CX-5 Firmware & Compatibility
The CX-5 has carried three different infotainment systems. First-gen KE cars (2013–2015) ran a TomTom-based head unit that has nothing to do with Mazda Connect. The 2016 KE facelift through the 2020 KF run the Gen 6 Mazda Connect CMU, the same unit covered throughout the platform knowledge base. The 2021 KF refresh moved to Gen 7, a different system with no shared path back.
This page covers what’s specific to the CX-5: which years and trims run Gen 6, what firmware they shipped with, and what to check before updating. The update procedure, version history, and reset steps are shared across every Gen 6 Mazda and live on the platform pages linked below.
Which CX-5 years are Gen 6
Section titled “Which CX-5 years are Gen 6”The supported line runs through the CX-5 model range, not around it. It’s defined by the CMU, not the badge.
| Model year | Generation | Screen | Gen 6 Mazda Connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2015 | KE | TomTom-based system | No |
| 2016 | KE (facelift) | 7-inch touch | Yes |
| 2017–2018 | KF | 7-inch touch | Yes |
| 2019–2020 | KF | 7-inch touch, or 8.8-inch non-touch | Yes |
| 2021+ (North America) | KF (refresh) | 10.25-inch non-touch | No (Gen 7) |
Notes that matter:
- The 2016 KE facelift is the first CX-5 with the Gen 6 CMU. It typically shipped on v55–v59 firmware, pre-CarPlay.
- 2021+ moved to a 10.25-inch non-touch display on a different software stack with built-in wireless CarPlay/Android Auto. The exact changeover varies by market and trim, so confirm by screen size and generation rather than year alone. See 2021+ CX-5 infotainment and Gen 6 vs Gen 7.
For why a single CMU and firmware version, not the model badge, defines the supported line, see supported vehicles.
Screen size and features by trim (2017–2020 KF)
Section titled “Screen size and features by trim (2017–2020 KF)”| Trim | Screen | Factory CarPlay | Nav | Bose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | 7-inch touch | 2019+ | No | No |
| Touring | 7-inch touch | 2019+ | Optional | No |
| Grand Touring | 7-inch touch (2017–18), 8.8-inch non-touch (2019+) | 2019+ | Yes (SD) | Yes |
| Signature (2019+) | 8.8-inch non-touch | Yes | Yes (SD) | Yes |
The 8.8-inch non-touch widescreen arrived for 2019 on Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims; every 2017–2018 trim uses the 7-inch touchscreen. If you’re unsure which display you’re looking at:
- 7-inch: Roughly square, responds to touch, sits above the center stack.
- 8.8-inch: Wide, mounted higher on the dash, does not respond to touch. Input is the rotary Commander knob only.
- 10.25-inch: Wide, high-mounted, redesigned UI. This is the 2021+ Gen 7 system and is not part of the Gen 6 platform.
The 8.8-inch screen runs the same firmware as the 7-inch
Section titled “The 8.8-inch screen runs the same firmware as the 7-inch”The 8.8-inch widescreen uses the same CMU board and firmware as the 7-inch screen; only the display panel differs. It runs the same firmware versions, shows the same About screen, and takes the same tweaks. The panel runs 1280×480 instead of the 7-inch unit’s 800×480, the UI lays out for the wider aspect ratio, and with no touch input the Commander knob is the primary control.
Firmware the CX-5 shipped with
Section titled “Firmware the CX-5 shipped with”Versions track delivery year and dealer service history rather than trim.
| Version | Era | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| v55–v58 | 2016 delivery | Pre-CarPlay |
| v59.00.502+ | 2016–2017 | Pre-CarPlay |
| v70.00.100+ | 2017–2019 | CarPlay-capable firmware |
| v74.00.324A | 2019–2020 | The source-backed baseline most tweaks target |
| v74.00.331 | Some replacement CMUs | Sparse documentation, mostly 4A N region replacement units. See known risky configurations |
To read your own version, go to Settings → System → About and check the OS Version line. Step-by-step with photos is on check your firmware, and the full Gen 6 build catalog is on firmware versions. If your About screen shows the v74.00.324A range, you have the supported Gen 6 CMU regardless of badge or region.
Factory CarPlay timing
Section titled “Factory CarPlay timing”CarPlay wasn’t standard on early MZD Connect CX-5s. The 2016 and most pre-2018 units left the factory without it and need a firmware update plus the USB hub to add it. Many 2018+ KF units were delivered CarPlay-capable, and CarPlay shipped from the factory on 2019+ cars. Once present, the hub hardware persists across firmware updates, so CarPlay survives a reflash. Retrofit and factory-option detail is on CX-5 CarPlay.
Before a CX-5 firmware update
Section titled “Before a CX-5 firmware update”The mechanics of updating are shared across every Gen 6 Mazda: see how firmware updates work and the update procedure. Two CX-5-specific things to do first:
- Pull the navigation SD card before updating.
- Confirm the update package region matches your unit (NA vs
4Aunits differ).
An update wipes installed tweaks; FORScan module changes live in separate ECUs and are unaffected. If your CX-5 is on v74.00.324A, that’s the well-tested baseline ScreenTune targets. If you’re on something earlier, getting to v74 covers the path.
Related
Section titled “Related”- CX-5 overview — full CX-5 content index
- CX-5 CarPlay — retrofit and factory options
- 2016–2020 CX-5 infotainment — Gen 6 system detail
- 2021+ CX-5 infotainment — the newer Gen 7 platform
- Gen 6 vs Gen 7 — what changed at the 2021 cutoff
- Firmware versions reference
- Getting to v74