Mazda Relies on Voice Commands and Google to Enhance the User Experience in the 2026 CX-5

• The new CX-5 abandons the multimedia controller in favour of a 12.9-inch or 15.6-inch touchscreen.

• All 2026 CX-5s feature a new infotainment system with Google built-in.

• Mazda states it aimed to reduce driver distraction and cognitive load with these technologies.

The new 2026 Mazda CX-5 will be a very important product for the Japanese manufacturer, not only because it represents a new generation of its best-selling vehicle, but also because it will introduce several new technologies never before offered by Mazda.

Indeed, this new compact SUV will be the company’s first model to utilize an infotainment system with Built-in Google services.

While its other vehicles still rely on a rotary controller on the center console to navigate central screen menus, Mazda has given the new CX-5 a touchscreen like those found in its rivals.

Entry-level versions will receive a 12.9-inch unit—larger than most competitors’ high-end versions—while upscale models will be equipped with an even larger 15.6-inch screen.

Both screens share the same position, shifted to the right of the dashboard so as not to be blocked by the steering wheel, maintaining the same distance between the road and the controls, regardless of the version chosen.

This element received particular attention, as Mazda claims to have wanted to reduce the distance the driver’s gaze must travel between the road and information on the central screen compared to the previous generation CX-5. Engineers also focused on the time required for the eyes to refocus inside and outside the vehicle.

Replacing physical buttons with touchscreens might seem completely contrary to Mazda’s desire to reduce distractions and the driver’s cognitive load, but the manufacturer claims to have done its homework in this area.

Thus, a wide range of voice commands are now possible thanks to the integration of Gemini, Google’s artificial intelligence, into the voice recognition system.

This means one can ask questions such as “which side is the fuel filler on?” and receive a response relevant to their vehicle.

Of course, this system can also provide restaurant recommendations and navigation directions, and it can control several vehicle functions, including climate control and multimedia.

Notably, occupants can adjust the audio system volume by voice, in addition to using buttons on the steering wheel and the icon in the control bar at the bottom of the screen. The latter is deliberately placed closer to the passenger.

Also on the steering wheel, a button activates the surround-view camera system, and another toggles between the three pages of the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, standard on all 2026 CX-5s.

Navigation directions and current media details are displayed in front of the driver, and more expensive versions offer a head-up display enlarged by 122% compared to the old model, which now projects directly onto the windshield.

Of course, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available, as is the full suite of Google services, including native Google Maps navigation and the Google Play Store, which allows for the installation of applications that can be used when the vehicle is stopped, such as YouTube.

Unsurprisingly, the new 2026 Mazda CX-5 infotainment system is capable of receiving over-the-air updates, allowing the manufacturer to make improvements to vehicles already on the road without waiting for a dealer visit.

As in the CX-70 and CX-90, the new CX-5 will offer a feature allowing the vehicle to find the ideal driving position for each driver, which can then be saved in a profile accessible via the central screen.

Full details of this technology have not been revealed for the CX-5, but the brand’s current SUVs, which use a different infotainment system, utilize a camera to detect the driver’s face and automatically adjust the seat, mirrors, and head-up display.

More information on the upcoming CX-5 is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks as this model makes its entry at Canadian Mazda dealerships.