How much does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 cost?

Prices have softened 2.23% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,970 listings available, which suggests you have room to compare options.

If you find a listing below $20,783.74, 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 experts give it a 7.5/10 overall score. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel and Cost effectiveness.

Owners consistently praise the upscale cabin, sporty performance, and generous standard features. The turbo engine gets especially strong feedback for its power, and the interior is often described as comfortable and premium-feeling.

The main trade-offs are road noise and an infotainment system that can feel outdated and unintuitive. Expert testing also points to a stiff ride and a driving setup that can feel less forgiving than some rivals.

For you, that means the CX-5 makes the most sense if you want a compact SUV that feels more premium than mainstream and still works well for family duty. It also shows solid market appeal, with 32.9% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

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

The owner feedback also points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with buyers repeatedly highlighting the CX-5 as a vehicle they can count on over the long term. Expert testing reinforces that impression by describing Mazda’s powertrain and overall package as solid and well-sorted for everyday use.

Mazda also includes a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which helps support early ownership confidence. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about outright durability and more about whether the vehicle has been maintained well enough to preserve its premium feel.

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

At 73.7% 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 you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one priced near the low end of the market. Focus on bodywork quality, tire wear, brake condition, and signs that the infotainment or safety tech has been repaired or replaced after a collision.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base CX-5 Sport comes with automatic on/off LED headlights, 17-inch 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, and premium audio.
• Powertrain: The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivers 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel. Front-wheel drive is standard on lower trims, all-wheel drive is available, and AWD is standard with the turbo-powered 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 gets a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system can be frustrating to use through the center-console controller, and the interface is not as modern as you might expect.
• Fuel efficiency: The non-turbo FWD model returns 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. AWD with the base engine gets 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. Turbo models return 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 7 trim levels: Sport, Touring, Touring Preferred SV Package, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, Signature.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The Sport gives you the essentials, but it misses the richer cabin materials and convenience upgrades found higher up the range.
• Sweet-spot trim: The Touring is the best value if you want a more upscale feel, since it adds leatherette seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, rear USB ports, and a better audio system.
• Premium/top trim: The Signature is the most luxurious choice, with Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and a more premium overall presentation.
• Off-road trim: None of the trims is aimed at off-road use, so you should shop this model for road comfort, style, and daily driving rather than trail capability.

The safety package is strong across the lineup, but buyers who want the best headlights available should look for the adaptive lighting system.

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

This is a moderate market, so you can shop selectively without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 32.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,970 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.23% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 73.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,783.74, 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 $22,202 sits slightly below last year's $22,709.

That softer pricing suggests the CX-5 has become a bit easier to buy, which can also make it easier to resell if you purchase at the right number. If you pay close to market average, you may have less room to profit later, but a well-kept example should still appeal to shoppers who want a premium-feeling compact SUV.

The model's strong reputation for comfort, style, and driving enjoyment helps support demand. 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 (IIHS), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given it five-star ratings.

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

Mazda equips the CX-5 with 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.

The CX-5 also earned all Good scores in crash testing, though buyers who want the best headlights should look for the adaptive lighting system. That makes the safety story strong overall, but it still pays to verify which driver-assistance features are present on the specific used vehicle you’re considering.

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:

• 32.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 73.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.23% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.79/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Mazda added the Carbon Edition and improved the model’s tech while keeping the core strengths intact.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $20,363, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $22,202 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 $22,202 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, safety, and premium feel. If you’re focused mainly on saving money, the 2020 is the better value path; if you want the newest-feeling version and can spend more, the 2022 is the upgrade to consider.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 14, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.