Yes. I had a last gen (2014 Mazda 3) and traded it in for a current gen (2021 Mazda 3) earlier this year. On last gen models they do have touch screen, but the touch part is auto disabled when the speed is above a low threshold (5 or 10 mph). In the current gen they just removed touch part completely.
With the last gen I only barely used the touch function in the pre-Android-Auto days, to help put the address to its builtin navigation system faster. Later they provided the optional upgrade of Android Auto (for $500) and I don't think I ever used the touch feature after the upgrade. In the current gen Android Auto is standard configuration and I never missed touching.
Besides the removal of touching, they also have some other small but useful improvements on the screen on the current gen that I really appreciate:
1. They made the screen wider in the current gen, so with Android Auto you can have 2 apps displaying at the same time, usually maps and music, with one horizontal and one vertical.
2. They made the screen slightly slanted towards the driver in the current gen.
Another thing I think most people don't realize is that the design around non-touch screen could mean that the screen can be placed to a better position. When the screen is touchable, it has to be within arms reach, which usually means it has to been lower, and the driver has to look down when they need some info from the screen. The current gen Mazda move it upper, so the driver only need to roll their eyes slightly to see it.
Another 2021 Mazda 3 owner - I hadn't even realized you last point about screen position, but now that you've mentioned it, it's obvious. And frankly, fantastic. The physical-only controls are the entire reason we went with a Mazda, and remembering my 2016 Civic, watching Hagerty's review of the 8th gen Golf, and reading through this is just vindicating that choice.
I'd recommend a Mazda, on this basis alone, to anyone that asks - and ridicule other brands when it comes up (with someone that hasn't just dropped thousands on a new car).
Yes, they had touchscreens for a while but started disabling/removing them from new cars (pre-COVID) for safety reasons. I believe their 2021 cars have all switched to physical controls plus one of those puck things.
With the last gen I only barely used the touch function in the pre-Android-Auto days, to help put the address to its builtin navigation system faster. Later they provided the optional upgrade of Android Auto (for $500) and I don't think I ever used the touch feature after the upgrade. In the current gen Android Auto is standard configuration and I never missed touching.
Besides the removal of touching, they also have some other small but useful improvements on the screen on the current gen that I really appreciate:
1. They made the screen wider in the current gen, so with Android Auto you can have 2 apps displaying at the same time, usually maps and music, with one horizontal and one vertical.
2. They made the screen slightly slanted towards the driver in the current gen.
Another thing I think most people don't realize is that the design around non-touch screen could mean that the screen can be placed to a better position. When the screen is touchable, it has to be within arms reach, which usually means it has to been lower, and the driver has to look down when they need some info from the screen. The current gen Mazda move it upper, so the driver only need to roll their eyes slightly to see it.