Mazda's most popular CUV receives a refresh Tested: 2021 MAZDA CX-5 SIGNATURE AWD

By William Jinkins

What’s New:

The CX-5 is updated with a larger infotainment screen, a new trim level (Carbon Fiber/Turbo), and a slight price increase.

Pros

They build their cars for driving enjoyment more than carrying capacity.

Cons

Tight cargo room, of which there is little; below-average in storage capacity.

No above pocket store sun glasses.

The domestic version of the CX-5 has been around since 2013, which debuted at the November 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s considered Mazda’s top seller competing head-to-head with the Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 and Nissan Rouge. However, in my opinion, only the CX 5 delivers on Zoom-Zoom, not the competition.

Initially, the only engine available was a direct-injected Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter inline-four gas engine with 155 bhp, which is less than the 163 bhp first reported. However, it is rated at 26 US mpg city and 32 US mpg highway with an automatic transmission, and 26 US mpg city and 35 US mpg highway with a manual transmission.

Seven trim levels are available: Sport, Touring, Carbon Fiber, Carbon Fiber Turbo, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve and Signature. My tester came in a Machine Grey Metallic tht resembled the Carbon Fiber Edition.

PERFORMANCE

The all-new 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD turbo is a fun and fantastic smaller SUV to drive. It hits the market with a stealthy 227 horsepower that allows you to get up and go with ease. Acceleration is on point and handling is responsive – putting its competitors Honda and Toyota on notice. My test vehicle sees an increase in fuel efficiency and torque thanks to Mazda’s Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine. Towing capacity is rated at 2,000 pounds.

The CX-5’s suspension is definitely tuned to be on the sportier side of things as well. You feel planted and nimble in this CUV and Mazda’s popular all-wheel-drive system gives you a little extra confidence when the road gets rough. Anyone looking for a small(er) SUV that’s fun and sporty should put the 2021 CX-5 at the top of their list. Mazda has a winner here.

Sitting on 19″ alloy wheels, the 2021 CX-5 offers a tremendous value of upgraded tech and features, discerning styling – including two-tone doors- an upgraded infotainment system and large, comfortable seating.

The revamped infotainment system is particularly impressive with its excellent touch screen. Of course, safety is important and this vehicle rates very highly there too.

All Driver’s Airbags – Front, Head, and Side, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Traction Control, Brake Assist, All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel ABS, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, Child Safety Locks, Lane Turning Signal Mirrors, Cross-Traffic Alerts.

Electronic Stability Control. Daytime Running Lights. Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Driver Attention Alert, City Brake Support. Hills Launch Support. Adaptive Front Lighting System, 24-Hour Roadside Assistance. Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Automatic High Beam Headlight, Rearview Camera, Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration are standard. Attention monitoring and reverse automatic emergency braking are available. These are great features for families with young drivers or just people looking for a little extra peace of mind.

Wi-Fi Hotspot, Two (2) USB Ports, Bluetooth, and HD Radio. Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Forward Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Headlight, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Automatic, Rearview Camera, Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers, Surround-View Parking Camera System, Front and Rear Parking Sensors, and Traffic Sign Recognition.

10.3″ Infotainment Touchscreen, Satellite Radio, Navigation, Universal Garage Door Opener, Two Rear USB Ports, 6-Speaker Stereo, 10-speaker Bose Premium Stereo, Proximity Keyless Entry, Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control, Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror, Ambient Interior Lighting, The Signature trim comes with a standard moonroof, though not panoramic.

Chiseled and muscular, the CX-5 has its own presence on the road. Its lines are perfect and clean, and the LED lights are reflective of a well-designed vehicle.

On the interior, the luxurious Nappa leather appeals to one’s senses. The front seats have heated and ventilated cool support. It also has heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver and passenger seat, and a rear center armrest. A donut spare resided in the back under the cargo area.

I noticed with the height of the headrests in the back row adds, there can be some blind spots for the driver; something to be aware of. 60/40 rear seats fold easily to make more room. As stated earlier, not too many negative things to say about this remarkable vehicle, I only wish there was more overall space.

Overall, the 2021 CX-5 is a highly enjoyable crossover SUV, perfect for younger couples as well as individuals without older children or the need to carry a significant amount of cargo.

No disrespect to the majority of compact SUVs on the market, but they don’t exactly put a good foot forward when it comes to displaying how exciting compact SUVs can be. They’ll help you get to work safely, comfortably, and on time, which are all good things, but they’re incredibly boring. Boring, at least when it comes to compact SUVs, is a disease that can be cured in the form of a Mazda CX-5 antidote.

Not everyone agrees with Mazda’s recent decision to shift toward being an upstream brand, but that’s a discussion for another day. What the move does is essentially put the brand’s cars, like the CX-5, into a neat little segment of their own. When I sprung into the CX-5 for the first time, it was only a few weeks after testing a Mercedes-Benz GLB 250. The first thought that popped into my head was that the CX-5 feels and looks just like the Mercedes, without the tech. High praise for an affordable option from a mainstream Japanese brand.

The CX-5, especially in the range-topping Signature trim that was my tester for the week trades all of that stuff for the real deal. It’s dressed out in genuine Nappa leather upholstery, real layered wood trim, and a black cloth headliner. Crisp dials, stylish air vents, and buttons that feel like they’ve been plucked from a far more expensive vehicle further help the CX-5’s credentials as a real luxury SUV.

The CX-5 falls just behind the three-row CX-9, which is beginning to show its age, yet still very competitive in its class. Below the CX-5 is the CX-3 and recently released CX-30. Quality for all the Mazda lineup is superior, emulating that of a near-luxury vehicle.

Luxury isn’t the only thing the CX-5 gets right. It performs like something alien to the compact SUV class. The CX-5 Signature is only available with the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine which cranks out 250 horsepower. To get that power, you’ll have to use 93 octane fuel, but it quite comfortably run of 87 octane. Even more impressive than the CX-5’s horsepower figure is the amount of torque it generates: a stout 320 pound-feet.

On the good stuff, the CX-5 feels quick. Not just quick for a compact SUV, but downright quick. Small gaps in traffic rapidly close with a quick thump on the throttle. Mazda stuffed a boisterous engine into a luxurious package to ensure you have one heck of a good time.

The infotainment system could use a major update, especially the part where the touchscreen feature is locked out while the car is in motion, requiring you to control the system with a troublesome dial and irritating buttons. Yet I’d hardly call these deal breakers, just small blemishes.

The CX-5 is the kind of car that spoils everything else for you. No other compact SUV excites, pampers, or feels as special as the CX-5. With a few tweaks, it very well could move up to fight alongside the big boys from Germany in the luxury segment. You almost start to wonder whether Mazda purposefully made a few errors along the way with the CX-5. If it didn’t, the SUV would certainly be the automotive equivalent of perfection for eight out of 10 drivers.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 has an available turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 engine. When using 87 octane, it generates 227 hp. and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. With 93 octane, that increases to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. It’s able to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds. It also completes a quarter mile in 14.6 seconds going 94.9 MPH. Motor Trend says that makes the 2021 CX-5 “one of the quickest mainstream gas-powered compact SUVs.” The electrified Toyota RAV4 Prime might accelerate faster. The CX-5 Turbo was able to stop from 60 MPH within 129 feet, which is 10 to 15 feet longer than some competitors.

The turbocharged engine “provides easy speed with a nice, deep growl,” says Motor Trend. The CX-5, with its independent suspension, has an agile feel and is great to drive, with very little body roll. However, Motor Trend found the six-speed automatic transmission to be “outdated” and a bit lacking.

The 2021 CX-5 does have a less powerful standard engine. That one is a 187-hp naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, says U.S. News. The CX-5 with this non-turbocharged engine doesn’t accelerate as quickly, going from 0 to 60 MPH in about 8.0 seconds.

What kind of safety are you getting?

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 brings plenty of performance, but it doesn’t sacrifice safety to do so. The 2021 CX-5 has been highly rated by both the IIHS and the NHTSA in their crash tests. In 2020, the CX-5 earned the Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

Motor Trend doesn’t think the driver aids are “quite as perceptive as some competitors,” but they are still useful. New for 2021, the CX-5 offers attention monitoring and reverse automatic braking. The 2021 CX-5 has a number of standard safety features, including a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Optional safety features include a head-up display (HID), reverse automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, surround-view parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive headlight

I found the CX-5 to have near luxury-brand quality, with a great look and feel. However, reviewers are wishing for a heated steering wheel that’s heated all around, not just on the sides. The Signature trim also has heated and ventilated leather seats, but they aren’t very comfortable.

All six trim levels have a new infotainment system. The display screen has been increased to 10.3 inches; however, it’s still not a touchscreen and is controlled with a dial. The system is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2021 CX-5 starts at $25,270, while the CX-5 Turbo AWD starts at $38,505.

The Mazda CX-5 has great power if you opt for the turbo engine. However, it doesn’t have the best fuel efficiency. The EPA rates the CX-5 Turbo AWD for 24 MPG overall. Competitors like the Chevrolet Equinox and the Honda CR-V do a little better at 27 MPG and 29 MPG respectively. The two-wheel-drive CX-5 Turbo does a hair better at 25 MPG overall. The EPA rates the non-turbo CX-5 for 26 MPG overall (AWD) and 28 MPG overall (2WD).

My thoughts about the 2021 Mazda CX-5 is that it’s not the most spacious, practical, or efficient compact crossover. However, without question it’s the best-driving. It also manages to provide engaging driving without compromising its safety.

Another agonizing issue was when driving in the dark the navigation screen normally shows up black, indicting its nighttime. However, on the CX-5 it remained the consist white, blinding one’s peripheral vision.

What’s new for 2022

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto standard on all models, 10.25-inch center display Standard off-road braking assist Standard Mazda Connected Services Signature trim gets 360-degree monitor & smart rear braking New Carbon Edition (based on Touring Preferred)