Used 2021 Mazda CX-5 for Sale nearChicago, IL

Compare 2021 Mazda CX-5 Trims in Chicago, IL

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

• Starting at $17,741
• 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.

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Trim Deep Dives

Sport AWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport AWD is the pick for shoppers who want essential features without paying for extras. It's a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers.

• Avg. market price: $21,249 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 6 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Sport AWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped SUV without the higher price tag of luxury trims. It balances features and affordability.

• Avg. market price: $19,833 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 47 listings
• View Touring AWD listings

Grand Touring FWD — "Who It's For"

The Grand Touring FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a stylish SUV with premium features at a lower price. It's the most affordable trim in the lineup.

• Avg. market price: $17,741 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 5 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Grand Touring FWD listings

Grand Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Grand Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a blend of luxury and capability without going to the top trim. It's the most popular choice among buyers.

• Avg. market price: $20,973 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 71 listings
• View Grand Touring AWD listings

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

The Grand Touring Reserve AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the ultimate in luxury and performance. It's ideal for those who prioritize features and capability.

• Avg. market price: $22,411 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 8 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Grand Touring Reserve AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Grand Touring AWD

With 71 active listings, the Grand Touring AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Grand Touring AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Grand Touring FWD

At $17,741 avg market price — below the lineup median of $20,973 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Grand Touring FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Grand Touring FWD

The Grand Touring FWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup at 25/31 MPG/MPGe.

Browse Grand Touring FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 12, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 cost?

Prices have softened 1.80% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,268 listings available, which suggests you have a solid amount of inventory 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. The overview also points to a compact SUV that balances family-friendly practicality with a more engaging driving character, which helps explain its appeal if you want something useful that still feels rewarding to drive.

The trade-offs are clear: poor ride quality and unintuitive technology remain part of the package, and owners also mention road noise and an infotainment system that can feel outdated. Even so, the market shows 37.2% of listings as good or great deals, which gives you room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

Owner feedback points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with praise for the comfortable interior and the kind of quality that makes the SUV feel easy to count on over time. The expert assessment also reinforces that impression by describing the CX-5 as a competitive family SUV with strong overall execution.

Mazda’s warranty coverage adds some reassurance for used buyers, but long-term ownership risk still comes down to how well a specific vehicle was maintained and whether it has been driven hard or neglected.

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

At 72.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing price looks unusually attractive. Focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, tire wear, and whether the technology and safety systems work as expected. Because the CX-5’s ride and infotainment are recurring pain points, it’s worth checking those areas carefully on your test drive.

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 upper versions bring leather seats, a power liftgate, a moonroof, a premium audio system, and more upscale interior materials.
• 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 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard on lower trims, all-wheel drive is available, and AWD is standard on the turbocharged upper trims.
• 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 standard across the lineup, but the interface is described as difficult to use.
• Fuel efficiency: The non-turbo front-wheel-drive model returns 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. The turbocharged front-wheel-drive version is rated at 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while the turbocharged all-wheel-drive version gets 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

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 standard safety tech, the 10.25-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the base 2.5-liter engine. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the model, but it is the least upscale version.
• Touring: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds a more polished cabin with leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, rear USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, and auto-leveling LED headlights. If you want the strongest balance of comfort and equipment without jumping too far up the price ladder, this is the one to target.
• Touring Preferred SV Package: This package is for you if you want a more premium feel without moving all the way to the upper trims. It adds a Bose sound system, leather seats, a power liftgate, a moonroof, and power-adjustable front seats with memory features.
• Carbon Edition: This is the style-focused choice, combining Touring Preferred SV Package equipment with unique exterior and interior touches. It suits you if appearance and a more distinctive cabin matter as much as features.
• Grand Touring: This trim adds more upscale lighting, a digital gauge display, paddle shifters, and SiriusXM, making it a stronger pick if you want a more premium daily driver.
• Grand Touring Reserve: This is the comfort-oriented upgrade, adding ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic folding mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer. It’s a good fit if you live in a colder climate or want more luxury-like amenities.
• Signature: This is the most premium version, with Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and additional upscale interior details. Choose it if you want the most luxurious CX-5 experience.

The safety package is broad across the lineup, but buyers who want the best headlights available should plan to upgrade to the adaptive lighting system.

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

The market looks moderately favorable for selective buyers.

• Deal availability: 37.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,268 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.80% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 72.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,755, 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 $21,416 sits slightly below last year's $21,808.

That softer pricing suggests the CX-5 is holding value reasonably well, but not aggressively appreciating. For a future seller, that means you should expect a market that rewards clean condition, strong maintenance records, and desirable trims rather than assuming the SUV will command a premium just because it wears a Mazda badge.

The current trend also gives buyers some leverage today, which can affect what you’ll be able to ask later if the market stays competitive. 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 five-star ratings 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. 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.

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

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:

• 37.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 72.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.80% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 model adds a new version to the lineup and improves tech while dropping the unpopular diesel engine.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $19,590, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $21,416 average.
• It offers a more premium feel with stylish design and upscale materials.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $22,989, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $21,416 average.
• It brings more premium styling and stronger turbocharged appeal.

The bottom line: If you want the best mix of value, safety, and driving enjoyment, the 2021 is the strongest all-around pick. If your budget is tighter, the 2020 is the better price-first alternative, while the 2022 makes sense if you want to spend more for a newer-feeling version.

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 choice if you care more about driving enjoyment, safety, and a more upscale feel. The CR-V has the edge if you want more cargo space and a more practical, mainstream approach. The CX-5’s weaker ride and tech are worth weighing against the CR-V’s more pedestrian performance.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.