2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 CX-5 is available in seven trims namely the Sport, Touring, Carbon Edition, Carbon Edition Turbo, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature. The prices for the Sport trim starts at $ 25,370 and go up to $37,505 for the top-of-the-line Signature trim. It faces some serious competition from the likes of Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Subaru Forester.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 comes in seven trim options, with the carbon edition trim being the new one. It offers new polymetallic gray paint and red upholstery. With seven trims to choose from, we think that every buyer will get his desired choice of features. The good thing about the CX-5 is that you get many features as standard from the base trim ‘Sport’ itself. In other SUVs, you might need to shell extra bucks to get those features.

Which Trim should you buy?

In our view, the carbon edition trim makes the most sense. It has all the features of the touring trim plus opens up the option for a turbocharged engine. It looks apart with its unique exterior paint and interior red-stitched upholstery. For an additional $1400 you can opt for the AWD configuration.

The Mazda CX-5 offers two engine options. A naturally aspirated one and a turbocharged option with the same cubic capacity. The 2.5 L inline-four engine produced 187 HP and 186 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5 L inline-four turbocharged engine is our favorite and it produces 227 HP and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular 87 octane fuel. 

With 93 octane fuel, the power and torque figures are 250 HP and 320lb-ft of torque. The base engine is good for fuel efficiency but takes its own time to catch up with speed. The turbocharged one is a performer and is very linear in nature like a naturally aspirated engine which is a good thing.

Even with lesser power, the Mazda CX-5 sprints from 0-60 mph in 8.3 seconds. The Honda CR-V offers more power but is a second slower in the 0-60 mph sprint. The quarter-mile timings are similar amongst all competitors. The CX-5 can cruise to a top speed of 130 MPH which is very good for a car of its stature

How well does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 handle?

The 2021 CX-5 is a family-oriented SUV. But don’t let its looks fool you. It performs really well and offers a comfortable ride. The cabin is well insulated from outside noise and it’s calm inside with very minimal vibrations. So, it scores well in the NVH department. The AWD option is available for an additional $1400 and we believe it's worth it for better traction on different surfaces.

Like any other Mazda, the CX-5 offers an engaging driving experience and you would like to throw it around some sharp corners. Yes, it performs well and can tackle some of them really well but mind you it's not a tracking tool and there is a considerable amount of body roll on some really sharp corners

2021 Mazda CX-5 Braking Performance

The 2021 CX-5 is equipped with adequately sized 11.7-inch rotors up front and 11.9-inch rotors at the rear. The braking is progressive and not urgent. The stopping distance is about 129 ft from 60mph to 0mph. It is not the best but considering its higher curb weight of 3541 pounds, it can be considered satisfactory.

The Mazda CX-5 has a higher stopping distance of 129 feet as compared to the rivals. The Subaru Forester performs very well with just 118 feet of stopping distance, even with smaller rotors. The Tucson is equipped with larger rotors and hence comes to a stop within 118 feet. It is also the lightest which aids it in better braking. The Honda CR-V is similar to the CX-5 in terms of braking efficiency.

The 2021 CX-5 offers a combined fuel efficiency of 28 mpg and have a fuel tank capacity of 14.8 gallons. The efficiency figures are for its naturally aspirated engine variant. It can be considered decent and offers a combined range of 414 miles which should be sufficient for most usage scenarios. 

The Subaru Forester blows away the competition with its higher combined fuel efficiency of 29 mpg and a larger fuel tank with a capacity of 16.6 gallons. It can offer up to a 481-mile range on a full tank which is commendable. The Hyundai Tucson is the least efficient and despite its bigger fuel tank capacity, offers a lesser range as compared to the competition. The Honda CR-V offers good fuel efficiency but a smaller fuel tank results in a diminished range

Like every year, the 2021 Mazda CX-5 uses upscale materials in the cabin. The cabin in the top trims feels very close to the ones in the luxurious European SUVs. The Mazda CX-5 comes with a seating capacity for 5 adults. But actually, it is more suited for 4 adults only. The dashboard is ergonomic in nature and the steering wheel is at a comfortable angle too. You get a refined cabin experience from the base trim itself. The Carbon Edition trims really shine with their contrasting red stitching across leather upholstery, steering wheel, and shift knob.

Mazda designers have used beautiful elements through shape, texture, and color. They have crafted a range of distinct and expressive upholstery designs using soft textures and premium stitching. The steering wheel and shift knob get leather treatment too. The seats offer good comfort and come with heating functionality from the touring trim itself. It offers a cargo capacity of 30.9 cu-ft which is a good amount of space and it can be increased via 40/20/40 split one-touch fold-down and reclining rear seatback to 59.6 cu-ft. 

The cargo capacity of the CX-5 is the lowest. However, it can be increased via folding the rear seats. The Honda CR-V offers the most cargo space and offers better headroom and legroom across both rows. The Forester comes with a more balanced set of interior dimensions and second-highest cargo space. The Tucson offers similar cargo and cabin space as the CX-5. Some of the standout interior features of the CX-5 are:

• Push Button Start 
• Dual Zone Air Conditioning (Higher trim)
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Multi-Information Display with trip computer
• Caturra Brown Nappa leather-trimmed seats (Higher Trim)
• Power sliding-glass moonroof with tilt feature (Higher Trim)
• Paddle shifters (Higher trim)
• Heated and Ventilated front seats (Higher Trim)
• Windshield-projected Active Driving Display (Higher Trim)
• Power sliding-glass moonroof with tilt feature (Higher Trim)

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Mazda CX-5 comes with Mazda’s very own Mazda Connect Interface. It is easy to use and intuitive in nature. The good thing is that the 2021 model gets a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen at the center of the dashboard which is crisp and legible. The infotainment system comes with Infotainment system voice command, Multifunction Commander control, Radio Broadcast Data System program information, etc. 

The connectivity is taken care of by Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. For audio, it gets a 4/6 speaker set-up in lower trims. The higher trims get SiriusXM support and come with a 10-speaker Bose Premium Sound system for a better musical experience. Mazda also offers Mazda Connected Services with a 3-year trial across all the trims. Some of the standout infotainment features of the Mazda CX-5 are:

• 10.25-inch full-color center display
• Apple CarPlay 
• Android Auto
• 4/6 speaker for lower trims
• 10-Speaker Bose Premium Audio for upper trims
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio (Higher trim)

The Mazda CX-5 is refreshing and looks sporty with its low profile and sleek roofline. It gets a longer front end and a shorter rear end which kind of looks nice for its size. The front fascia imbibes the signature Mazda grille with a logo on it and sleek headlamps complement it. The sides are comparatively plain and get black cladding over the wheel arches and doors. The rearview is good too and the roof-mounted spoiler and the shark fin antenna give it a sporty look. You get a 17-inch or 19-inch wheel size depending upon the trim you opt for.

Overall, the 2021 model of the Mazda CX-5 shares almost similar external dimensions to its competitors, except for the ground clearance category, where it is placed in between the Hyundai Tucson and the Subaru Forester. The exterior design of the CX-5 is beautiful and can be challenged only by the Tucson which is equally impressive with its aesthetic details. Some of the standout exterior features of the Mazda CX-5 are:

• LED headlights with auto on/off 
• A body-color rear roofline spoiler
• 19-inch alloy wheels with Black Metallic finish (Carbon Edition)
• Unique Black grille (Carbon Edition)
• LED fog lights

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the safest vehicles in its segment. The NHTSA rated it a 5 out of 5 for overall safety rating in various crash tests performed by it. IIHS also praised it with “Good” ratings in all the six categories on its Crashworthiness tests, along with the ‘Superior’ rating forward collision avoidance. The 2021 Mazda CX-5 has also been crowned with the ‘top safety pick+’ title from the IIHS which is a satisfying testimony for its safety credentials. Many safety features are offered as standard across all the trims. Some of the standout safety features of the Mazda CX-5 are:

• Advanced Smart City Brake Support with Pedestrian Detection
• Smart Brake Support with Collision Warning
• Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Lane Departure Warning System
• Lane-keep Assist
• High Beam Control Blind Spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Dynamic Stability Control 
• Traction Control System

2021 Mazda CX-5 V/S 2021 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V outshines the CX-5 with its higher cargo capacity and lower price. The fuel efficiency figures are similar for both. Despite lesser power than the CR-V, the CX-5 accelerates better. The Honda CR-V cannot match the list of features that are offered as standard from the base trim itself in the CX-5. 

2021 Mazda CX-5 V/S 2021 Hyundai Tucson 

The 2021 CX-5 offers better performance as compared to the Tucson. It also offers better fuel efficiency than the Tucson. The 2021 Tucson offers modern aesthetics and its warranty coverage is unbeatable. However, it cannot match the refined interiors of the CX-5. The Hyundai Tucson offers better braking performance and comes with better cargo capacity

2021 Mazda CX-5 V/S 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 CX-5 offers better performance and handling as compared to the Forester. The CX-5 comes in more trim options and engine options to choose from. The Subaru Forester on the other side offers better cargo space and its off-road pedigree is unbeatable, owing to its standard AWD, higher ground clearance, and various traction modes.

The Mazda CX-5 is a decent option in the compact SUV segment. It does most of the things right and offers some good dynamics too. But its lack of a decent amount of cargo space as compared to its rivals can be an issue for those looking for practicality over aesthetics and comfort. The presence of many safety and quality features in the CX-5 from the base trim itself is commendable. Also, very few SUVs come close to the finesse levels offered by the CX-5. Overall it is a very well-rounded package and you must surely consider it.