Used 2021 Mazda CX-5 for Sale nearKnoxville, TN

Compare 2021 Mazda CX-5 Trims in Knoxville, TN

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 $24,897
• 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 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: $24,897 (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 the pick for shoppers who want all-wheel drive without a hefty price tag.

• Avg. market price: $24,897 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 26 listings
• View Sport AWD listings

Touring FWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded vehicle with added comfort features.

• Avg. market price: $24,897 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 66 listings
• View Touring FWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want sporty handling combined with all-wheel drive capability.

• Avg. market price: $24,900 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 61 listings
• View Touring AWD listings

Grand Touring FWD — "Who It's For"

The Grand Touring FWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features without going over budget.

• Avg. market price: $24,897 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 49 listings
• 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 all-weather capability.

• Avg. market price: $24,897 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 88 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 premium features and performance.

• Avg. market price: $24,897 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 13 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Grand Touring Reserve AWD listings

Signature AWD — "Who It's For"

The Signature AWD is the pick for shoppers who want the ultimate in luxury and performance.

• Avg. market price: $24,897 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 16 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Signature AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Grand Touring AWD

With 88 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 $24,897 avg market price — below the lineup median of $24,897 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Sport FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Sport FWD

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

Browse Sport FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 8, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 cost?

Prices have softened 2.18% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,304 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare by trim, mileage, and condition.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Mazda CX-5 earns a 4.79/5 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 CX-5 also stands out for being fun to drive, with the turbo engine drawing especially strong enthusiasm from shoppers who want more power and a more engaging feel than many compact SUVs deliver.

The trade-offs are worth keeping in mind: experts call out poor ride quality and unintuitive technology, and owners also mention road noise and an outdated infotainment experience. If you want a compact SUV that feels more upscale and more enjoyable behind the wheel, the CX-5 fits that brief well, and 40.1% of listings are priced 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 points to a vehicle that people feel good about living with over time, especially because they highlight the comfortable interior and the sense of quality they get from the cabin. The expert evaluation also supports that impression by describing the CX-5 as a well-rounded compact SUV with strong value and premium-leaning execution.

Mazda’s warranty coverage adds some reassurance for used buyers, but you should still pay close attention to maintenance records and overall condition, especially on higher-mileage examples.

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

At 74.7% 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 careful inspection of body panels, paint consistency, tires, and suspension behavior. Because the CX-5 is praised for its upscale feel but criticized for ride quality and technology, it makes sense to test both the road manners and the infotainment system before you commit.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base CX-5 Sport includes automatic on/off LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic aluminum alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Higher trims add features such as leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, rear USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, auto-leveling LED headlights, leather seats, a power liftgate, a power moonroof, a Bose sound system, and more upscale interior trim. The base trim leaves out many of those comfort and convenience upgrades.
• Powertrain: The CX-5 uses a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic. A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is available on some 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 standard on the turbocharged 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 not especially intuitive, and the interface is designed to be used with the center-console controller rather than as a fully modern touchscreen experience.
• 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. Turbocharged FWD models are rated at 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while turbo AWD models return 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 7 trim levels: Sport, Touring, Touring Preferred SV Package, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, 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, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the full base safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the model, but it leaves out many of the comfort and premium touches that define the CX-5’s appeal.
• Touring: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, rear USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, and auto-leveling LED headlights. It gives you a much richer daily experience without jumping too far up the price ladder.
• Touring Preferred SV Package: This package is the right move if you want the Touring trim but also want a Bose sound system, leather seats, a power liftgate, a power moonroof, and power-adjustable front seats. It pushes the CX-5 closer to its premium personality.
• Carbon Edition: This trim layers on distinctive styling and the Touring Preferred SV Package equipment, plus red leather seats and black exterior accents. It suits you if you want the most visual flair without moving all the way to the upper luxury-leaning trims.
• Grand Touring: This trim adds more upscale lighting, a digital gauge display, SiriusXM, paddle shifters, and the power liftgate equipment. It’s a good fit if you want a more polished feel and more convenience features.
• Grand Touring Reserve: This is the step to take if you want the turbo engine and standard all-wheel drive, along with ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and other cold-weather comfort upgrades. It’s the strongest choice if you want performance and premium comfort together.
• Signature: This is the most luxurious version, with Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and other high-end cabin details. Choose it if you want the most upscale CX-5 experience and are willing to pay for it.

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 is leaning in your favor right now, with solid deal availability and a healthy number of listings to compare.

• Deal availability: 40.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,304 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.18% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 74.7% 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 $21,915 sits slightly below last year's $22,402.

That softer pricing suggests the CX-5 has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future sellers if the market stays stable. If you buy at the right price and keep the vehicle in strong condition, you may be better positioned to limit your loss when it’s time to sell.

The model’s broad appeal also helps support demand, especially because shoppers tend to respond well to its upscale feel and strong feature content. 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 it earns a five-star 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 best headlights are not standard on every version, so you should check whether the specific listing has the adaptive lighting system. Traffic sign recognition is also described as slow and occasionally incomplete.

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:

• 40.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 74.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.18% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.79/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 update adds enhanced tech and a new Carbon Edition while dropping the diesel engine.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $20,138, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $21,915 average.
• It emphasizes premium feel and broad appeal.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $23,863, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $21,915 average.
• It pushes further toward premium territory with more upscale ambition.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the sweet spot if you want the strongest mix of price, features, and safety. If you’re focused on saving money, the 2020 is the better value play; if you want a newer-feeling premium direction and can spend more, the 2022 is worth a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.