2021 Mazda CX-5 Review

　　

2021 Mazda CX-5 Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The elevated ride height and superior passenger and cargo room of small SUVs make them far more sensible than the typical small sedan. The downside is that sensible isn't normally sexy, but that's where the 2021 Mazda CX-5 comes in. This SUV boasts sleek styling and impressive handling abilities to match. It also has a top-notch interior and a strong optional turbocharged engine that wouldn't seem out of place in a BMW. These traits have helped the CX-5 earn a place near the top of our rankings of the best small SUVs.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$137/mo  for CX-5 Sport

　　CX-5 Sport

　　Sport 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $25,370 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $26,770 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $27,110 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $28,510 MSRPCarbon Edition 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $28,955 MSRPCarbon Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $30,355 MSRPGrand Touring 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $30,560 MSRPGrand Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $31,960 MSRPCarbon Edition Turbo 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $30,760 MSRPCarbon Edition Turbo 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $32,160 MSRPGrand Touring Reserve 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $35,385 MSRPSignature 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $37,505 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The CX-5 receives a few notable upgrades for 2021. The central display screen is larger than last year's and is outfitted with Mazda's newest infotainment interface. It loses touchscreen functionality, but the increased width makes the layout look less cluttered than before. There's also a new Carbon Edition trim that's available with or without the turbocharged engine. If you want the extra thrust but don't need the luxury features that come in the pricier trims, the Carbon Edition is the least expensive way to get the upgraded engine. So is the CX-5 the best small SUV for you? Check out our Expert Rating to read more of our in-depth evaluation of this year's CX-5.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Want to know even more about the Mazda CX-5? Learn about the day-to-day ownership on our long-term test of the 2018 CX-5. Was the cargo room sufficient for everyday use? Was it reliable? See what we liked and disliked about this fun and stylish SUV after driving it for a year. Note that the 2020 CX-5 differs slightly from the 2018 model, which did not have the optional turbocharged engine and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay that became available in 2019 or the revised infotainment system that debuts this year. Our coverage is otherwise applicable.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the CX-5 drive? The base engine provides underwhelming acceleration while moving, and overtaking on the highway requires some planning. It fares slightly better from a dead stop — the 0-60 mph run on our test track took 8.7 seconds, which is typical for rivals with a base engine. The available turbocharged engine gets the CX-5 to 60 mph in only 6.6 seconds.

　　Handling is where the CX-5 excels. Since it's sharp and communicative, you can take corners at speeds greater than rivals without squealing tires or feeling like you're out of control. The car is unfazed by quick left-to-right transitions. This is the best-handling small crossover. No doubt about it.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the CX-5? The front seats are shaped well and generally comfortable. The rear bench seat is flat on the bottom, which might make long-distance driving uncomfortable for rear passengers. But the rear seatback can recline for added comfort.

　　The CX-5's ride quality is firm but not uncomfortable. Midcorner bumps barely faze the CX-5, and it never feels floaty. Road imperfections are dealt with immediately. Noise in the cabin is really only evident at highway speeds. Even then, you won't have to raise your voice to talk to passengers.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The cabin is driver-oriented with all controls within easy reach. The CX-5 is spacious up front, and there's enough headroom for tall folks all around. Rear passengers might feel cramped by the sculpted outboard seats, which also make it difficult for an adult to sit in the middle. Rear legroom is a little tight.

　　An elevated driving position, tall windows and narrow pillars make this an easy car to see out of. The exception is the view over your shoulder; the rear windows are a bit smaller than those of competitors but provide a decent view to limit blind spots. The backup camera's resolution is crisp.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The infotainment system is easy to use overall, and the 10.25-inch display screen is bright and attractive. The available integrated navigation system is also easy to figure out. CX-5s with the head-up display can project turn instructions right onto the windshield. Mazda's voice control system is based on natural speech recognition. It's good at entering destinations, calling people and tuning to terrestrial radio stations.

　　The usability of the CX-5's advanced driver aids is a mixed bag. The lane departure warning system emits a unique low-pitched buzzing sound that really gets your attention. But the blind-spot monitor is overly sensitive, even triggering while passing vehicles that are several car lengths behind.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The CX-5 has a cargo area that's a bit smaller than competitors, but we were able to fit two large suitcases without impeding rear visibility. The portal to load items is also a little smaller than the Honda CR-V's because of a higher cargo floor height and shorter max open height of the liftgate. Storage space for small items inside the cabin is abundant.

　　Got small kids? Four slots on the outboard seats allow access to the car seat anchors. It's easy to push past the slots, but the anchors are inset a bit. The tethers on the seatback are easy to reach even with the cargo cover in place. Push down on the plastic tab that keeps stuff concealed to access the tether.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Estimated fuel economy stands at 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving for an all-wheel-drive CX-5 with the base engine. We managed to get 28.8 mpg from our test AWD CX-5 on our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, so you can probably expect to match the EPA's number. Some top rival crossover SUVs will still get you slightly better fuel economy.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the CX-5 a good value? There's not a single cheap-feeling trim piece in the CX-5. All materials, from the available leather upholstery to the buttons and controls, feel expensive. The only disappointments are the malleable side bolsters that rub against the center console in turns. Everything else is exceptional. Fully loaded, the CX-5 can be a bit less expensive than top-trim competitors. Warranty coverage is average for the class, and there is no free maintenance included, also typical for the class.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The CX-5 is impressive from the moment you lay eyes on the expressive, sharklike nose. The good vibes continue when you take a seat inside and see the beautifully constructed cabin that puts all other vehicles in this class to shame. Few crossovers offer a sense of adventure, but you get it here with the CX-5.

　　

Which CX-5 does zzdcar recommend?

There's value to be had throughout the CX-5 lineup, but two trims stand out. The Touring is a great choice if you're looking to keep costs low. It doesn't cost much more than the Sport, and it adds quite a few useful features. Its Preferred SV package is also quite comprehensive. If you want cheap power, the new Carbon Edition Turbo is the way to go. It includes the Preferred SV package along with the upgraded engine, and it costs thousands less than the Grand Touring Reserve.

　　

2021 Mazda CX-5 models

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is a small SUV sold in seven trim levels: Sport, Touring, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, Carbon Edition Turbo, Grand Touring Reserve and Signature. Feature highlights for each include:

　　Sport

　　The base CX-5 Sport starts you off with:

　　2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (187 horsepower, 186 lb-ft of torque) Six-speed automatic transmission Standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive 17-inch alloy wheels LED headlights Leather-wrapped steering wheel Push-button start 10.25-inch central display Four-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Two front USB ports Every CX-5 comes with a comprehensive set of driving aids, which include:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Mazda and the car in front) Touring

　　The Touring model adds a handful of convenience features, such as:

　　Keyless entry Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Simulated leather upholstery Rear air vents Rear armrest Six-speaker audio system Two rear USB ports The Touring's Preferred SV package adds:

　　Auto-dimming rearview mirror Sunroof Power liftgate Driver-seat memory settings Power-adjustable passenger seat Leather upholstery 10-speaker Bose audio system Carbon Edition

　　The new Carbon Edition trim includes:

　　Preferred SV package 19-inch black-painted wheels Carbon Edition Turbo

　　This trim simply adds a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft when using 93 octane gasoline.

　　Grand Touring

　　The Grand Touring adds the following on top of Touring content:

　　Preferred SV package 19-inch wheels Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Heated mirrors Paddle shifters Upgraded driver information display Satellite radio The GT Premium package includes:

　　Power-folding mirrors Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Heated steering wheel Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Grand Touring Reserve

　　The Grand Touring Reserve is essentially the Grand Touring trim plus the GT Premium package and the turbocharged engine. All-wheel drive comes standard.

　　Signature

　　The range-topping Signature goes all-in on luxury appointments. It starts with Grand Touring Reserve content and adds:

　　Dark gray wheels Ambient interior lighting Auto-dimming rearview mirror Wood trim Navigation system 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the CX-5 and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

　　

2021 CX-5 Highlights

Trim: SportTouringCarbon EditionGrand TouringCarbon Edition TurboGrand Touring ReserveSignatureSport

　　

Base MSRP	$25,370
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$137/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles