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Mazda Still Planning to Implement Support for CarPlay
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Oh I really hope this is true. I got my 2016.5 CX5 a few months ago and I can't stand the infotainment system. The nav is dire, the ability to select music tracks is convoluted, and if you switch off the car too soon after the phone starts syncing, then it won't reconnect to bluetooth.
It doesn't even have Siri eyes-Free! That my old 2014 Civic could do all this shows how behind the times Mazda are with their infotainment. which is a shame, because in every other way it's a great car.
It doesn't even have Siri eyes-Free! That my old 2014 Civic could do all this shows how behind the times Mazda are with their infotainment. which is a shame, because in every other way it's a great car.
I actually see the opposite here in Southern California, but the Mazda building is in Irvine. Their market share did drop to a measly 1.7% in 2016. It's too bad. Mazdas are really well-designed, very reliable, fuel-efficient but fun-to-drive vehicles. I particularly love the interiors and the high-end features included or optional even on lower-end models. I HATE the Mazda Infotainment system because of the very poor integration with Smartphones, though. If they don't get CarPlay, I'll never buy another Mazda again.
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True. Their infotainment system, both the older model in the 2015's and the version you have, is horrible. Slow, buggy, constantly in need of updates that the dealership is unaware of or unwilling to do without charging you, and very poor smartphone integration. I could tell the salesperson didn't want me to pair my phone to the car because he didn't want me to see how horrible it was. Never again.
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They only had 1.7% market share in the US in 2016. That's probably what he was referring to. They haven't cracked 2% since 1994. It is a shame. I think they're wonderful cars, but I won't buy one again because the infotainment system is so bad.
I just remembered... try watching a movie from your smartphone through the car's sound system when your waiting in a parking lot sometime. 2-3 second audio delays and scene changes before the actors are even done talking make for a pretty unpleasurable experience.
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Anecdotal experience is useless when talking about a global automotive company, especially a small one like Mazda that doesn't have the global reach to sell everywhere. Mazda is doing reasonably well as far as how many cars they sell and their profitability, but their small size is a challenge. On the other hand, Mazda cars pretty much win comparisons in every category they sell in, which is pretty amazing for such a small car company. Winning in both SUVs and cars like that, and making what most magazines call the most fun to drive car out there (current MX-5) makes them a company to keep an eye on.
The question is how they break through the noise...making the best small and midsize cars for the past few years hasn't garnered them more sales of the 3/6 compared to the Toyota and Honda products that have been pretty lame. Their cars deserve more sales because of how good they are...it's a mix of smart design and fuel efficiency that other manufacturers have been trying to match. And none of them can seem to match the drivability of Mazda, in any comparison they come across as the best driver.
I own a Speed 6, and compared to the cars of its time it's pretty sweet in the way it handles and how it can go. Watch the Top Gear review, and understand how you're missing out.Mazda probably needs to make another car like this, something that will wow people and attract them into the showrooms.
"he question is how they break through the noise...". Interesting choice of works, as it is both metaphorically and literally true. Mazdas are among the worst purveyors of road noise on the market.
Not that you asked for it, but I will give my opinion on the cars mentioned.
Right away I would rule out the Crosstrek, unless you really want AWD. It is underpowered, heavy, and does not have the manual trans option anymore. Besides, it doesn't look very nice imo.
It would really come down to the Civic and Mazda3. They both have a 6-speed Manual option for the higher output motors. They both look nice. The Mazda3 has marginally higher power and torque, but the Civic has great low-end torque and would make it a very fun drive around town or on your daily drive. The Mazda is significantly heavier than the Civic, so the marginally higher HP and Torque won't mean much. Actually, I think the Civic has a higher HP per pound than the Mazda.
Plus, the Civic is cheaper, and you get all the other benefits I already mentioned, along with better fuel economy.
IMO the Civic wins. The Mazda might have some things I personally like better, like a smaller turning radius, but the Civic beats the Mazda3 in almost every other way in an objective way. I have never been a fan of the Civic, or Honda, except the NSX and S2000, but the new Civic is pretty impressive.
Doesn't the Civic have CarPlay now? That wouldn't be a deal killer for me, but I guess if that is what you are looking for, that would be another plus.
Besides being underpowered for the cost, I think Mazdas make good cars. I agree with the horrible infotainment systems. The one in my old 2014 CX-5 was so buggy, and would randomly stop working. Taking to the Mazda Service department was useless, as they wouldn't do crap about it.
I hear that the 2015 or 2016 CX-5 had a new infotainment system that was pretty good though.
Thanks for your input. I have some time before I am planning to pull the trigger. I made a terrible error in purchasing a 2012 Focus with that awful transmission so I am just trying to get that thing paid off.
I guess what I will have to do is test drive of each the Honda and Mazda side by side to decide which I like more. It almost sounds like its a wash. I am getting ready to rent a Civic from my local dealer for a road trip from Columbia, SC to Dallas, TX. Talk about a solid test drive
I just got the 2017 Mazda cx5 and it does not have Apple Play. I would have got the new Honda but the seats were not as comfortable. I really hate the infotainment system in Mazda and would have preferred Apple play. I find the Infotainment complexity of controls very distracting while driving...more so than would be just touching a screen. At least touching the screen you are still looking ahead...if you have to look at the control you have to look down below the dash It's distracting even to try to find the controls at night that adjust the climate control...you have to keep bobbing back and forth between controls to find radio channels. I have to disconnect phone from dash bluetooth if I want to use my Seri voice navigation rather than in dash navigation...which claims you can see traffics patterns but you can not. I called Mazda IT to ask why Siri would not audio navigate to me and they told me it was a carrier issue. I did not call verizon...sat in the car experimenting and discovered if I disconnect bluetooth, Siri would audio navigate. That is an interface problem. This is the biggest disappointment in my new Mazda is that I feel like I have something brand new which does not have that one component that is not on board with what is trending. I hope the upgrade is not expensive because that would be doubly disappointing. Otherwise, I enjoy driving the mazda.
I was alluding to that once Mazda finally does support Car Play, they'll require you to buy the latest car. They say they'll support cars with Mazda Connect, but I don't believe them until it's in my Mazda.
Mazda makes great cars, but I won't be buying another unless it supports Car Play.
Now here it is Aug 9, 2017, and the Mazda CX-5 Build Your Own website still does NOT mention Apple Car Play at all. We are buying a small or mid-sized SUV in about four weeks, and it looks like Hyundai or Honda...Car Play support all over those brands! Looks like you lost another sale, Mazda. Congratulations.
I just bought a 2017 Mazda 3 so I hope whatever comes out supports that model. I also have a 2014 CX-5 which I'm less hopeful that it will support Carplay.
According to the article, if it has Mazda Connect, then you should be able to upgrade it. Now, will Mazda honor that statement? Not sure....
I had a 2014 CX-5, a decent vehicle that was fun to drive, although it was underpowered and the infotainment system was horrible in that year. The infotainment system was so buggy, and constantly had problems. The Mazda service department at the dealership acted like they were tired of hearing complaints about it, as according to them, there was nothing they could do about it.
I ended up trading it in for a 2015 Mazda5 when they were being discontinued.
I'm considering buying a new Mazda (an MX5 RF) but I'm disappointed that Carplay is nowhere to be seen. I know the car industry is notoriously slow, i but it's been years now. What on earth are Mazda playing at?
I even asked the guy in the dealership about Carplay he said it wouldn't be available until the end of 2018 or even 2019, and it wouldn't be available on any current Mazdas. I doubt he much official information on it though.
I even asked the guy in the dealership about Carplay he said it wouldn't be available until the end of 2018 or even 2019, and it wouldn't be available on any current Mazdas. I doubt he much official information on it though.
I’m not sure what they’re getting at, some say they’re having more trouble than they thought but I don’t know. I do know they know that will all this waiting and secrecy and anticipation if CarPlay is not compatible with older Mazda’s as well and new like they said it would they may have lost a customer out of me