Mazda Explains Why It Removed the CX-5’s Buttons

“Never change a winning team,” as the saying goes. The CX-5 has racked up precisely 4,761,329 sales since it arrived in 2012, making it Mazda’s best-selling vehicle in the current lineup. A third-generation model broke cover this week, and on the outside, it’s a subtle evolution of its predecessor. However, the interior is nothing short of a revolution.

Judging by the comments on the debut post, you’re not a fan of the minimalist dashboard: “No knobs and buttons, No sale! Ergonomics is important to me;” “There is no way I’m going buttonless;” “What I don’t like is the removal of the buttons and rotary dial;” “Air conditioner, heater, defroster, and temperature controller should be operated by physical buttons… please.” And so on and so forth.

Photo by: Mazda

Naturally, we decided to ask Mazda why most conventional switchgear has been removed. In contrast to those comments, going nearly button-less is apparently what people want. Tamara Mlynarczyk, manager of public affairs for Mazda North American Operations, told Motor1 that the decision to eliminate most traditional controls was based on an internal study showing customers prefer a large infotainment system:

‘Based on customer feedback, we developed a new human-machine interface (HMI) that prioritizes ease of use while maintaining Mazda’s safe driving philosophy. The new CX-5 changes from a commander to a touchscreen center display, which is the most suitable means to minimize the ‘hands’ away from the steering wheel while implementing:
• Advanced voice recognition allowing the driver to operate vehicle functions like the air conditioning, audio, and navigation systems;
• Human-centric steering wheel switches allowing the driver to operate the controls without placing a burden on human attention resources.’

So, there you have it. The people have spoken. Apparently. Suddenly, I feel like I’m in the minority for preferring a more analog layout. Having buttons for frequently used functions will always be a hill I’m willing to die on. This marks a paradigm shift for the Zoom-Zoom company, which has typically resisted overreliance on touchscreens.

Here’s what Matthew Valbuena, Mazda North America’s lead engineer for HMI and infotainment, said in 2019 when the Mazda3 came out:

‘Doing our research, when a driver would reach towards a touchscreen interface in any vehicle, they would unintentionally apply torque to the steering wheel, and the vehicle would drift out of its lane position. And of course, with a touchscreen you have to be looking at the screen while you’re touching…so for that reason we were comfortable removing the touchscreen functionality.’

Photo by: Mazda

Mind you, the CX-5 is not the first Mazda to move in this direction. The EZ-6 electric sedan sold in China and rebranded as the 6e for other markets also features a simplified dashboard centered around a large touchscreen. The EZ-60 electric crossover, which hasn’t yet been confirmed for international markets, has an even bigger display. Both EVs trace their roots to Chinese models sold by Mazda’s joint venture partner Changan, but the new CX-5 is an all-Mazda effort and a global model.

These cars also bid farewell to the BMW-style rotary dial between the seats, a move BMW itself has already made. All front-wheel-drive models from Bavaria have dropped it, and the upcoming Neue Klasse vehicles with next-gen infotainment won’t have it either. Less is more, I guess…

It remains to be seen whether this trend will carry over to future Mazda models. Hopefully, they’ll at least make an exception for the next Miata and the rotary sports car revival that’s been teased for so long. A giant screen perched on the dashboard could be a dealbreaker for some.