2024 Mazda CX-90 Long-Term Update: Ours has a touchscreen, yours may not

Mazda does things its own way, even when the majority of the automotive industry has agreed to do it the opposite way. Take our long-term CX-90 PHEV’s infotainment system, for example. In most circumstances, it does not operate as a touchscreen. But then in other cases, it does. This is just another example of Mazda's long and testy relationship with touchscreens. Let me explain.

Simply put, our CX-90's screen will only accept touch inputs while using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (which you can actually disable for in-motion driving for some unknown reason). You will note I underlined "our." That's because only the Premium Plus trims and every Turbo S trim have this capability, and we have a PHEV Premium Plus. If you have a different trim, the display is not a touchscreen. This functionality also aligns with the touch-capable screens measuring 12.3 inches while the touch-less ones measure 10.25.

Being able to use touch control while in Apple CarPlay is a big benefit and a significant reason to step up to a higher trim. But also, c’mon, Mazda. Why are we gatekeeping touch controls to upper trim levels? It’s not a luxury feature by any means, so it just feels wrong to treat it as such. Worse, the cheaper Mazda CX-50, CX-5 and Miata all come standard with touch control despite not offering the CX-90's big, 12.3-inch screen. The CX-5 and CX-50 even have a 10.25-inch screen, just like the lower CX-90s.