We just brought home a baby brother to the CX-5, a Mazda 3 i Touring Hatchback (yippy)
The 3 has very similar infotainment as will be found an in the 2016 CX-5. It also has the dual USB, new shape middle armrest. I can give below some of my first impressions from the system.
The screen:
Looks very good, larger than the one on the CX-5, responsive and touch/swipe capable. So far no issues with glare or sunlight.
While driving, the screen stops being touch capable, which means you have to use the knob (see below) or stop the car. For anything other than typing street address / business name, you can easily use the knob.
The knob + buttons next to the cup holders:
It is very easy to get used with them. It is place directly where your hand is normally rest, so it required no reach. I find myself mostly going from audio to navigation and there are shortcut buttons for both. Scroll (turning clockwise or counter clockwise), select and back actions are very easy to do. Some times you need side action, which is done by pushing the knob left or right. This is OK but less convenient than scroll.
If you are used to placing a purse or something over the cup holders, it might be pressing the mute/unmute button.
Music:
Here are the differences from the CX-5:
* There are 2 USB ports and they can charge my phone which requires ~2A to charge. Charging is not possible in the CX-5. I did not yet try if resume playback works.
* In addition to Pandora, there is Aha and Stitcher Radio available.
* Bluetooth playback had a few minor kinks with my Nexus 4 (still on Android Kitkat 4.4.4). It seems to work more reliably with the CX-5. Seems to work fine with Nexus 5 (Android Lollipop 5.0).
* It is fewer steps to switch audio source in the CX-5, e.g. from FM to Bluetooth. In the CX-5, it's either Audio / Bluetooth, or just Bluetooth if it was already on Audio. In the 3 it's Audio shortcut button, audio source, scroll to Bluetooth and select, or the last 3 if it was already on Audio.
Other features:
The 3 has HD Radio traffic map, which works even without navigation.
Fuel economy tracking app is available.
Compass is available if navigation is not installed. The compass only shows 8 directions, not the full 360 possibilities.
In the 3 Touring there is only ONE accessory power outlet, located inside the cubby below the armrest. It gets power even if the power switch is in the off position. So, if you were planning to use it to power something, you might need to disconnect it each time before you exit the vehicle. Pretty annoying.
However, since you have 2 USB ports, you could use one to power the thing you needed powering instead. These do turn off when the switch is off.
Navigation:
This system works pretty well. I was most impressed with how fast it can find places on the map, very much unlike our older Garmin unit. While the car is not moving, you can swipe the screen to move it, but pinch gesture does not seem to work. However, there are zoom-in/out rotate buttons available. Once moving, fast zoom-in/out is available through the knob.
While driving on the highway, you can see if gas/food is available at the next exit along with the exit name. It shows up-coming overhead signs as well as junction view and lane view. While driving on city streets, you can see close by street names as well as the name of the street you are driving on. The speed limit is also displayed.
Overall, I am pretty pleased with the system. On the 3, you can get one as long as you have the 7" display by purchasing an SD card which I got new for $315.
What I would have changed in the system?
Made the navigation color scheme less gray and slightly more pleasant.
Perhaps have the music's volume be reduced automatically whenever the GPS speaks.
