Mazda Moves CX‑5 Climate Controls Onto Large Central Touchscreen

Overview

• Mazda has shifted the CX‑5’s climate controls from physical switches to a large central touchscreen with a fixed control strip for temperature and fan speed at the screen’s base.
• CX‑5 program manager Koichiro Yamaguchi told Drive that the touchscreen layout was chosen because lower dash buttons would force drivers to look down at many similar switches for longer.
• The new design keeps a few physical controls, including windshield and rear defrost buttons, so some quick tasks remain tactile and instantly reachable.
• Reviewers note the persistent bottom control area is easier to use than buried menus but warn some cars require exiting Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to reach climate controls, a potential usability problem to watch for.
• Mazda says it will collect real‑world owner feedback and may restore physical buttons if customers prefer them, a move that highlights the brand’s broader shift from tactile controls toward larger digital displays.