Let’s face it - technology is paramount in this day and age. We know it, you know it, the kids know it, and the auto industry knows it. Starting a vehicle with a mobile phone isn’t a new concept, but Mazda’s Mobile Start is a great bit of kit thanks to its simplicity.
Priced at a seemingly outrageous $500, Mazda Mobile Start can be purchased and installed at any dealership in the United States of America. Those $500 represent the app itself (one-year subscription) and preparing the car. Currently compatible with the 2016 Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 (automatic transmission only), both iOS and Android smartphone users can use the app.
So it costs $500, the annual renewal is $65, and what does the customer get for all this greenback? “Mazda Mobile Start comes with more than just the features and functions of the app; it also comes with peace of mind,” tells Trisha Quezada, the Mazda North America manager of accessories, sales and marketing. That’s a bit ambiguous, Trisha, so we’ll take over from here.
First of all, there’s the engine start function. The app is able to start the engine and let it idle for up to half an hour to preheat or cool the car. Starting the vehicle by using the app will see the climate control and defroster activate with the settings last used by the driver. Good enough, but it gets even better than this.
Mazda Mobile Start also allows owners to check if the doors are locked. If they aren’t, there’s a remote lock/unlock feature, as well as a Panic Alarm feature that can be activated for “increased security.” Didn’t know that an alarm makes you feel safer, but whatever. On an ending note, there's a feature called Carfinder. Through the GPS technology it incorporates, owners will be able to locate a car in a parking area.
So it costs $500, the annual renewal is $65, and what does the customer get for all this greenback? “Mazda Mobile Start comes with more than just the features and functions of the app; it also comes with peace of mind,” tells Trisha Quezada, the Mazda North America manager of accessories, sales and marketing. That’s a bit ambiguous, Trisha, so we’ll take over from here.
First of all, there’s the engine start function. The app is able to start the engine and let it idle for up to half an hour to preheat or cool the car. Starting the vehicle by using the app will see the climate control and defroster activate with the settings last used by the driver. Good enough, but it gets even better than this.
Mazda Mobile Start also allows owners to check if the doors are locked. If they aren’t, there’s a remote lock/unlock feature, as well as a Panic Alarm feature that can be activated for “increased security.” Didn’t know that an alarm makes you feel safer, but whatever. On an ending note, there's a feature called Carfinder. Through the GPS technology it incorporates, owners will be able to locate a car in a parking area.