Aloha,
New CX5 owner here with a 2023 Premium. I just read that for 2024 they will be making touchscreen available for Apple CP/AA. I'm more than happy with the wheel and don't find it annoying at all, especially coming out of a 2012 Subaru XV Crosstrek. But it would be kind of cool to have that functionality when navigating certain Car Play features. Does anyone know if this is a hardware thing or software? Would there be the ability for an OTA upgrade to allow for touchscreen in Car Play or would that require an entirely new head unit? Not a very tech oriented person... my talents lie elsewhere.
Mahalo!

 

I would expect it to be both hardware and software. The screen will have to be built with a touch sensitive screen and have updated software that registers it. Personally I don't like touchscreens especially after what happened with them in the previous Mazda Infotainment screen that had ghost touch issues.

 

The fact that the 2024 CX-5 will have a touchscreen and iStop made me very very glad I purchased the 2023 CX-5 in Premium Plus trim. I could not have waited anyhow as my 2016 Hyundai developed oil fried engine syndrome and was unusable after 120,046 miles.

 

I wonder what's made Mazda USA want/need to add i-stop when the rest of world has had it since 2012.

 

Probably to artificially boost the fuel economy numbers and make the car seem more "premium". I hate stop/start on cars with a passion...

 

Same thing happened with Audi. Mush rather have the big center ****/wheel.

 

I hate i-stop too.
Mine is 2023 CX5, there is an electric switch detects the bonnet opened.
I used the cable tie to keep the switch ON, now i-stop is permanently OFF and no annoying orange i-stop sign in the main display panel