In a surprising departure from its traditionally analog approach, Mazda has unveiled the 2026 CX-5 with a revolutionary interior centered around a massive 15.6-inch touchscreen, replacing nearly all physical buttons and the beloved rotary dial.
This dramatic change marks the most significant interior transformation in the compact SUV’s history, representing a complete philosophical shift for the Japanese automaker.
The new CX-5 changes from a commander to a touchscreen center display, which Mazda claims is “the most suitable means to minimize the ‘hands’ away from the steering wheel”.
This decision affects everything from climate controls to audio adjustments, forcing drivers to navigate through digital menus for functions that were previously accessible through dedicated physical controls.
Breaking from Mazda’s Conservative Tradition
This represents a seismic shift for Mazda, which has historically been one of the most vocal opponents of touchscreen overreliance in the automotive industry. The company had previously positioned itself as an outlier, developing sophisticated infotainment systems that relied heavily on physical controls and rotary interfaces.
The automaker’s resistance to touchscreen dominance made it stand out in an industry increasingly obsessed with tablet-like interfaces.
The transformation is particularly striking given Mazda’s previous statements about driver safety and attention. In 2019, when the Mazda3 was released, company officials emphasized their research showing that reaching towards touchscreens created dangerous distraction scenarios. This makes the current direction all the more surprising and controversial.
Customer Feedback Drives the Change
The Voice of the Market
According to Stefan Meisterfeld, Mazda’s U.S. VP of operations, the company conducted extensive customer research that influenced their decision to embrace touchscreen technology. The automaker claims that consumers explicitly requested more integrated digital experiences, similar to what they encounter with smartphones and tablets in their daily lives.
Mazda’s official statement emphasizes that the new interface implements “advanced voice recognition allowing the driver to operate vehicle functions like air conditioning, audio, and navigation systems” along with “human-centric steering wheel switches”. The company is betting that these alternative control methods will compensate for the loss of traditional physical interfaces.
The Integration of Google Technology
The new system will be powered by Google built-in technology, featuring Google Maps natively integrated, access to the Google Play Store, and Google Assistant for enhanced voice control. This represents Mazda’s first serious embrace of third-party digital ecosystems, moving away from their traditionally proprietary approach to infotainment systems.
The integration aims to create a seamless connection between the vehicle and drivers’ digital lives, allowing for more sophisticated interactions and personalized experiences. However, this comes at the cost of the immediate, tactile feedback that physical controls provide.
Industry Context and Contradictory Trends
The Great Touchscreen Debate
Mazda’s decision comes at a peculiar time in automotive history. The industry is experiencing what researchers call a “re-buttoning” phase, with many automakers bringing physical controls back due to safety concerns and customer complaints. Companies like Volkswagen, Porsche, and Hyundai have recently announced returns to physical buttons for essential functions.
Volkswagen’s Design Chief Andreas Mindt recently declared, “We will never, ever make this mistake anymore,” referring to their previous over-reliance on touchscreens. This stark contrast highlights how divided the automotive industry has become on interface philosophy.
Safety Research and Regulatory Pressure
Swedish research conducted by Vi Bilägare found that drivers take much longer to perform regular tasks on touchscreens compared to physical buttons, with some tasks taking over four times longer to complete. These findings have contributed to growing safety concerns about touchscreen-heavy interfaces.
The European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) has implemented new rules requiring five primary functions to have physical buttons or switches: horn, windshield wipers, turn signals, hazard lights, and SOS features. Automakers must comply by January 2026 to achieve five-star safety ratings in Europe.
Technical Implementation and Design Philosophy
The 15.6-Inch Central Command
The new CX-5 features Mazda’s largest-ever infotainment screen, integrated with Google’s in-car services including the company’s Gemini AI assistant. This massive display consolidates functions that were previously distributed across multiple physical controls throughout the cabin.
The interface change has opened up significant storage space in the center console area, previously occupied by climate control buttons and the rotary controller. This reorganization reflects modern interior design trends emphasizing clean, minimalist aesthetics.
Steering Wheel Control Compensation
To address potential safety concerns, Mazda has redesigned the CX-5’s steering wheel with enhanced physical controls that allow intuitive operation of critical functions while keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. These controls represent the company’s attempt to balance digital integration with practical accessibility.
The steering wheel modifications suggest that Mazda recognizes the limitations of pure touchscreen interfaces and is attempting a hybrid approach that maintains some level of tactile control for essential functions.
Market Implications and Competitive Landscape
Sales Performance Pressure
The CX-5 has achieved remarkable success with precisely 4,761,329 sales since its 2012 debut, making it Mazda’s best-selling vehicle in the current lineup. This success creates enormous pressure to maintain market appeal while modernizing the vehicle for changing consumer expectations.
The CX-5 and its sibling CX-50 comprise more than 50% of Mazda’s total volume, meaning there’s substantial risk involved in this dramatic interface change. The automaker is essentially betting its most successful product on a controversial design philosophy.
Consumer Reaction and Market Response
Early reactions to the button-less interior have been overwhelmingly negative, with comments like “No knobs and buttons, No sale!” and “There is no way I’m going buttonless” dominating online discussions. This consumer pushback reflects broader frustration with touchscreen-heavy automotive interfaces.
The disconnect between Mazda’s claims of customer demand for touchscreens and the actual consumer reaction to the new design suggests either a gap in market research or a miscommunication about what customers actually want from their vehicle interfaces.
Comparison: Traditional vs. Modern Control Systems
| Feature | 2025 CX-5 (Physical Controls) | 2026 CX-5 (Touchscreen) |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Control | Dedicated knobs and buttons | Touchscreen interface |
| Audio Volume | Physical rotary knob | Digital slider/buttons |
| Interface Response | Immediate tactile feedback | Visual confirmation required |
| Driver Attention | Minimal visual distraction | Requires screen focus |
| Learning Curve | Intuitive muscle memory | Menu navigation required |
| Cost to Manufacture | Higher component costs | Lower production costs |
| Customization | Fixed button layout | Configurable digital interface |
The Future of Automotive Interfaces
Technological Evolution
The automotive touchscreen market crossed $9.5 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at 6.1% annually through 2034, driven by electric vehicles and connected car technologies. This growth suggests that despite consumer complaints, digital interfaces will continue expanding throughout the industry.
The tension between cost savings, technological advancement, and user experience will likely define the next decade of automotive interior design. Manufacturers must balance the economic advantages of touchscreen systems with growing evidence of their practical limitations.
Regulatory and Safety Considerations
A 2023 J.D. Power survey found that touch-based infotainment systems were a major contributor to declining consumer satisfaction with vehicles for the first time in 28 years. This data suggests that the industry may need to reconsider its touchscreen-heavy approach.
The lack of similar regulatory pressure in the United States compared to Europe means that American consumers may continue experiencing touchscreen-heavy interfaces longer than their European counterparts, potentially creating market fragmentation in design approaches.
A Calculated Risk
Mazda’s decision to remove physical buttons from the 2026 CX-5 represents one of the most significant gambles in recent automotive history. The company is pivoting from its traditional philosophy of physical controls to embrace a touchscreen-centric experience, powered by Google’s technology ecosystem.
This transformation occurs against a backdrop of industry uncertainty, with some manufacturers returning to physical controls while others, like Mazda, double down on digital interfaces. The success or failure of this approach will likely influence not only Mazda’s future design direction but also serve as a case study for the broader automotive industry.
The ultimate test will be consumer acceptance and safety data from real-world usage. If Mazda’s bet pays off, it could validate the touchscreen-centric approach and influence other manufacturers to follow suit. However, if the negative early reactions translate into sales difficulties or safety concerns, it may force another dramatic reversal in the company’s design philosophy.
For now, Mazda has committed to this path, representing either visionary leadership in automotive interface design or a costly misreading of consumer preferences in one of the most competitive automotive segments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the 2026 Mazda CX-5 have any physical buttons at all? A: Yes, the steering wheel retains physical controls for essential functions, though the dashboard is largely button-free.
Q: Can I still control climate without looking at the screen? A: Mazda claims voice commands and steering wheel controls will handle most functions, but climate adjustment requires touchscreen interaction.
Q: When will the buttonless CX-5 be available? A: The 2026 CX-5 is expected to reach dealerships before the end of 2025.