Mazda Apple CarPlay: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re planning on purchasing a new Mazda vehicle, then you’ll love the many premium features that now come with these cars. Mazda has brought a bevy of technologies to their new cars to provide both comfort and convenience. One of the options now offered by Mazda models is Apple CarPlay. CarPlay runs on a few select Mazda models through Mazda’s infotainment system, allowing a person to perform many of the same actions an iPhone allows, but safely and hands-free while driving. With CarPlay, you can make calls, send and receive texts, hear your favorite musical tunes, get turn-by-turn directions, listen to podcasts, and more.

Mazda recently announced that smartphone integration technologies, like Apple CarPlay, will become available on more of their vehicles. However, if you don’t have CarPlay in your new Mazda yet, don’t worry. Mazda is offering dealer-installed updates to certain Mazda cars if those cars did not come with CarPlay.

What Mazda Models Include Apple CarPlay?

Mazda’s currently list of models offering Apple CarPlay isn’t large, but don’t let that stop you. Since Mazda offers a retrofit of CarPlay for many other models, you might still be in luck. The current Mazda models you can purchase from a dealer that offer CarPlay are:

• 2018 Mazda6
• 2019 Mazda CX-9
• 2019 Mazda CX-5.

If you already have a Mazda and it doesn’t feature CarPlay, don’t worry, there’s still great news for you.

How Much Does CarPlay Cost?

You’re in luck if you don’t want to pay much for CarPlay. Unlike some car manufacturers including BMW, which charges $80 per month after the first year of CarPlay, Mazda will not charge you a subscription fee to use CarPlay on their vehicles.

I Don’t Have CarPlay, Can I Get a Mazda CarPlay Upgrade?

For those of you that want an after-market CarPlay upgrade on your Mazda, as long as your car is a 2014 model or newer and has Mazda Connect’s infotainment system, you can get an updated installation of either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The components you’ll get from your dealer feature both hardware and software. Plus, vehicles that are qualified can get better charging USB ports that are more powerful. To get the update, simple schedule an appointment with your Mazda dealer. The update cost starts at $199 plus labor and takes about two hours to do.  

How to Setup and Use Your Mazda CarPlay

It’s very simple to setup and use your Mazda CarPlay. Remember, you need to have your iPhone ready.

• First, put the CarPlay app on your iPhone.
• Park the car and put the parking brake on.
• Using a lightening cable, connect your iPhone to your car’s USB port with the smartphone icon.
• Your Mazda Connect screen should recognize your iPhone.
• Follow the prompts on your Mazda Connect screen, and you will be able to complete the set-up process.

If you run into any problems while you try to connect your Mazda to your iPhone through Apple CarPlay, make sure you are using a high-quality USB cable. Also, make sure that you are using the USB port that is marked with the smartphone icon, and check to make sure the parking brake is engaged.