Question from prospective buyer -

[STLpilot]

One feature universally praised by every Mazda owner is that knob. When 100% of us agree on something?!?! Well... that don't happen every day brother.

I'll never own a car without a knob in that spot.

I totally agree with you. The knob is excellent and widely used by BMW and Audi because it works. It was designed to be simple and keep your eyes on the road. I am a big fan of it.

 

[Fokis]

Unless you hack it.

Is this done easily? This weekend on our getaway, every time my girlfriend would try to enter an address, we had to keep pulling over to enter them. I found that to be a bit inconvenient.

@ OP - I got used to it within an hour. And the newest car I owned prior to the 2018 CX 5 was my 2002 Miata. Before that was a 1990 Audi. So I had practically no experience with these fancy on-board entertainment systems.

 

[mazdadude]

Is this done easily? This weekend on our getaway, every time my girlfriend would try to enter an address, we had to keep pulling over to enter them. I found that to be a bit inconvenient.

She can use the knob herself to enter the address and complete the task, or you can use the voice command button, and she can speak the commands to the nav system.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Is this done easily? This weekend on our getaway, every time my girlfriend would try to enter an address, we had to keep pulling over to enter them. I found that to be a bit inconvenient.

@ OP - I got used to it within an hour. And the newest car I owned prior to the 2018 CX 5 was my 2002 Miata. Before that was a 1990 Audi. So I had practically no experience with these fancy on-board entertainment systems.

Depends on the user/owner.

Personally I wouldn't hack the system. I am more than fine with the commander knob and the touchscreen has always been fingerprint free

 

[CX-5um]

Quick transition.

Con: Drive any other car and you'll feel like something is missing.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Depends on the driver. Some want full touchscreen functions at all times while others don't mind not having it

 

[7eregrine]

Quick transition.

Con: Drive any other car and you'll feel like something is missing.

I find myself reaching for a volume knob between the seats of my wifes car that...isn't there.

 

[boandlkramer]

I find myself reaching for a volume knob between the seats of my wifes car that...isn't there.

I do that often in my X3. I really wish BMW followed suit and relocated the volume knob to the same place.

 

[123373]

I do that often in my X3. I really wish BMW followed suit and relocated the volume knob to the same place.

Isn’t it just as easy to use the steering wheel volume control? I have never touched the volume knob on my 7 year old 328.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Isn’t it just as easy to use the steering wheel volume control? I have never touched the volume knob on my 7 year old 328.

Yes but if your arm is resting on the centre armrest, easier to use the commander dial

 

[7eregrine]

Yes but if your arm is resting on the centre armrest, easier to use the commander dial

There's no explaining it to someone that doesn't have one. [emoji23]

 

[Carfo]

Isnt it just as easy to use the steering wheel volume control? I have never touched the volume knob on my 7 year old 328.

you get a lot more control over the volume with the knob given that you can spin it fast whereas on the wheel you have to hold it and it just takes a little longer, not a huge deal but whenever i change volume it's just so much easier to use the knob

 

[Xeler8ing]

There's no explaining it to someone that doesn't have one. [emoji23]

(lol2)

 

[Ricsta]

Isnt it just as easy to use the steering wheel volume control? I have never touched the volume knob on my 7 year old 328.

The volume knob by the Commander knob is simpler to use than the one by steering wheel. Its much faster and more precise.

 

[boandlkramer]

The volume knob by the Commander knob is simpler to use than the one by steering wheel. It’s much faster and more precise.

Bottom like, it’s more ergonomic there. Not much muscle movement. I used it often as I have to turn the music down every day as I go through a guard/entry control point. Twice each time.

 

[Bergz1184]

The commander knob and control knob are so intuitive and easy to use, that for all intents and purposes I completely forgot there was a touch screen, I only used the knob and steering wheel controls. It wasn't until I traded for my new one that I was like oh yeah, there is a touch screen, which is much easier for address input when you're not moving. When I drive the hubs Buick, which is very nice in its own way, I constantly reach for it, and get frustrated when I have to take time to push buttons on or next to the screen. So completely don't want another vehicle without it.

 

[shadonoz]

The commander knob and control knob are so intuitive and easy to use, that for all intents and purposes I completely forgot there was a touch screen, I only used the knob and steering wheel controls. It wasn't until I traded for my new one that I was like oh yeah, there is a touch screen, which is much easier for address input when you're not moving. When I drive the hubs Buick, which is very nice in its own way, I constantly reach for it, and get frustrated when I have to take time to push buttons on or next to the screen. So completely don't want another vehicle without it.

Agree on all counts. I hardly ever use it as a touch screen.

 

[7eregrine]

And being able to mute in a second? Never had that feature before. I use it so much I always forget there's volume on the steering wheel.

 

[Bergz1184]

And being able to mute in a second? Never had that feature before. I use it so much I always forget there's volume on the steering wheel.

Agree. When I test drove my first one I thought what an odd place for a volume control. But it's so much more useful than you realize. I too use it more than my steering wheel controls, because of the mute, and because it's just so much quicker. It's useful for passengers too, distracts the driver less.

 

[Xeler8ing]

And being able to mute in a second? Never had that feature before. I use it so much I always forget there's volume on the steering wheel.

Is there a mute button on the steering wheel (uhm)

Can't remember