Trims and Powertrain

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 will be offered in six trim levels: Sport, Touring, Carbon Edition, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature. The standard engine powering most of these trims is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower and 186 lb.-ft. of torque. A turbocharged four-cylinder – which is optional for the all-new Carbon Edition and standard with the Grand Touring Reserve – delivers a significant 250 hp and 320 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines have a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift and sport modes, and while front-wheel drive is the default, all-wheel drive is available across the board and standard on the Grand Touring Reserve.

Standard and Available Amenities

For a base-level trim, the Sport is provided with a list of alluring standard features. This includes automatic LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, push-button ignition, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a rearview camera. The Touring delivers auto-leveling LED headlights, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, heated front seats, simulated-leather seats with suede inserts, rear privacy glass, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The brand-new Touring Preferred SV Package provides leather seats, a power liftgate, a moonroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, power-adjustable front seats, and memory functions for the driver’s seat.

The debuting Carbon Edition distributes those optional features in addition to gloss black 19-inch wheels and side mirrors, red leather seats, black honeycomb trim on the dash and door panels, and red stitching for the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Grand Touring does without the Carbon Edition’s unique elements, but it gets the power liftgate, leather seats, moonroof, and auto-dimming rearview mirror. It also provides 19-inch wheels, LED taillights and fog lights, heated side mirrors, and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The Grand Touring Reserve pampers its occupants in all kinds of weather with its standard ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, auto-folding side mirrors, and windshield-wiper de-icer. The range-topping Signature tops off the amenities with upgraded Nappa leather seats, genuine layered wood trimming, a frameless auto-dimming rear-view mirror with HomeLink, ambient LED interior lighting, a black headliner, and trim-specific badging.

Safety and Technology

No matter which 2021 Mazda CX-5 trim you choose, it will be set up with the automaker’s i-Activsense suite of advanced driver aids. This safety-enhancing package consists of adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Automatic high beams are also included on all trim levels. The Grand Touring gets an adaptive front-lighting system, and the Grand Touring Reserve is eligible for traffic sign recognition. The top-tier Signature receives the traffic sign recognition feature as standard along with reverse automatic braking, a driver attention monitor, and an ultimate high-def surround-view camera system with front and rear parking sensors.

As mentioned above, the all-new Mazda Connect 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard. The base trim also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot, and two front USB ports. The Touring adds two rear USB charge ports and a six-speaker audio system, and buyers can opt for the Touring Preferred SV Package to get a premium 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Grand Touring includes the premium audio system, a 7-inch reconfigurable digital gauge cluster, and satellite radio. The Grand Touring Reserve stocks a windshield-projected Active Driving Display as standard and is eligible for integrated navigation, which is included on the Signature.