I made this for my 2021 Mazda CX-30 but the general concept could apply to many cars, and newer models.
The official Mazda cell phone charger for the CX-30 is in a very inconvenient place. It’s both hard to get to for basic usage and incredibly wasteful of space. It’s in the bottom of the large center console.
Are we supposed to keep the console empty just for this function? Fumble through a console full of items to place the phone at the bottom of it?
I wanted a better way that was cheaper, easier to install, and more functional. This is what I came up with without much effort or expense.
These are the items I used:
Optional Items:
- Rubber mat (link)
- USB 90-degree converter (link)
- USB cigarette charger adapter (link – get one without a light, see below)
- Wireless CarPlay (optional but recommended) (link)
I used the included thin rubber rectangular shaped insert pad as the template guide and cut out a regular piece of cardboard around it. This created the template for the size needed. I then put this in the larger console section to confirm the size and shape was desired.
I then laid the wireless charger on top of the cardboard to the desired position and drew a line around it. I also marked where the wire would fall so I could cut out a notch for the USB plug to go through.
After trimming the cardboard piece with the adjustments, to serve as the main template, I then laid it on top of a piece of foam board I already had. (The foam board thickness I used was either 5/16 or 3/8) The final foam board section sits under the cut rubber mat piece to elevate it so that it would sit about even with the height of the charger. You can find this foam board at a local art store or online.
I used a razor blade to cut the foam board to the desired shape, using the cardboard template, then laid it in the console to confirm it fit as needed. I also used clear packing tape to tape up the foam piece just to give it another layer of support.
You’ll need to mark the bottom of the console section so you know where to cut a hole for the USB plug to fit through. I used a drill with a small bit and cut out the 4 corners of the USB hole, then worked my way around until the hole was finished.
You then need to cut down the rubber mat that comes with the console, like I did, or buy a different piece for this. The benefit of buying a different piece is that it would be one complete piece and you can cut it to your desired size. Something like this may work but I didn’t do this. I just used the provided mat. You can see that I used a few pieces to complete this and glued them to the foam board.
This shows what it looks like with the wireless charger fed through the hole, before putting the mat in.
When installed in the car, I plug the wireless charger into the USB outlet that’s in the console. It shuts off after about 5 minutes if you turn the car off. You may want to use a 90-degree adapter. This both adds some degree of protection against accidental downward pressure and can be used as an extension for the USB plug. This way there is less wear-and-tear on the main plug.
The cigarette lighter power is always on, so if you plug anything into it then it could drain your car’s battery. I had a USB adapter plugged in which has a small blue light on it. It never drained my battery enough to notice but it’s worth considering. If you use one, consider getting one that doesn’t have a light. Some have very faint lights and are hard to see.
The wireless charger I chose also has a small red light on the middle of the cable so it too could drain the battery, which is why I usually leave it plugged into the USB plug.
Note that some reviews state that the wireless charger I chose, and link to above, stopped working after a short period of time. I haven’t had any problems yet but you should buy something you’re comfortable with. I liked it because it was rectangular and fit my needs.
I also recommend the wireless Apple CarPlay adapter too, which allows your phone to connect WIRELESSLY to your car’s entertainment unit. I plugged this into the car’s USB port in the console and it’s worked great! I just leave my phone in my pocket for most trips and get full Apple CarPlay functionality. They’ve since released newer versions here.
If you want to see how I created a USB thumb drive with mp3s and music playlists then read this post. I wasn’t able to find any detailed info on how to format the playlists and was able to figure it out.
Additional Useful Products
Dash Cameras
Front & Rear Dash Cam by FitCamX that looks like it originally came with the car.
I installed this myself and it took less than 2 hours.
The version that I installed gets its power from the overhead sunroof power, which means I didn’t need to run power to an area that is hard to get to.
It comes with a power connector cable for attaching to the sunroof power, if you have one. There are other options available too. Buy it here.
Rear Cargo Cover
It’s surprising that Mazda doesn’t offer one of these, either at the time of purchase or as an optional accessory.
Also, you can buy a Mazda ‘genuine part’ rear cargo cover here, but it’s more expensive than the above listed options.
