Used 2021 Mazda CX-5 for Sale nearCharlotte, NC

Compare 2021 Mazda CX-5 Trims in Charlotte, NC

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to well-equipped models, all with impressive fuel efficiency.

• Starting at $17,772
• Best MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Most Popular: Grand Touring AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

Sport FWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $17,772 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 25 listings
• View Sport FWD listings

Sport AWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport AWD is ideal for those who want the added traction of all-wheel drive without a hefty price tag.

• Avg. market price: $21,618 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 28 listings
• View Sport AWD listings

Touring FWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring FWD is perfect for buyers seeking a well-rounded vehicle with a good mix of features and comfort.

• Avg. market price: $20,587 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 57 listings
• View Touring FWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring AWD is suited for those who desire a blend of luxury and capability in their daily drive.

• Avg. market price: $22,004 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 72 listings
• View Touring AWD listings

Grand Touring FWD — "Who It's For"

The Grand Touring FWD appeals to shoppers wanting a touch of luxury without going over budget.

• Avg. market price: $20,499 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 45 listings
• View Grand Touring FWD listings

Grand Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Grand Touring AWD is for those who want a premium experience with all-wheel drive capability.

• Avg. market price: $23,592 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 87 listings
• View Grand Touring AWD listings

Grand Touring Reserve AWD — "Who It's For"

The Grand Touring Reserve AWD is ideal for buyers seeking a powerful engine and luxury features.

• Avg. market price: $22,329 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 18 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Grand Touring Reserve AWD listings

Signature AWD — "Who It's For"

The Signature AWD is perfect for those who want a fully loaded SUV with advanced technology and luxury.

• Avg. market price: $20,972 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 17 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Signature AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Grand Touring AWD

With 87 active listings, the Grand Touring AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Grand Touring AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Sport FWD

At $17,772 avg market price — below the lineup median of $21,295 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Sport FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Sport FWD

The Sport FWD offers the best fuel efficiency in the lineup with 25/31 MPG.

Browse Sport FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 cost?

Prices have softened 1.37% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,343 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Mazda CX-5 earns a 4.8/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel and Cost effectiveness.

Owners consistently praise its luxurious feel, sporty performance, comfortable interior, and wealth of standard features. That lines up well with the CX-5’s use case as a family-friendly compact SUV that still feels more upscale and engaging than many rivals.

The trade-offs are worth weighing, though: the ride can feel stiff, and the technology is not especially intuitive. Even so, if you want an SUV that blends practicality with a more premium personality, this year’s CX-5 fits that brief well.

With 39.3% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have a decent chance of finding a competitive price.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The owner feedback also points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with praise centered on the comfortable interior and the sense that the vehicle holds up well over time.

The expert review also reinforces that impression by describing the CX-5 as a competitive compact SUV for typical family use. Mazda’s warranty coverage adds another layer of reassurance for used buyers.

For long-term ownership, your biggest risk is less about core durability and more about whether the vehicle’s condition and maintenance history have been kept up carefully.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Mazda CX-5?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free status is only a starting point. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on suspension feel, interior wear, and how the technology operates in daily use. It also makes sense to pay close attention to trim-specific equipment so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base CX-5 Sport comes with automatic on/off LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic aluminum alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Higher trims add leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, rear USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, and auto-leveling LED headlights, while the Touring Preferred SV Package adds a 10-speaker Bose sound system, leather seats, a power liftgate, a power moonroof, and power-adjustable front seats.
• Powertrain: The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is available with 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel. Front-wheel drive is standard on the base engine, all-wheel drive is available, and AWD is standard on the turbo-powered Grand Touring Reserve and Signature.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera. Available upgrades include a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition.
• Infotainment: Every CX-5 comes with a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system is controlled through Mazda’s interface and can be frustrating to use, so you should test it yourself before buying.
• Fuel efficiency: The non-turbo front-wheel-drive model returns 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. AWD lowers those figures to 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, while turbocharged versions are rated at 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined with FWD or 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined with AWD.

Which 2021 Mazda CX-5 trim should I buy?

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is offered in 6 trim levels: Sport, Touring, Touring Preferred SV Package, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature.

Here's the short version:

• Sport: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core CX-5 experience with the standard engine, the 10.25-inch screen, and the full safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the model, but it is the most basic version.
• Touring: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds a more upscale feel with leatherette seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, rear USB ports, and a better audio system. If you want the sweet spot between price and equipment, this is the one to focus on.
• Touring Preferred SV Package: This package is for you if you want a more premium cabin without jumping to a higher trim. It adds leather seats, a Bose audio system, a power liftgate, a moonroof, and power-adjustable front seats.
• Carbon Edition: This version layers on distinctive styling with Polymetal Gray paint, gloss black exterior details, and red leather seats. It suits you if appearance and a more individualized look matter as much as equipment.
• Grand Touring: This trim adds more comfort and convenience features, including LED lighting upgrades, a digital gauge display, paddle shifters, and SiriusXM. It is a stronger pick if you want a more polished daily driver.
• Grand Touring Reserve: This is the step up for comfort-focused buyers, thanks to ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic folding mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer. It is the better choice if you live in a colder climate.
• Signature: This is the most premium CX-5, with Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and a more upscale cabin presentation. Choose it if you want the most luxurious version of the model.

The safety package is broad across the lineup, but the available adaptive lighting system is worth considering if you want the best headlights on the model.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Mazda CX-5?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop patiently without assuming every listing is a bargain.

• Deal availability: 39.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,343 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.37% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 75.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,756, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Mazda CX-5's resale value?

The current average of $21,727 sits slightly below last year's $22,029.

That decline suggests the market has eased a bit, which can help you as a buyer today but may temper resale upside if you plan to sell soon. If prices continue to soften, future sellers may need to price more aggressively to stay competitive.

Even so, the CX-5’s strong reputation for owner satisfaction helps support demand. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 safe?

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 has been named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it earns a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera. You can also add a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition.

One caveat is that the available traffic sign recognition system can be slow and inconsistent, and the best headlights require an upgrade.

Should I buy a 2021 Mazda CX-5 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 39.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.37% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Mazda added a new Carbon Edition and improved the tech for this model year.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $19,828, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $21,727 average.
• It emphasizes a more premium feel and stylish design.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $23,273, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $21,727 average.
• It pushes further toward premium territory with more upscale appeal.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the best all-around choice if you want a strong mix of value, safety, and upscale character. If your priority is spending less, the 2020 is the better budget path; if you want a newer-feeling premium direction, the 2022 is worth a look.

How does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 compare to the 2021 Honda CR-V?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Mazda CX-5:

• Pros: Excellent value for money, Fun to drive, Great safety ratings.
• Cons: Poor ride quality, Unintuitive technology.

2021 Honda CR-V:

• Pros: Plenty of cargo space, Standard advanced safety features, Excellent value for money.
• Cons: Uninspired styling, Fairly pedestrian performance.

Our experts score the 2021 Mazda CX-5 7.5/10 and the 2021 Honda CR-V 7.8/10. The CX-5 is the better pick if you care more about driving enjoyment and a more upscale feel. The CR-V has the edge if you want more cargo space and a more practical, broadly useful package. Based on the specs, the Honda also has the stronger fuel economy and slightly more horsepower, while the Mazda counters with a lower average used price and a more engaging personality.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.