What Are the New Features in the 2021 Mazda CX-5?

Anyone who has driven a Miata, RX-7, or an RX-8 knows that Mazda is famous for stunning car designs, extra attention to detail, and reliability. So it’s only natural that they follow that tradition when making compact crossovers. Enter the CX-5, which stands well apart from its competition in design, appearance, and luxury. So, what does the 2021 version CX-5 bring to the table besides eye-catching looks? Our staff at Hiley Mazda find out.

What’s New in the 2021 Mazda CX-5?

When you get a first look at the Mazda CX-5, you’ll immediately notice its iconic design, uninterrupted curves, and refined shape. This design is a result of an overhaul in 2016, which gave the CX-5 clean looks, sharper bevels, and finer angles overall. Its headlights, front and rear bumpers, and side skirts gave it an attractive look while still maintaining the overall shape and structure of a crossover.

Since then, the model has mostly evolved in terms of features, trims, and engine types. For example, the 2021 version introduces a new Carbon edition with a combination of polymetal gray paint and black 19-inch alloy wheels with a metallic finish. Other additions include a 360-degree view monitor, an emergency reverse braking system, and traffic sign recognition as additional features on its trims.

Enhanced Performance

Mazda offers a 2.5-liter gas engine for the Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trims which produces 186 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. However, they also offer a turbocharged version giving you 320 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm on the Carbon, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature editions. This low-range torque lets you put your pedal to the metal for an agile throttle response allowing you to hustle around the town or make a quick dash in traffic.

A six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifts makes sure you don’t have to take your hands off the steering wheel. Mazda has adjusted the drive ratios to enable an instant response and made the acceleration almost linear.

The trusty and reliable rack and pinion steering has been updated with electric assists to provide an accurate response and crisp cornering for the perfect cruise on a lazy Sunday. The stabilizer bars for both front and rear suspension work overtime to ensure comfort and boost the quality of your ride, even over rough roads.

The 2021 CX-5 has the same fuel tank as the 2020 version. So, it has the same average EPA estimate of 25 mpg city and 31 mpg highway for the FWD with the 2.5-liter engine. In the AWD model, the crossover can reach 30 mpg on the highway, which is above average in the compact crossover segment. Even with the turbocharged engine, you get city/highway ratings of 23/28 and 22/27 mpg for the FWD and AWD, respectively.

Improved Comfort and Safety

The CX-5 interior looks and feels truly elegant with consistent glossiness and specular highlights on the surface areas. You can notice the extensive rework in Mazda’s designs that reduce the amount of noise. For example, the teams at Mazda lowered the rear end of the hood to streamline the airflow around the wipers and windshield at higher speeds. But they didn’t just stop there. They also added lip seals on the window frames, reducing air turbulence and eliminating wind noise at the A and B pillars.

Some other improvements include thicker carpets and readjusted heights for the front seat armrests. Mazda has also upgraded the steering wheel for better grip, adjusted its position, and eliminated the offset so that it rests directly in front of the driver.

The seating hasn’t seen many changes in the 2021 CX-5. However, the Carbon edition comes with premium characteristics such as genuine wood trim and Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats. Mazda has improved the mood lighting by introducing the ambient cabin lighting feature. It accents the matte black color tones for a subtle and serene ambiance that induces a soothing feeling while cruising around.

To ease your safety concerns, Mazda has included a combination of six award-winning driver-assist technologies as a standard feature on all trims. These features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, smart city brake support with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist.

Better Entertainment

The major change in the 2021 Mazda CX-5 is its new infotainment system which can keep you entertained and connected while driving this fantastic crossover. Mazda has also replaced the smaller 7.0-inch display screen from the 2020 version with a 10.3-inch higher resolution screen.

A Wi-Fi hot spot and smartphone mirroring seamlessly integrate with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a part of Mazda Connected Services. Now, you can control some remote functions of the CX-5 from your smartphone with a dedicated app. Accessing the display’s functions is possible with a hybrid system of a rotary dial and touch screen.

For music enthusiasts, the Carbon edition comes with the BOSE stereo system, complete with a Richbass 130-mm subwoofer. A total of nine speakers placed carefully along the pillars and doors provide you with an astonishing surround-sound experience. The engineers at BOSE and Mazda worked together on this system to deliver clear, undistorted sound and music. You can feel the experience immediately as you turn up the bass and get pure beats instead of crackles and pops. What’s more, you won’t have to adjust the treble and bass levels just to get rid of the noise.

Combined with the wind-noise reduction, your Spotify playlist will sound exactly as it should — music to your ears.

With new bells and whistles on the 2021 version, additional trims with a turbocharged engine, and a special Carbon edition, the CX-5 is guaranteed to turn heads while you enjoy luxurious comfort and driving in the cozy interior. You can always book a test ride by contacting us by phone or our online form. Our staff is committed to answer all your queries and assist you in buying a new 2021 Mazda CX-5 or explain our excellent financing service options.