Mazda adds touchscreen support to CarPlay in 2024 CX-5
Mazda is finally embracing touchscreen tech for its in-car infotainment system, with buyers of the CX-5 specifically getting an easier way to manage Apple CarPlay.
CarPlay in iOS 17
In the majority of in-car infotainment systems that have CarPlay support, touchscreens are the usual way of interacting with it, though alternative methods are also available. In the case of Mazda, which has largely embraced avoiding touchscreen control in favor of a "multi-function commander knob," the car producer is finally changing its mind on the matter.
As part of an update to the Mazda CX-5, the 2024 edition will be getting a number of changes, with a press release spotted by The Autopian briefly mentioning the infotainment system.
According to the release, the vehicle will use a 10.25-inch full-color display with the "latest Mazda Connect infotainment system" that can be controlled with the regular knob. However, it is also "integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that now feature touchscreen functionality."
Mazda has included CarPlay in its infotainment system for models going as far back as the 2018 Mazda6.
Indeed, it is pointed out by the report that this isn't the first time Mazda has included touchscreen CarPlay support in its vehicles. It has done so on the Mazda CX-50, albeit as a heavily-buried and minimally marketed feature., while the CX-90 offers touchscreen support for phone mirroring but not normal infotainment usage.
Mazda's mentioning of touchscreen CarPlay support in the "latest" edition of its infotainment system could be a good sign for other future models incorporating the feature. While it doesn't eliminate the knob control system, it does at least offer a familiar control scheme that other manufacturers have already embraced.
It's also a sign that car manufacturers are not electing to follow GM's lead and abandon CarPlay in favor of their own in-house systems. That GM move has so far not gone down well with the company's own dealers.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
When we were looking for a vehicle during the pandemic… NO subways or buses for us, thank you… we arranged the whole lease transaction online.
Our vehicle was delivered directly to our building. Easy.
So, our 2020 HR-V had CarPlay. No restrictions like lacking a touchscreen or anything.
We recently renewed the lease for a 2023 HR-V, the screen is better, but it all works the same.
Secondly, it is a well-known defect in the CX-5 that the touchscreens fail very early and fixing it involves major surgery to the entire infotainment system.
My daughter has a 2022 CX-5 and the touchscreen is GONE. It sounds like they decided to delete it pending a redesign. The same thing happened to the CX-9.
Unless they have significantly improved the touchscreen responsiveness this is probably not a win. Like I said, I have the touchscreen and I never use it because it's so unreliable and it doesn't work when driving anyway.
Carplay can be set up to allow a lot of features (your entire contact list, all your albums in music, and so forth) or you can make it dumb down. Mazda went full nanny-mode on their Carplay implementation and it is MADDENING. You only get access to three playlists and it's the first 3 in your list. You can't even search through all your contacts. If you put together a lot of guides in Apple Maps you can only get to the first ones.
What do you expect from a car company that forgets to put an OFF function on their goddamn RADIO? Yes, believe it or not, the friggin' radio comes on EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR. You can only MUTE it, and that mutes EVERYTHING, including Carplay.
Aargh.
Touchscreen functionality upgrades for CarPlay are not limited to the 2024 CX-5. It is also coming to the 2024 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback, and to the 2024 Mazda CX-30. Wireless CarPlay and wireless charging are also coming to top trims of all these models. All models are also finally getting USB-C ports, instead of just USB-A. Top trims of the Mazda 3 and CX-30 will also get larger 10.5 inch screens, while lower models continue with the original 8.9 inch screens.
The CX-50 and CX-90 already have wireless charging, wireless CarPlay, and CarPlay touch screen functionality. With the CX-9 gone after the 2023 MY, that leaves the yet unannounced 2024 MX-5 Miata as the only Mazda model not yet confirmed to finally have touchscreen and wireless functionality available for Carplay.