Back in March, Mazda became one of the last major car manufacturers to announce launch plans for CarPlay support. Mazda`s first announced vehicle with CarPlay is the 2018 Mazda6, with owners of Touring trim and above able to bring their vehicles to a Mazda dealer for a free upgrade starting this month. CarPlay will be available pre-installed in Mazda6 vehicles with Touring trim and above as of November, while Mazda`s 2019 CX-9 is also just starting to roll out with CarPlay available pre-installed.
2018 Mazda6 Signature in Soul Red Crystal
While the general CarPlay experience is consistent across car brands, as it`s driven by your connected iPhone, there are some differences in how CarPlay interfaces with manufacturers` various infotainment systems and hardware, so it`s worth taking a look at the CarPlay experience in a Mazda. I`ve had a chance to spend some time with a CarPlay-equipped 2018 Mazda6 Signature, and CarPlay is a welcome alternative to the built-in Mazda Connect infotainment system that has garnered mixed reviews over the years.
Mazda Connect
Before we touch on CarPlay, it pays to take a look at Mazda Connect, as that`s the software and hardware CarPlay sits on top of. Mazda has opted for multiple control options in its vehicles, with both an 8-inch touchscreen on the dashboard and a commander knob with associated buttons on the center console. A smaller dial next to the commander knob lets you adjust volume without reaching up to the dashboard, or you can adjust the volume from the steering wheel. Voice control through a button on the steering wheel is also available.
Controller knob and other controls on center console
Touchscreen operation is unsurprisingly straightforward, while the commander knob offers a flexible array of input methods including twisting, rocking, and pressing the knob to navigate around. The cluster of buttons around the knob lets you jump quickly to navigation, music, favorites, the Mazda Connect ...
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