2020 Mazda Miata Gets Factory-Installed CarPlay

[MacRumors]

Mazda this week announced that its new 2020 MX-5 Miata comes with factory-installed CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new Miata features a seven-inch touchscreen display with dual USB ports. CarPlay can be accessed through Mazda Connect once an iPhone is connected to the infotainment system with a Lightning cable.

Now available in over 500 vehicle models, CarPlay? provides convenient access to frequently used iPhone apps such as Phone, Messages, Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, Apple Music, and Spotify directly from the dashboard.

Mazda says the Miata is the Guinness World Record holder for the best-selling two-seater sports car. With a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, the 2020 model produces up to 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm.

The 2020 MX-5 Miata will arrive to Mazda dealerships in February 2020, with pricing starting at $26,580 in the United States.

If you own an older Miata, CarPlay remains available as a dealer-installed upgrade in select 2014 model year and newer Mazda vehicles equipped with the Mazda Connect infotainment system in the United States.

Also See: Review: Mazda's CarPlay Support a Welcome Addition for iPhone Users

Article Link: 2020 Mazda Miata Gets Factory-Installed CarPlay

 

[gplusplus]

Just so other readers are aware, you can install the retrofit add-on yourself. You don’t need a dealer to do it. I did it with my wife’s Mazda 3. The only complaint I have is that the scrubbing functionality is gone with Car Play, so you can’t easily skip to different parts of a song or podcast. I don’t know if this is unique to Mazda’s implementation or if it’s for all CarPlay implementations, but I thought I’d mention it.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Isn't CarPlay always "factory installed"?

(if available from OEM)

 

[44267547]

CarPlay aside:

The Miata would be too small for my applications, but that is one freakin sharp little car. (The Article picture highlighting that ‘slate’ color is outstanding.)

 

[bsamcash]

May be time to upgrade my 2015 Miata!

 

[sporadicMotion]

It's such a pain to do the upgrade too. I have a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider (Miata from the same assembly line with a different engine) and installing the CarPlay upgrade SUCKED. The USB cable in particular was kinda silly.

I made a how to video.

 

[Jimmy James]

Available in 500 cars. Here’s an article with model #501.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Wait - they're still making the Miata??

 

[Juicy Box]

If you own an older Miata, CarPlay remains available as a dealer-installed upgrade in select 2014 model year and newer Mazda vehicles equipped with the Mazda Connect infotainment system in the United States.

This is nice that they offer a CarPlay upgrade for older cars.

Wait - they're still making the Miata??

Yup, and Mazda has been making it for a while. This probably will not change any time soon.

I would bet that the Miata is probably the best selling car in its class over the past 30 years.

I own a early competitor (SW20) of the Miata's, which on paper was better than the Miata in almost every possible way (plus I think most people would say that the SW20 has better aesthetics, too). But in sale, the Miata kicked the SW20's butt and probably every other competitor since the Miata's introduction.

Another interesting fact about the Miata is that it is one of the few model cars that are still selling more manual transmissions over automatics when both are offered.

As many cars in the US are starting to move away from standard transmissions, it is nice that not only Mazda is still offering it on some of their cars, but the Miata enthusiasts are still preferring the manual.

 

[GerritV]

I couldn’t care less. Enjoying my MX5 for 8 years already, don’t even use my radio
This roadster is about the joy of driving.

 

[2010mini]

Why do most car manufacturers insist on wired CarPlay instead of wireless?

 

[JRobinsonJr]

No offense to Mazda vehicles, but this just seems ... silly. They are announcing support for a technology that should have been virtually universally available in vehicles several years ago. Good for them?

FWIW, this is why the car industry is getting killed. They think in 3-5-7 year cycles, while technology runs in 6-12-18 month cycles. Consumers are wanting current technology in their vehicles, but those manufacturers won't / can't / don't deliver. It's no wonder that Tesla has a current market cap greater than Ford and GM combined.

 

[Juicy Box]

Enjoying my MX5 for 8 years already

Which year do you own?

I have been a long time fan of the Miata, although I have never owned one. I may get one as a daily driver in the next few years once my youngest child is out of the daycare. I prefer a hardtop, so I might end up getting the RF.

The Miata is pretty interesting. I know a lot about them from being a fan and always thought about getting one. I have test drove a few over the years, being light weight, low cog, RWD, pretty balanced weight distribution, and a somewhat decent power to weight ratio makes them pretty fun. Not as fun as my SW20, but still pretty fun.

Other than the 2004-2005 MS ones, they never really had a lot of power until recently. Well, even with the turbo, it still didn't have a lot of power. The new one finally has a similar power-to-weight ration as my SW20.

I have owned many Mazda, well five total, and still own two. I haven't always like the direction Mazda has taken their line up, especially recently.

But the Miata is still great, and is actually really improving lately.

Why do most car manufacturers insist on wired CarPlay instead of wireless?

I have wondered this as well.

I have no proof of this, but I think it might be Apple preventing Wireless CarPlay from going to the masses.

A few years back, I think it was at a CES, VW wanted to demo their Wireless CarPlay, but it was shutdown by Apple according to the rumor here on MR.

It has been many years, and AFAIK, there is still no Wireless CarPlay on any WV, and is pretty much only on high-end luxury cars.

 

[GerritV]

Which year do you own?

I have been a long time fan of the Miata, although I have never owned one. I may get one as a daily driver in the next few years once my youngest child is out of the daycare. I prefer a hardtop, so I might end up getting the RF.

The Miata is pretty interesting. I know a lot about them from being a fan and always thought about getting one. I have test drove a few over the years, being light weight, low cog, RWD, pretty balanced weight distribution, and a somewhat decent power to weight ratio makes them pretty fun. Not as fun as my SW20, but still pretty fun.

Other than the 2004-2005 MS ones, they never really had a lot of power until recently. Well, even with the turbo, it still didn't have a lot of power. The new one finally has a similar power-to-weight ration as my SW20.

I have owned many Mazda, well five total, and still own two. I haven't always like the direction Mazda has taken their line up, especially recently.

But the Miata is still great, and is actually really improving lately.


I have wondered this as well.

I have no proof of this, but I think it might be Apple preventing Wireless CarPlay from going to the masses.

A few years back, I think it was at a CES, VW wanted to demo their Wireless CarPlay, but it was shutdown by Apple according to the rumor here on MR.

It has been many years, and AFAIK, there is still no Wireless CarPlay on any WV, and is pretty much only on high-end luxury cars.

I have the 2012 1.8 as my daily driver. Rooftop is down all year, except when rain or snow.
Just a great little car, a joy to drive.

 

[KALLT]

I have wondered this as well.

I have no proof of this, but I think it might be Apple preventing Wireless CarPlay from going to the masses.

A few years back, I think it was at a CES, VW wanted to demo their Wireless CarPlay, but it was shutdown by Apple according to the rumor here on MR.

It has been many years, and AFAIK, there is still no Wireless CarPlay on any WV, and is pretty much only on high-end luxury cars.

Ford has announced support for wireless CarPlay in 2020 car models last year (Ford Sync 4). There are no cars with it yet, as far as I know. If your theory is true, then it might no longer be true as of this year. Still, that makes this announcement of Mazda a bit disappointing. I wonder if this car has the technical capability of running CarPlay and whether it can be patched through a firmware update in the future.