[good_infotainment]

Hi all,
What's your experience with the infotainment been like so far?
I'm a current 2021 Subaru Outback owner and I can't stand the infotainment. It's slow, unstable, and rife with software bugs. I've read that the CX 50 infotainment will lock the touchscreen for Apple Play when the car is in motion. Is that true?

 

[AWSD]

Hi all,
What's your experience with the infotainment been like so far?
I'm a current 2021 Subaru Outback owner and I can't stand the infotainment. It's slow, unstable, and rife with software bugs. I've read that the CX 50 infotainment will lock the touchscreen for Apple Play when the car is in motion. Is that true?

If you mean, can you get out of the CarPlay screen and back to the Mazda infotainment menus, yes you can. I don't use the touch screen while using CarPlay, I hate fingerprints. It takes a little while to figure out manipulating your phone screen with the mouse dial, but it's easy once you get the hang of it.

This is my first Mazda, and my wife has a 2017 Forester. I can tell you that Mazda's infotainment is light years ahead of Subaru. It's responsive and so far, for me, not buggy. Hope this helps.

 

[LeeShadow]

Other half has a 2021 Crosstrek, and I've had two previous Mazdas (2016 & 2019) with the original Connect system. I would say that the first MZD Infotainment system was on par with the Subaru's in both good and bad ways, even if they have very different approaches and implementations. The new MZD Connect system I actually love. I find it much more clean looking, linear and easier to find & learn things--just more intuitive, to me at least.

Why not go to a dealer and check it out directly in one of the current year models?

You are not locked into CarPlay, as AWSD noted. That is true of both Connect systems. And in the CX-50, the touchscreen is activated when CP is running, even when while driving. The "Command" hand controls still function as well, whatever one's preference. I find the screen a bit too far away for comfort, so I typically use the command button or steering wheel controls when driving. It is pretty easy to use once you learn it, even if you have to take your eyes off the road for a brief second to see what is being currently highlighted. I also use Siri to invoke text messaging or to start a different playlist, etc.

 

[LeeShadow]

You may have already run across similar videos, but here's one that goes rather in-depth into the current Connect system--short of actually using the system directly, this may help with giving you a better idea of how it might compare to the Subaru Starlink:

2022 Mazda CX-5 Infotainment Tutorial | How To Use Menus & Apple CarPlay

 

[good_infotainment]

Why not go to a dealer and check it out directly in one of the current year models?

That will be the next step. FWIW, I'm encouraged by the professionalism of the local mazda dealer. Unlike Kia. I'll never buy a car from those guys.

 

[ILikePoutine]

I came from an Outback 2022. It’s garbage. CX50’s infotainment is way better. Mazda’s infotainment is one of the best because it does not utilize a touch screen. Which is a good thing. It give me a familiar feeling compare to my Audi and bmw and Mercedes’. It does not lag. Think about it like bmw iDrive 4 with CarPlay

 

[Clicky]

CarPlay touch screen cannot be used when vehicle is in motion. It works well overall but I do get occasional disconnects with wireless CarPlay

 

[Tommieremix]

CarPlay touch screen cannot be used when vehicle is in motion. It works well overall but I do get occasional disconnects with wireless CarPlay

That is incorrect you are able to change the settings in the infotainment system to be able to use carplay in Android auto while the car is in motion. When your device is paired up you will locate the device in the settings and you can change it there in the infotainment system.

 

[Clicky]

Thanks for the clarification , I don’t use android auto. I couldn’t find the setting for CarPlay, maybe it’s there and I need to look again.

 

[Tommieremix]

Thanks for the clarification , I don’t use android auto. I couldn’t find the setting for CarPlay, maybe it’s there and I need to look again.

Anything for you 😍 if I can find the video that I saw on YouTube with the exact steps I'll post it.

 

[Tommieremix]

Anything for you 😍 if I can find the video that I saw on YouTube with the exact steps I'll post it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/u3yc63

 

[ASH8]

Make sure you have updated Mazda Connect Firmware for your CX-50, your Dealer should of updated before Delivery. See my thread and #2 second post.

Mazda Connect Software Updates + CarPlay Fix too!

For those interested Mazda updates Firmware or Software for Genuine Mazda Connect about 1 to 2 times per year for Mazda Dealer Service Departments as a download file. Mazda also uses auto OTA (over the air) firmware updating in high spec models which in most cases works fine provided you have a...

www.cx50forums.com