I blame the HIGH weight of the vehicle at 3,856 pounds, fused together with the relatively LOW HP of only 187 HP for why acceleration is POOR in both the 2021 & 2024 Mazda CX-5's that I've owned. If you NEED rapid acceleration, THIS IS NOT the vehicle for rapid acceleration! But if SAFETY is your TOP concern, I'm living proof on both crashes that I came out unscathed -- very fortunate for the Mazda CX-5's integrity on HIGH safety! -- Scott
Reliability
Space
Great vehicle. Wish it had a lil more room and punch and better mpg. So far 7k miles very happy. Handles the best of all small suv and better interior
Body, handling, performance and features
Poor mpg
2020 Mazda CX-5 signature edition have to say I really love this car The interior is so comfortable love all the features that come with this model only downside is the kind of poor gas mileage but I guess you get that with a turbo but you expect with a four-cylinder you might get a little better than 22 mpg
My Mazda CX-5 is the Best Vehicle I have ever had. I purchased it brand new and have never had any problems with my Mazda! It is eight (8) years old and again have never had any mechanical, no engine issues, nothing. I Love My Mazda !! I will ride it until the wheels fall off !!! Thank you Mazda !!!
Headlights issue
The headlight issue is atrocious, fail after only 2-3 years of use, if happened to you after the warranty expires you must paid 1200 plus labor for each headlight, they do not create a recall for the problem. They don't take in consideration that if the headlight fails when you are driving specially at night that can result in a serious accident, I don't trust the brand anymore.
Dependable, gas mileage, comfortable driving
High profile dash on driver’s side
I’ve had my Mazda 2019 for seven years. It’s been dependable and easy to drive. It has a lot of safety features that has saved me a couple of times with its braking system, when vehicles darted out at a collision spot. I’ve had no issues with it. This is my 6th Mazda in my many years of driving. From the Mazda 323, 626, 3 Sport, 6, Miata, and currently the CX-5.
When a car is nearly perfect, it is simply superior, not perfectly superior ;-) The 2018 CX-5 has been overwhelmingly my best and favorite vehicle of all time - I have had 10+. It's quick, it handles very well, provides great feedback to the driver, is super quiet, super comfortable - have driven long, long trips in it multiple times (NM to Utah, NM to WY, NM to MI, MI to WI, WI to NM). It's a delight in the snow, rain, dry pavement. The sound system is outstanding, the utility is excellent (slightly smaller than my 2013 RAV-4 but SO MUCH BETTER and that was a really good vehicle). Everything just works and always works. I got mine retro-fitted for Apple Car Play and it works great. I had a 1983 Mazda 626 and it was awesome! I had a 2004 or 2005? Mazda 5 and it was awesome! I have had a VW and it was NOT awesome. I have had a Ford and it was NOT awesome. I had a Toyota 4Runner and it was NOT awesome. My 2013 RAV-4 was really good! But I like AWESOME :-) So my next vehicle will be...drum roll... a Mazda!
The positives,drives nice looks nice good gas mileage nice headlights. The bad, whenever it's hot or cold out the interior if this car creaks,rattles pops ticks and clicks. The driver seat in this car is terrible,the bottom cushion is hard narrow and uncomfortable, driving position is narrow,rear seat leg room is tight,cup holders are in a terrible spot, radio controls are confusing and takes multiple steps to do simple things like change radio stations.driver safety sensors are flaky and oversensitive,will beep for no reason or when you are nowhere near the lines on the road or other cars. Sensors get errors and malfunction on a routine basis.Have owned 4 Mazdas this will be my last one.
