What makes a satisfying vehicle? Is it the aesthetics? The interior comfort? The feeling you get when hitting the gas? It can be any one of those things. However, today, we’re focusing on a key area many drivers shopping for a Mazda CX-5 for sale near Houston are interested in: tech. What are some of the CX-5 tech features you’ll actually use? We’ve discussed and have put together a list of the most pertinent tech features you’ll use every time you buckle into the driver’s seat of your dream car. Let’s begin!
10.25-inch Infotainment Center
The first feature we’ll dive into is one of the most important. You’ll interact with it whenever you want to make the ride more comfortable or entertaining. Depending on where you’re going, if it’s somewhere you’ve never been before, you may need it to direct you the right way. We’re, of course, talking about the 10.25-inch infotainment center that comes standard with every 2025 Mazda CX-5.
The digital age is alive and well. But you don’t need us to tell you that everything is done on computers nowadays. You’re reading this on an internet-ready device, after all. Modern vehicles are expected to ship with infotainment centers, which have slowly but surely bridged the gap between vehicles and computers over the past decade. However, no two infotainment centers from separate manufacturers are the same. The more luxurious brands offer more premium infotainment centers.
The 10.25-inch infotainment center inside the Mazda CX-5 may not be the largest the manufacturer produces (that honor goes to the 12.3-inch display in the CX-70 and CX-90), but the CX-5 itself is far from the priciest model in Mazda’s lineup. It’s an exceptional infotainment center for the 2025 CX-5’s starting MSRP of $28,770, especially once you dive deeper into what it can do.[a] But before we discuss the software within the infotainment center, let’s talk about what you’ll also likely use every time you sit in your car. Your speakers.
Speakers
Unsurprisingly, you’ll get speakers with any 2025 Mazda CX-5 you purchase. However, let’s briefly discuss the three speaker systems your CX-5 may have. First, and only found on the base S trim, is a four-speaker audio system that delivers great sound for the price. The Select and Preferred add two more speakers, providing half a dozen high-quality speakers fitted throughout the cabin.
The Carbon Edition and higher trims have a premium audio system created in tandem with Bose, one of the leading manufacturers in audio equipment engineering. This advanced sound stage features 10 magnificent speakers. It also features Bose Centerpoint and AudioPilot.
Centerpoint translates songs originally mastered with two channels (stereo) and creates a more unique soundscape. The improved soundscape is reminiscent of theater-quality surround sound setups. It does this to give each of the 10 speakers room to flourish, even when listening to your old favorites. But what’s AudioPilot?
CX-5 models with the Bose sound system have microphones that intelligently detect noise levels and refine the audio output to provide the best sound possible. It does so seamlessly, meaning you won’t hear a song instantly go from silent to obnoxiously loud. Every trim also has steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, so you don’t need to take your hands off the wheel to turn the volume up or down or change songs.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Linking your smartphone to your 2025 Mazda CX-5’s infotainment center allows you to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on any trim, depending on your smartphone’s make. On the lower trims, you’ll connect your phone to the infotainment center through a pair of modern USB-C ports. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the Carbon Edition and higher trims.
Once your phone is connected, your CX-5’s infotainment center transforms into an extension of your phone, complete with contacts, playlists, and more. Having access to your phone’s contacts makes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto more than a glorified media player or GPS. Hands-free calling and text messaging are simple with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means you can safely send a text message or answer an important call without taking your eyes off the road.
Aside from your music library and contacts carrying over from your phone to your CX-5’s infotainment center, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can display many of your favorite apps. Houston drivers can use their preferred navigation apps, like Waze. Turn-by-turn directions help you when leaving town and heading somewhere unfamiliar, and you can easily locate restaurants, shopping areas, and more. Speaking of locating, let’s talk about the next feature: Mazda Connected Services.
Mazda Connected Services
You’ll have access to a free trial of Mazda Connected Services for the first year of ownership after buying a brand-new CX-5. With Mazda Connected Services, you can download an app—MyMazda—not only on your smartphone but also on your smartwatch. Why does this matter? Because the MyMazda app is capable of more than you might think.
You can start your vehicle directly from your phone or watch remotely, even if you’re still in the house. Your phone and watch become something of a key fob, meaning you can also unlock your doors from the app. Interacting with your vehicle through your watch undoubtedly lets you live your James Bond fantasies. You can also locate your vehicle through the app. This is very helpful if you need to find it in a busy parking lot.
Can’t remember if you have enough gas to get to work? You can check your fuel meter from your phone through the MyMazda app and determine whether you need to stop at a gas station during your commute. Having these remote capabilities not only on your smartphone but on your wrist if you have a supported smartwatch makes owning a Mazda CX-5 one of the most modern automotive experiences around.
Wireless Charging Pad
"Set it and forget it" is a mantra to live by, and set it and forget it you shall if you purchase the Carbon Edition or a higher trim of the 2025 CX-5 because a wireless phone charging pad is standard. This makes sense because these are the trims with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You don’t need to bring any USB cables to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto with these trims, so why not go one step further and leave the cord at home altogether? Simply set your phone on the charging pad, and it’ll begin charging.
Power-Adjustable Seats
This one is an honorable mention, but we believe power-adjustable seats deserve to be on this list. Any driver from Houston or elsewhere adjusts their seats. Some people have the luxury of setting their adjustments once and never thinking about it again. Other people either need constant adjustment, live with another driver in the house who enjoys the seat in a completely different position, or both. Power-adjustable seats make it easy to get comfortable in moments.
The base model has a manually adjustable driver’s seat, but the Select has a six-way power-adjustable seat. All of the higher trims—the Preferred onwards—have an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support to keep your lower back feeling great, even after long drives.
The eight-way seat also has two memory profiles, meaning you can set your preferred position, and your spouse, or whoever you may share your CX-5 with, can set theirs. Pressing the button on the side of the seat for your respective profile will automatically adjust your seat to the position you set. The Preferred trim and up also have a standard six-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat.
Meeting Your Expectations
Mazda doesn’t mess around when creating vehicles like the CX-5. It’s a brand that always puts its best foot forward for no better reason than simply releasing a great product for millions to enjoy. If you have lofty expectations for your next SUV, believe us when we say the CX-5 will meet and exceed them. This is especially true for tech buffs in Houston shopping for something contemporary, fresh, and family-friendly without breaking the bank. There’s more to learn about the CX-5 because we’ve only scratched the surface of the full experience, so get ready for the ride of your life.