Mazda Continues CarPlay Rollout With 2019 CX-9

Tuesday August 7, 2018 7:54 AM PDT by Joe Rossignol
Mazda this week introduced the 2019 CX-9, its second vehicle to be equipped with CarPlay in the United States, alongside the 2018 Mazda6.


CarPlay and Android Auto come factory installed in Touring, Touring Premium, Grand Touring, and Signature trims of the 2019 CX-9, as part of the MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system with an eight-inch display. The software platforms do not appear to be an option in the base Sport trim at this time.

Mazda says the 2019 CX-9 will begin to arrive at select dealerships in the United States this month, with nationwide availability in September. Pricing for CarPlay-equipped packages starts at $35,330.

As for the 2018 Mazda6, existing owners of the Touring trim and above will be able to have a Mazda dealership install CarPlay and Android Auto at no extra cost, starting in September. Then, starting in November, CarPlay and Android Auto will come factory installed in brand new 2018 Mazda6 vehicles.

Accordingly, while the 2019 CX-9 is Mazda's second CarPlay vehicle to be announced, it will be the first to roll off the lot brand new with factory-installed CarPlay and Android Auto in the United States.

CarPlay will enable iPhone users to access a range of apps from the MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Radio, Pandora, WhatsApp, Downcast, Slacker Radio, Stitcher, and, starting with iOS 12, Google Maps and Waze.

Earlier this year, on its Canadian website, Mazda said CarPlay and Android Auto will be available as a genuine retrofit for MAZDA CONNECT systems starting this fall, suggesting that Mazda vehicles released as early as 2014 could eventually support the platforms, but exact rollout plans often vary by country.

Mazda is one of the last major automakers in the United States to offer CarPlay, after Toyota and Lexus announced support earlier this year.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tag: Mazda
25 comments


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sidewinder3000
19 weeks ago
In the market for a new car and I would not even consider one that doesn’t have CarPlay .
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
pika2000
19 weeks ago
I really hate how car companies are so behind in this. I mean seriously, when did Apple announce Carplay? 2013!
Worse, all these car OEMs think these features are only for the high end cars with the highest trim first, even though they don't even invest much in it (Apple does most of the job, and the app developers did the hard work on the apps). Yet they feel they need to make a ton of money out of it.

The worse of course are the Japanese companies. They still think they can do their own software, while it's been proven in the consumer electronics market that they suck at it.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
vertical smile
19 weeks ago
Imo, CarPlay is pretty overrated. I was an early adopter of CP, and was really excited about it, but my excitement quickly turned into indifference. Bugs and glitches aside, it makes things so limited and kind of boring. I understand that it is made with safety in mind, but it goes a little overboard with it.

The bugs have gotten better, but ironically, at one point the bugs were so bad that it was becoming distracting.

They also made promises to bring this to the 2018 CX-5, but still no word and they’ve since taken it down from their website.


The dealers also guaranteed a retrofit to multiple people purchasing CX-5s


Hopefully people have it in writing that their vehicles would be retrofitted, but if it is not in writing, then it may never happen.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
tfigs
19 weeks ago

Imo, CarPlay is pretty overrated. I was an early adopter of CP, and was really excited about it, but my excitement quickly turned into indifference. Bugs and glitches aside, it makes things so limited and kind of boring. I understand that it is made with safety in mind, but it goes a little overboard with it.

The bugs have gotten better, but ironically, at one point the bugs were so bad that it was becoming distracting.


Bugs and glitches?? Can you specify? I've been using CarPlay in my Mazda CX-5 with Alpine Stereo and it runs great. I would not buy another car without it. Its safety first which is the idea behind it.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
liquidiq
19 weeks ago

That sucks, I was hoping to software hack this if they denied compatibility. So we need to swap the usb port? Any idea which parts are used?


Mazda3Revolution forum has the best info for this kinda stuff.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
iwaffles
19 weeks ago
They also made promises to bring this to the 2018 CX-5, but still no word and they’ve since taken it down from their website.


The dealers also guaranteed a retrofit to multiple people purchasing CX-5s
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
dmylrea
19 weeks ago

Bugs and glitches?? Can you specify? I've been using CarPlay in my Mazda CX-5 with Alpine Stereo and it runs great. I would not buy another car without it. Its safety first which is the idea behind it.


Because a graphically richer interface isn't "safe"? We're not talking watching music videos or movies here, we're talking about screens that have something other than just giant text on them. Album art would be nice. The practically transparent, barely visible image that is supposedly on the screen of the "now playing" is useless. It might as well not be there.
Rating: 1 Votes
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liquidiq
19 weeks ago

Bring it to my 2017 rf pls


Also waiting for it on my 2016 MX-5 softtop :cool:
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
dominiongamma
19 weeks ago

I really hate how car companies are so behind in this. I mean seriously, when did Apple announce Carplay? 2013!
Worse, all these car OEMs think these features are only for the high end cars with the highest trim first, even though they don't even invest much in it (Apple does most of the job, and the app developers did the hard work on the apps). Yet they feel they need to make a ton of money out of it.

The worse of course are the Japanese companies. They still think they can do their own software, while it's been proven in the consumer electronics market that they suck at it.

I have a Honda Civic with CarPlay... only Japanese car maker dragging their feet were Toyota
Rating: 1 Votes
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