2021 Mazda CX-5

Pros: Nimble handling; excellent road manners; responsive powertrain; upscale trimmings on high-end trim levels

Cons: Not as much cargo room as some competitors; some testers dislike console-mounted infotainment control knob

CG Says: The 2021 Mazda CX-5 gets a standard 10.25-inch control screen with a new generation of infotainment controls. There are also new Carbon Edition models. Mazda’s compact SUV was redesigned for 2017, gaining fresh styling and a host of new features on a stiffer, quieter structure. The base engine is Mazda’s 187-horsepower 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G 4-cylinder. Carbon Edition Turbo, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature models have a 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Both the base 2.5 and the turbo engine are paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. A heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, reclining rear seat backs, and a power liftgate are among the CX-5’s available comfort and convenience features. Available safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, rear cross-traffic alert, head-up instrument display, traffic-sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The first-generation Mazda CX-5 has long been one of our favorite compact SUVs, and the second-generation model improved on it in every way. Some larger compact-SUV competitors are better at hauling cargo and some have more user-friendly infotainment systems, but the CX-5’s engaging driving personality, high-quality interior, and respectable fuel-economy numbers make it an excellent choice.