How much does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 cost?

Prices have softened 2.92% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,956 listings available, which suggests you have a solid amount of inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $20,797.48, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Mazda CX-5 earns a 4.79/5 user rating, and its expert rating is 7.5/10. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel and Cost effectiveness.

Owners consistently praise the upscale cabin, the turbo engine’s power, and the generous set of standard features. They also describe it as sporty and luxurious, which lines up with the CX-5’s premium-leaning character. The main trade-offs are road noise and an infotainment system that can feel outdated.

That makes the CX-5 a strong fit if you want a compact SUV that feels more polished than basic family transportation. It is especially appealing if you value driving enjoyment and a well-equipped interior over pure utility. With 32.3% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market still offers some attractive opportunities.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

Owners rate it 4.79/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a vehicle people feel good about living with over time, especially because they highlight the CX-5’s dependable feel, strong overall satisfaction, and confidence in the ownership experience. The expert evaluation also emphasizes Mazda’s solid build quality and the model’s well-rounded character, which supports the impression that it is a car you can count on.

Mazda also backs the CX-5 with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which helps reduce early ownership risk. For used buyers, the main long-term concern is making sure prior maintenance and wear are documented, especially on higher-mileage examples.

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

At 73% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report so you can separate clean examples from cars with prior damage. After that, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing is priced aggressively or has incomplete service records. Focus your condition check on the cabin, electronics, tires, brakes, and suspension, since those areas can reveal how the SUV was treated.

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. The Touring adds rear privacy glass, leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, two rear USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, and auto-leveling LED headlights. Higher trims add more comfort and premium touches, while the top Signature brings Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and a black headliner.
• Powertrain: The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and it pairs with a six-speed automatic. A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is available on higher trims and delivers 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel. Front-wheel drive is standard on lower trims, while all-wheel drive is available or standard depending on trim.
• 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 gets a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is controlled through Mazda’s center-console interface, and the setup can feel cumbersome compared with more intuitive rivals.
• Fuel efficiency: The most efficient version is the front-wheel-drive model with the non-turbo engine, at 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. AWD with the base engine returns 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. Turbo models 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:

• Base trim: The CX-5 Sport gives you the essentials, but it lacks the richer cabin materials and convenience upgrades found higher up the range.
• Sweet-spot trim: The Touring Preferred SV Package is the best value if you want a more premium feel, thanks to the Bose audio system, leather seats, power liftgate, moonroof, and power-adjustable front seats.
• Premium/top trim: The Signature is the most luxurious choice, with Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and a more upscale overall presentation.
• Off-road trim: None of the trims is aimed at off-road use, so you should focus on comfort, tech, and powertrain choice instead.

The safety package is strong 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?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory to shop carefully and enough price softness to create opportunities.

• Deal availability: 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,956 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.92% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 73.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,797.48, 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 $22,011 sits slightly below last year's $22,673.

That softer pricing can help you buy in at a more favorable point, but it also means future resale gains may be more limited if the market stays soft. If you plan to sell later, the CX-5’s premium feel and strong feature content should help it remain appealing to used shoppers. Its broad buyer appeal also supports demand, especially for well-kept examples with desirable equipment.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.79/5, 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, and it earns five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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

Mazda equips the CX-5 with a long list of standard driver-assistance features, including 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 traffic sign recognition system can be slow and occasionally misses information. If safety is a top priority, that makes it worth checking how the system behaves during your test drive, especially on a higher-mileage used example.

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:

• 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 73% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.92% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.79/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Mazda added the Carbon Edition and improved the tech setup for this model year.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $20,280, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $22,011 average.
• It offers upscale cabin materials and engaging driving dynamics.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $24,131, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,011 average.
• It brings a more refined interior and improved driving dynamics.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the right pick if you want the best balance of price, features, and premium feel in this generation. If you are especially price-sensitive, the 2020 is the value play; if you want the newest-feeling version and can spend more, the 2022 is the upgrade path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 7, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.