Hello, Old Friend: The 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD

Those of you who've been with me since the old TireKicker site know of my deep and abiding appreciation for the Mazda CX-5, an affection dating back six years to a spring break trip to Southern California with my wife and two then-teenage stepdaughters.

If you have discovered me since the launch of this site last June, this may still sound familiar. That's because the 2020 CX-5 Signature AWD was one of the first vehicles we reviewed back in July.

What's changed? Not much. Under the hood, it's still the 2.5-liter turbo four, upgraded in 2019 to 250 horsepower on premium fuel, 227 on regular. The EPA still says 22 mpg city/27 highway.

The big change is on the inside, where Mazda has swapped out the infotainment screen for a bigger, brighter unit.

The new unit is 10.25 inches and considerably more readable and usable than last year's.

The window sticker is at the end of this review, so you can see for yourself, but the base price of the 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD is $37,405, only $350 more than last year's, with the same standard feature content, plus the improved screen.

The only extra-cost options on our tester were $595 for the Soul Red Metallic paint and $125 for the rear bumper guard. So, with $1,100 delivery processing and handling fee, the as-tested price of the 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD is $39.225.

As before, as always, we think the CX-5, especially in top-of-the-line Signature trim, is a tremendous choice in a small crossover SUV. The streak remains unbroken.