The new 2026 CX5 drops its physical buttons for a giant touchscreen and AI controls in a controversial shift toward fully digital driving
For years, Mazda resisted the industry’s fascination with giant touchscreens and button-free cabins, holding fast to its belief that tactile controls and non-touch displays offered a safer, more intuitive driving experience. That philosophy, however, seems to have reached its limit.
In more recent years, it’s been adding touchscreens to its models, but the new CX-5 goes all in on the display and voice commands. Not even Mazda could avoid the temptation to follow its peers.
Read: Mazda Gave The CX-5 A Makeover But Saved The Real Surprise For Later
Every 2026 CX-5 will comes standard in North America with a 12.9-inch display, while higher trims can be fitted with an even larger 15.6-inch version, which is slightly bigger than the Tesla Model 3’s.
Gone is Mazda’s familiar rotary dial controller, long a holdout from its driver-focused philosophy. The separate HVAC panel has also disappeared, with all climate controls now living inside the infotainment system
It’s a move that’s bound to be controversial. According to Matthew Valbuena, the project manager for in-vehicle technologies and HMI at Mazda’s North American operations, the carmaker believes that the most important thing for a driver to do is to focus on driving.
Mazda wants to reduce visual, manual, and cognitive distractions as much as possible. Apparently, a 15.6-inch screen on the dashboard is the way to do it.
Voice and Vision
The new infotainment system includes Google built-in and the Gemini voice control system, allowing for easy adjustments without drivers needing to take their eyes off the road.
The CX-5 also includes Google Maps as standard, as well as access to the Play Store, where various apps can be installed, including YouTube.
“Our goal with the 2026 CX-5 was to make technology easy to use while keeping the driver focused on the road,” Valbuena says.
“A great deal of research and testing went into developing Mazda’s latest infotainment system, and we believe it is well positioned to feel familiar to how customers interact with smartphone-like devices,” he added.
Keeping Hands on the Wheel
Mazda has also designed a new steering wheel for the 2026 CX-5. In this case, Mazda was eager to place as many controls on the wheel as possible, ensuring that drivers can also keep two hands on the wheel.
The left-side controls are primarily for the audio system and include a dedicated function to cycle between different gauge cluster displays. On the right side of the wheel are controls for all of the driver-assistance systems, like the radar cruise control.
A Step Forward, Or A Step Back?
It remains to be seen how Mazda customers will respond to the new setup, which is likely to be added to future Mazda models. Some companies, like VW, are walking back their over-commitment to screens and haptic controls.
More recently, the new Subaru Outback was launched with a smaller screen and a dedicated panel for the climate control, unlike the old model, which shifted all important functions to the display.
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Brad Anderson’s lifelong affair and fascination with cars started young. Before even graduating high school,… Read full bio

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