I have a Mazda from 2019 (not the CX), and I can do everything with a couple of knobs. Even the extra buttons you mention (volume up/down in the wheel or quick access to media/navigation/radio in the center console) are redundant and nearly useless. Just a couple of weeks after I got the car, I have never touched the screen again.

A/C controls are completely manual. Mazda got it right from the beginning.