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Over the past decade, automakers rushed to replace knobs and switches with sleek touchscreens and haptic sliders. Interiors grew minimalist, but many drivers grew frustrated, and studies show that the level of distraction is almost off the charts. Reaction times when using things like smartphone mirroring (Apple CarPlay & Android Auto) are worse than being drunk or high. Even the most basic functions, such as adjusting the climate or audio functions on a screen, are distractions that aren't just annoying but potentially hazardous.
Studies indicate that a significant number of consumers are dissatisfied with haptic steering wheel inputs and touchscreen-based controls for essential features like audio volume. Now, after a wave of customer pushback and new safety considerations, several major automakers are reversing course. While it won't be an overnight turnaround, some changes have already been put in place, and more plans to bring back physical buttons and knobs are in play.
Touch-only interfaces promised design simplicity and digital flexibility, but they fell short in practice. Carmakers figured more screens were better. They showed that their models could be tech-forward and fresh, but complaints arose. Every day frustrations mounted because burying climate controls or seat heating in submenus made common tasks unnecessarily complex and frustrating for owners. Studies, such as the one from the Swedish outlet Vi Bilägare, showed that touchscreen functions took significantly longer than physical controls.
Another huge impetus behind the change for European carmakers is regulatory pressure. European safety bodies, including Euro NCAP, will soon reward cars that keep physical controls for essentials like wipers, hazards, and lights. Starting in January 2026, Euro NCAP will require tactile controls for core functions in order for vehicles to qualify for top safety ratings. It's not as if NCAP will ban cars without them, but the message is clear: comply, or suffer the consequences.
VW has been maligned for its overly heavy dependence on screens and slider controls. Their launch seemed half-baked in cars like the electric ID.4. Functions were buried in menus, and the only non-screen controls were climate sliders that were surprisingly not backlit. While they help to minimize center stack clutter, their operation is less than savory.
VW's touchscreens drew criticism for being confusing and hard to use while driving, and the company has since admitted it went too far. VW recently confirmed it will bring back physical buttons in all its vehicles, a change sparked by customer demand and aimed at making cars easier to use.
Design chief Andreas Mindt announced VW will reintroduce physical buttons for the “five most important” functions: volume, fan, seat heating, cabin temperature, and hazard lights. Future models, including the refreshed Golf and upcoming EVs on the MEB platform, will feature clearer tactile controls. VW’s pivot shows that mainstream brands can’t ignore daily usability. For buyers, it means future Volkswagens will return to some of the intuitive functionality that made the brand’s interiors popular in the first place. The screens won't go away, but there will be important changes made to make VWs safer to use.
Porsche’s decision to bring back physical buttons is rooted in safety and usability concerns, as well as outcry from its own customers. This shift reflects growing recognition that touchscreens for essentials like climate and infotainment can increase distraction and delay response times, increasing the risks of an accident. They also detract from purists' desire to focus on what Porsche does best. After all, "there is no substitute" for physical controls.
The Taycan EV (above) is one of Porsche's worst examples of over-dependence on screens. While they look great, the preponderance of screen controls is a distraction in a very quick, high-performance EV. It seems counterintuitive, frankly.
Even the current Cayenne SUV improves its use of physical buttons for climate and audio, which shows its intent on turning things around, at least partially. Upcoming models are expected to retain dedicated buttons for climate, volume, and drive mode settings, rather than relegating these functions to digital menus. By blending digital convenience with physical tactility, Porsche shows that luxury and performance brands don’t have to choose between modern design and driver usability.
As we have attested from our own reviews, modern Mercedes models run too many operations beneath a beautiful but frustrating touchscreen. The brand has gone whole hog on capacitive steering-wheel controls and touch panels, but there has been some backlash about their overuse when it comes to basic vehicle operations like audio volume controls. The GLS-Class, for example, has a haptic slider on the steering wheel that lacks feel and precision. Even Mercedes-Benz themselves have gone on record acknowledging that physical buttons simply work better.
Mercedes' upcoming 2027 GLC SUV is screen-heavy and is one of the first U.S. models to be completely software-dependent. While there aren't more buttons on the center stack, it will have a physical roller on the steering wheel, showing that the brand is making progress in the direction of more physical controls rather than purely electronic versions. It's a small step, but a step nonetheless.
Mercedes is expected to continue rebalancing its cabins, but based on photos of future vehicles, it's clear that large digital screens will remain central. Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer says that moving forward, every model will feature steering wheels with physical controls that are more intuitive and easier to use, complemented by select haptic functions. They will continue to evaluate global needs and adjust where they deem it necessary for particular markets. For luxury buyers, it’s a clear win in terms of comfort and convenience.
Hyundai is well on its way to change, more so than Mercedes. Case in point, the refreshed Santa Cruz lifestyle pickup truck. It now has physical knobs and buttons for climate and audio, versus the 2024 model. The change follows widespread complaints about earlier versions burying simple adjustments inside touchscreen menus that make driving more distracting and more frustrating to use.
The new, 2nd-generation 7-passenger 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a testament to the brand's commitment to more physical buttons. Although the large twin screens are present, the center stack shows buttons and knobs for climate and audio. The Tucson has returned to physical climate and audio controls, and models like the Kona have some of the best physical controls in its class.
Hyundai’s approach strikes a middle ground: the brand embraces large displays for navigation and infotainment while preserving tactile access for everyday essentials. This pragmatic hybrid approach is likely to define Hyundai interiors going forward, combining efficiency, safety, and driver satisfaction. We're thrilled to see the change.
By 2026, expect some new cars, especially from Volkswagen, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Hyundai, to feature more tactile and intuitive cabins. Regulators, customers, and designers are in alignment when it comes to critical functions like climate and audio, and physical buttons are returning. Although the progress might seem slow, it's happening now. In a world of increasingly digital vehicles, that might be the most refreshing innovation of all.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Oct 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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