Mazda has already revealed the exterior of its third-generation CX-5 SUV, but now the Japanese company has confirmed that the model will be the first to get its next-generation in-car infotainment, which it is calling the electrical and electronic architecture, or Mazda E/E Architecture+ (Mazda EEA+).
OK, what's the centrepiece of the EEA+ system?
Bringing together the vehicle's electronic control units, software layers, communication networks and the external servers which support the car's digital functions, Mazda EEA+ features Google built-in, which includes Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play. The control system for this will either be a 12.9- or a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, depending on the spec of the CX-5, which will be complemented by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a larger head-up display than the previous model of the SUV.
Crucially, Mazda recognises the need for ergonomic correctness as a safety concern, so there will be plenty of physical buttons for "essential functions” inside the CX-5, with these frequently used switches positioned higher up in the driver's eyeline and permanently visible too. On the steering wheel will be capacitive haptic switches for key features such as the 360-degree-view camera and Mi-Drive, with voice control layered on top of all of the above command structures.
And what, precisely, does having Google built-in bring to the party?
Featuring as standard for the first time in any Mazda, the software means the CX-5 launches with Google Assistant, which will later be updated to the AI version known as Google Gemini. This, in theory, will allow for "natural and conversational” control for everything inside the car, incorporating everything from adjusting the climate control to finding a destination for the satnav.
For technophiles, it's not just Google that's part of Mazda EEA+, but of course Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the MyMazda app and an optional 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.
What else do we know about the CX-5's interior?
Mazda says the Mk3 SUV - powered by a 2.5-litre e-Skyactiv G petrol engine with Mazda M NHy rid technology to assist it - has typical Japanese design principles, majoring on a passenger compartment which offers a "calming, spacious atmosphere with refined materials”. In other words, it should be a pretty roomy five-seater SUV, which we're very much looking forward to trying when it first lands, sometime in spring 2026. We'll hopefully know Irish prices and specs for the CX-5 family soon.