06:46 04-12-2025

2026 Mazda CX-5 trades buttons for big touchscreens with Google built-in

Mazda isn’t backing down after pushback from brand loyalists: the new CX-5 truly steps away from the marque’s long-held preference for physical controls and leans on a large touchscreen. For many fans, that shift stings—Mazda stood by its buttons and rotary controller for years, and now risks looking like just another carmaker with a Tesla-style interface. In a video with the HMI project manager, the company said the move wasn’t about trends but about making the car easier and safer to operate.

The core argument is fewer distractions. Mazda reworked the instrument cluster, steering-wheel layout, head-up display, and infotainment so key data sits closer to the driver’s line of sight, demanding fewer glances away from the road. Every trim gets a 10.25-inch digital cluster with refreshed graphics that can show navigation prompts and incoming calls; if desired, the interface can be pared back for a cleaner look. It’s a pragmatic pivot that prioritizes calm over clutter.

The infotainment itself comes with 12.9- or 15.6-inch screens, Google built-in, and voice control. Particular emphasis is placed on a Gemini-based assistant, enabling natural-language navigation, climate and radio adjustments, and even message sending—without constant pokes at the display. Steering-wheel controls are split sensibly: media functions on the left, driving aids like adaptive cruise on the right. As layouts go, it’s tidy and intuitive. Sales of the 2026 Mazda CX-5 are expected to begin early next year.