Mazda CX-5 Project Lead Defends Large Screen as Safer, Explains Removal of Physical Buttons

The all-new Mazda CX-5 features a 15.6-inch center display, with nearly all physical buttons removed from the center console. In response to external claims that this move was primarily aimed at cutting costs, Koichiro Yamaguchi, CX-5 project leader, stated that the design decision was driven mainly by safety considerations. He explained that functions like climate control, if operated via physical buttons, would need to be placed lower on the dashboard, requiring drivers to look down and search among multiple visually similar buttons—diverting their eyes from the road. Integrating controls into the screen, he noted, reduces visual distraction and minimizes the need for drivers to shift their gaze. While acknowledging that physical buttons can be operated blindly through muscle memory, Mazda has addressed usability concerns by fixing frequently used functions like climate control in a dedicated area at the bottom of the screen. Yamaguchi added that whether more physical buttons will be reintroduced in the future will depend on customer feedback. Additionally, Mazda’s similarly minimalist center console design is also featured in the Mazda6e and CX-6e, both of which were developed based on models tailored for the Chinese market.