Here I stand, head in hand.
Mazda, admittedly one of my favorite auto brands because of its fun-to-drive vehicles that are also remarkably safe, has failed to meet my sky-high expectations with its new CX-5 compact SUV.
Sliding inside, you鈥檙e immediately greeted by a big-screen-tv-esque center display in this high-end CX-5 S Premium Plus. It features a mammoth 15.6-inch touch screen, the largest ever offered on a Mazda vehicle.
But nearly all of the physical buttons have been absorbed by that touch screen. I counted precisely three actual buttons in the middle of this SUV鈥檚 dash: front defroster, rear defroster and hazards. Climate controls, heated and cooled seat switches and even the stereo volume selector (!) have been moved to the screen. Additionally, many icons are rather small, making tapping them while driving a sort of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey exercise. Tuning the radio is a complicated, baffling ordeal. There are mercifully volume controls on the steering wheel, at least.
A Mazda spokesperson responded to my concerns, pointing to some issues with the previous system that revolved around a large knob on the center console:
鈥淭his all-new infotainment system maintains Mazda鈥檚 HMI (human-machine interface) philosophy to prioritize minimizing driver distraction. It was developed to deliver a user-friendly and intuitive experience to help drivers stay focused on the road and was built around Google Built-in for ease of use with familiar smartphone-like experiences and apps. The new Mazda Connect infotainment system can be interacted by touch screen, using intuitive Google Gemini voice commands, or new steering wheel controls.鈥�
鈥淐ustomer feedback was key when developing the latest Mazda Connect system. Some users reported difficulty using CarPlay and Android Auto with the commander knob as those interfaces were designed for touch functions. The in-vehicle technology in all-new CX-5 has been optimized to be intuitive with Google Built-in that can be interacted through the touch screen, Google Gemini voice commands, and new steering wheel controls.鈥�
Despite the workarounds, the screen soured me and I guess I remained in a cranky mood. Mazda generally leans into premium-feeling materials, but here I noticed hard plastics in prominent places: the door pulls, the upper door panels, the sides of the center console. The seats feel firm and could use more side support. The four-cylinder engine is adequate but not exciting.
To back up, there鈥檚 still a lot of good here. The all-new CX-5 is 4.5 inches longer than the previous model. This results in a more spacious cabin, with Mazda touting increased rear leg, knee and headroom, along with a larger and more useful cargo area.
It also remains one of the safest vehicles in its segment, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is no small matter. Handling is crisp, as workaday SUVs go. There is, thankfully, a spare tire. (I told you I like Mazda.)
There are plenty of tech goodies here, too: a 360-degree camera view makes parking a cinch. Lane Change Assist automatically switches lanes for you once you hit the turn signal if the coast is deemed clear. And there鈥檚 the nifty Driver Personalization System that looks at you and adjusts your mirrors and seat accordingly.
Still, it鈥檚 just not enough to tilt the scales for me. This is not some niche product that may or may not be for you. This is a mass-market SUV designed for everyday usability for a wide range of people, and it seems to have gotten less usable overall.
The silver lining here? There鈥檚 no longer the confusing question of choosing between the CX-5 and its similarly sized CX-50 sibling. The still excellent CX-50 is now the one I would recommend.
This Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus comes to $41,080 as tested, including shipping.
