Mazda Still Planning to Implement Support for CarPlay

Monday March 13, 2017 12:30 PM PDT by Juli Clover
Mazda is planning to add CarPlay and Android Auto support to its lineup of cars and SUVs according to an announcement made at a launch for its upcoming 2017 CX-5 (via Cars.com).

There's no word on when CarPlay will be added to Mazda vehicles, nor is there info on which vehicles will be the first to support CarPlay, but Mazda spokesperson Jacob Brown said the feature "should be retroactively upgradeable onto all Mazda Connect systems with a potentially minimal hardware addition needed."


Mazda Connect has been available in Mazda vehicles since 2014, which, coincidentally, is the year that Mazda first pledged support for CarPlay. Mazda has been listed as a CarPlay partner since shortly after CarPlay first debuted, but it has yet to release a CarPlay-compatible vehicle.

For a couple of years after CarPlay was announced, availability was highly limited as it required the cooperation of both automobile makers and third-party hardware companies, but as of late 2015, CarPlay availability has expanded rapidly.

Apple's CarPlay platform is now available in more than 200 2016 and 2017 vehicles from a range of manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and more.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tag: Mazda
63 comments


Top Rated Comments

(View all)
Avatar
sfwalter
23 months ago
Mazda is to CarPlay as Apple is to Desktop Macs
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
BeefCake 15
23 months ago

Off topic:Mazda surprises me they stay around. A recent report in my City (Fairly large) was stating how Mazda was falling behind in the automotive market where they dropped behind Kia recently. In the years past, Mazda was doing great with the Speed Series, but of course this is purely a one eyed observation, but I see less and less of Mazda's on the roadway. And I'm a huge car aficionado that follows the major players, and I don't see Mazda as one of them. Strictly my opinion, even though they make a reliable vehicle.


Not sure if this is specific to a certain market but in the U.S they've been getting plenty of reviews and usually in Top3 and Top5 on multiple car magazines...even the Top Gear guys rave about Mazda's cars all the time.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
foqus
18 months ago
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.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
jarred125
23 months ago

Off topic:Mazda surprises me they stay around. A recent report in my City (Fairly large) was stating how Mazda was falling behind in the automotive market where they dropped behind Kia recently. In the years past, Mazda was doing great with the Speed Series, but of course this is purely a one eyed observation, but I see less and less of Mazda's on the roadway. And I'm a huge car aficionado that follows the major players, and I don't see Mazda as one of them. Strictly my opinion, even though they make a reliable vehicle.


Sad because they seem interested in The actual experience of driving and make some fun vehicles. The rest offer sporty looks with slush for suspension and anything else.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Relentless Power
23 months ago

The dated Carplay design will suit the Mazda dated design.
Make that a date!


Off topic:Mazda surprises me they stay around. A recent report in my City (Fairly large) was stating how Mazda was falling behind in the automotive market where they dropped behind Kia recently. In the years past, Mazda was doing great with the Speed Series, but of course this is purely a one eyed observation, but I see less and less of Mazda's on the roadway. And I'm a huge car aficionado that follows the major players, and I don't see Mazda as one of them. Strictly my opinion, even though they make a reliable vehicle.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
2010mini
23 months ago
What's the hold up?
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
HiRez
23 months ago
Mazda literally lost a car sale to me because of the lack of CarPlay support. We were on the fence between a Mazda and a Honda and Honda's CarPlay support was the clincher.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
BeefCake 15
23 months ago

I love Top Gear. Mazda makes great cars and the Speed 6 is a sleeper car that flies. And as far as falling behind Kia, to what extent and exactly how that's measured in terms of sales, I don't know. If I can locate that article, I will post it. And Mazda is also has a smaller line up compared to Toyota and Honda, which can contribute to seeing less of what actually is on the roadway today.


Yeah their line-up is small compared to Toyota for sure but Toyota's line up has been too much for SUVs even if we exclude the Lexus.

P.S: Grand Tour (Top Gear guys' new show) is excellent! check it out if you haven't.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
Relentless Power
23 months ago

Not sure if this is specific to a certain market but in the U.S they've been getting plenty of reviews and usually in Top3 and Top5 on multiple car magazines...even the Top Gear guys rave about Mazda's cars all the time.


I love Top Gear. Mazda makes great cars and the Speed 6 is a sleeper car that flies. And as far as falling behind Kia, to what extent and exactly how that's measured in terms of sales, I don't know. If I can locate that article, I will post it. And Mazda also has a smaller line up compared to Toyota and Honda, which can contribute to seeing less of what actually is on the roadway today.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
nwcs
23 months ago
Personally I love my 2017 Mazda 6. I thought about whether CarPlay was important or not but decided the car was much better. Hopefully they'll retroactively update the cars as it will be nice to have the option.

Dated designs? Someone hasn't looked at a Mazda in the last few years. The MX5 RF is awesome and the updated 6 is really good; it looks much better than other sedans.

I keep reading that CarPlay is a bit buggy so maybe it's good that it's not in there yet? The stock infotainment system works well enough. The navigation system is pretty good. It's great seeing the stuff available on the next three exits, too, with distance.
Rating: 1 Votes
[ Read All Comments ]