Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
https://www.wired.com/story/why-car-brands-are-finally-switching-back-to-buttons/
Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
https://www.wired.com/story/why-car-brands-are-finally-switching-back-to-buttons/
15 Comments
A smattering of automakers are slowly admitting that some smart screens are dumb. Last month, Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt said that next-gen models from the German automaker would get physical buttons for volume, seat heating, fan controls, and hazard lights. This shift will apply “in every car that we make from now on,” [Mindt told](https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/volkswagen-reintroducing-physical-controls-vital-functions) British car magazine *Autocar*.
Acknowledging the touchscreen snafus by his predecessors—in 2019, [VW described](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/world-premiere-for-the-new-golf-digitalised-connected-and-intelligent-5490) the “digitalized” Golf Mk8 as “intuitive to operate” and “progressive” when it was neither—Mindt said, “we will never, ever make this mistake anymore … It’s not a phone, it’s a car.”
Still, “the lack of physical switchgear is a shame” is now a common refrain in automotive reviews, including [on WIRED](https://www.wired.com/tag/evs-and-hybrids/). However, a limited but growing number of other automakers are dialing back the digital to greater or lesser degrees. The latest version of [Mazda’s CX-60 crossover SUV](https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/mazda/cx-60/interior) features a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, but there’s still physical switchgear for operating the heater, air-con, and heated/cooled seats. While it’s still touch-sensitive, Mazda’s screen limits what you can prod depending on the app you’re using and whether you’re in motion. There’s also a real click wheel.
Read more: [https://www.wired.com/story/why-car-brands-are-finally-switching-back-to-buttons/](https://www.wired.com/story/why-car-brands-are-finally-switching-back-to-buttons/)
In a Tesla, just use your voice… No buttons required.
I will say, touch screens with no tactile feel lead to more driver distraction because you cannot feel your way through a touch screen control panel.
Plus, I have had the damn things become super slow to respond when the temperature is really low. We had some -20 days and man, the damn things just did not want to work.
Bring back knobs and buttons please.
This is good! Buttons feel a lot safer when driving, I can still keep my eyes on the road and feel my way around to the right setting. And if I hit a bump my finger still gets the button where as a touch screen I end up hitting a different setting.
Back in 2019, Mazda actually got rid of the touchscreen for its 4th generation Mazda3, because they the touchscreen was disabled while the car was moving and they found consumers were using the buttons 90% of the time the touchscreen was available. It was just a useless expense.
I notice you failed to mention that EU safety standards are changing to take the presence/absence of physical controls into consideration when awarding safety ratings, making it impossible for touchscreen cars to receive 5 stars and massively decreasing their marketability.
Funny how they only start to care about safety once it can impact their bottom line.
Edit: I thought I hit reply, I meant for this to be under op’s tldr comment, it makes more sense there
Screen controls are dangerous. They force you to look away from the road for important things like turning on/off the fog lights, or controlling AC.
AkA electronics are hard to get from China now because of tarrifs, so car manufacturers are returning to the basics
My wife and I were just talking about this this morning. Moved from a Tesla Model 3 to a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and went from no buttons to … More buttons levers etc. Took some getting used to but it’s nice to be able to do some things without voice commands
My Mazda’s commander console is pretty freaking awesome.
Amazing!! With all of the hands free laws this should be the standard not touch screen tablets
My Toyota corolla cross is awesome. Touch screen only for minor things. Even the music had steering wheel button. I LOVE this car
Mercedes put the light controls for their HGVs on the touchscreen, insanely dangerous.
Companies implemented touch controls hoping to Dave a buck and didn’t invest in the ui required to make it a Good experience.
They should adopt mechanical keyboard keys… they have a high degree of customization and can be used to squeeze more money out of the buyer and even the second or third hand buyer if they want to change them again.