Used 2021 Mazda CX-5 for SaleNationwide

Compare 2021 Mazda CX-5 Trims

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to well-equipped models, catering to various preferences and needs.

• Starting at $19,282
• 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 SUV without sacrificing essential features.

• Avg. market price: $19,311 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 152 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• 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: $19,282 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 233 listings
• View Sport AWD listings

Touring FWD — "Who It's For"

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

• Avg. market price: $20,041 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 445 listings
• View Touring FWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

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

• Avg. market price: $21,557 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 1,206 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• 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 all out on price.

• Avg. market price: $20,053 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 25 city / 31 hwy
• Inventory: 316 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: $23,032 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 30 hwy
• Inventory: 1,355 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• 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: $24,030 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 163 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 technology.

• Avg. market price: $25,311 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 99 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Signature AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — Grand Touring AWD

With 1,355 active listings, the Grand Touring AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse Grand Touring AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Sport AWD

At $19,282 avg market price — below the lineup median of $20,805 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Sport AWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Sport FWD

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

Browse Sport FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 17, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 cost?

Prices have softened 2.95% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,159 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

Yes — the 4.79/5 user rating points to strong owner satisfaction, and the expert rating is 7.5/10. 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 fits shoppers who want a practical compact SUV that still feels polished and engaging to drive.

The trade-offs are familiar: road noise and the infotainment system draw criticism, and the expert notes poor ride quality and unintuitive technology. Even so, the market shows 34.7% of listings as good or great deals, which suggests there are still attractive opportunities if you shop carefully.

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 reliable, dependable feel, with praise for a trouble-free ownership experience and a vehicle you can count on over time.

The expert evaluation reinforces that impression by describing the CX-5 as a solid, well-rounded compact SUV with strong fundamentals. Mazda also includes a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which helps support confidence in long-term ownership.

For used buyers, the main risk is less about headline reliability and more about how well the vehicle has been maintained and used.

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

At 74.9% 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 strong. Focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, tire wear, and whether the technology and safety systems operate as expected.

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. 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. The Carbon Edition adds Polymetal Gray paint, gloss black mirrors, 19-inch black metallic wheels, red leather seats, and black honeycomb interior trim. The Grand Touring adds dual heated mirrors, 19-inch brilliant silver wheels, LED taillights, LED fog lights, LED daytime running lights, a power liftgate, paddle shifters, a 7-inch digital gauge display, and SiriusXM. The Grand Touring Reserve adds ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic folding mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer. The Signature adds Caturra Brown Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, a black headliner, and a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Touring and higher trims bring much richer comfort and convenience equipment than the base model.
• 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 and makes 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; AWD is standard on the 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. The best headlights require an upgrade.
• Infotainment: Every CX-5 gets a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system is not especially intuitive, and the interface is better than the controls around it.
• Fuel efficiency: The non-turbo FWD model returns 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The non-turbo AWD version gets 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The turbo FWD model is rated at 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The turbo AWD model 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 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 safety suite, 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 most stripped-down version.
• Touring: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds leatherette seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, rear USB ports, a six-speaker audio system, and auto-leveling LED headlights. It is the trim where the CX-5 starts to feel meaningfully more upscale without jumping too far in price.
• Touring Preferred SV Package: This package is the right move if you want a more premium cabin, since it adds a Bose audio system, leather seats, a power liftgate, a moonroof, and power-adjustable front seats. It is a strong choice if comfort and convenience matter more than keeping the budget tight.
• Carbon Edition: This is the style-forward pick, combining Touring Preferred SV Package equipment with unique exterior and interior touches. Choose it if you want the richer feature set and a more distinctive look.
• Grand Touring: This trim adds more lighting upgrades, a digital gauge display, SiriusXM, paddle shifters, and a power liftgate. It is a good step up if you want more tech and a more polished feel.
• Grand Touring Reserve: This is the comfort-focused turbo trim, adding ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, folding mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer. It suits you if you want the turbo engine plus cold-weather comfort features.
• Signature: This is the most luxurious version, with Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, ambient lighting, and other premium touches. It is the right choice if you want the most upscale CX-5 experience.

The standard safety suite is broad, and the available upgrades are worth considering if you want the most complete driver-assistance setup.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory and deal activity to reward careful shopping.

• Deal availability: 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,159 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.95% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 74.9% 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 $22,133 sits slightly below last year's $22,807.

That softer pricing suggests the CX-5 has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future sellers if the market stays steady. If you buy at a competitive price now, you may have a better chance of limiting your loss when it comes time to sell.

The model's strong reputation for owner satisfaction also helps support demand in the used market. Well-equipped, well-kept examples should remain easier to move than less desirable compact SUVs.

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 five-star ratings from NHTSA.

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

Mazda 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 as standard equipment. 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 main caveat is that the best headlights require an upgrade, and the traffic sign recognition system can be slow or 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:

• 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 74.9% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.95% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.79/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 adds a new Carbon Edition and updated tech.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $20,272, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $22,133 average.
• It emphasizes premium feel, stylish design, and a fun-to-drive character.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $24,128, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,133 average.
• It pushes further into premium territory with more upscale appeal.

The bottom line: The 2021 is the best all-around choice if you want the strongest mix of value, safety, and updated features. If your priority is saving money, the 2020 is the better budget path; if you want a more premium-feeling CX-5 and can spend more, the 2022 is worth a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.