New Car Trend away from physical buttons?

[EllieJedi]

I have started thinking about replacing my 2013 Lexus RX as there are some features that it doesn’t have that a lot of newer models seem to have, but I didn’t realize that it’s become a real trend for car makers to get rid of the physical buttons for the temperature controls. I live in a climate where earlier this week we had highs in the 80s, this morning it was 43 when I walked my dogs, and currently it’s 68. I don’t want to have to use a touchscreen tablet while I’m driving to adjust the temperature. I had a loaner the last time my car was in for major service that you could adjust the temperature with voice commands but it wasn’t as exact as the dials use to be. I get the tablet controls may be cheaper but this seems like a safety issue to me.

I’m going to need to find a model that still has physical buttons. I’m an older GenX, so yes I’m likely showing my age but I’m wondering if I’m alone in not liking this trend?

 

[soccerdad72]

I just saw a report saying that some auto manufacturers are actually going back to buttons, but apparently, it's a lot more expensive for manufacturing to have physical buttons for single functions versus a touchscreen that does it all, so it's a cost factor:

https://www.wired.com/story/why-car-brands-are-finally-switching-back-to-buttons/

 

[RUDisney]

As an older Gen Xer, myself, you get used to the tablet pretty quickly.

 

[BrianL]

My new car does use the touchscreen for climate control, but there are two buttons for temp up/down, and pressing one will also turn it on. If you want to switch the fan configuration or something though, that's all on the screen.

 

[Christine]

I have a 2018 Camry with the knobs, buttons for temp controls. The only thing on the touchscreen is entertainment. I get adjust the temp and defrost and other things by feel without my eyes leaving the road.

My husband drives a Subaru Outback. Just about everything is controlled through a screen. I have to take my eyes off the road for too long to make adjustments. I'm sure I'd get better at it if I drove it all the time, but even then, if I'm doing some adjusting and I hit a bump, my finger moves on the screen and I end up adjusting something else or messing up the screen entirely.

 

[Disneefun]

I hate all these touchscreens. You can pry my old Honda from my cold, dead hands. We're not supposed to use phones while driving, but somehow it's okay to have to take our eyes off the road for temperature and radio adjustments? Why? I much prefer things I can do by feel.

 

[kdonnel]

Voice control works great on my car. I think that will be the method in the future.

 

[BrianL]

Voice control works great on my car. I think that will be the method in the future.

I wouldn't say that mine works "great" - but it does work, when I think to use it. That is definitely a hands-free option.

 

[jimmymc]

You're definitely not alone. In fact, the amount of complaints I see about touchscreens on car forums gets annoying.

Very few cars only allow you to adjust HVAC on the touch screen. Most will at least have a knob to adjust the automatic temperature setpoint, and plenty still have the classic 3 dials or 2 dials and mode buttons. Plus a lot of people use automatic controls and rarely adjust them.

The good news is that almost all cars have radio and cruise control buttons in the steering wheel, which is my favorite.

 

[georgina]

I have started thinking about replacing my 2013 Lexus RX as there are some features that it doesn’t have that a lot of newer models seem to have, but I didn’t realize that it’s become a real trend for car makers to get rid of the physical buttons for the temperature controls. I live in a climate where earlier this week we had highs in the 80s, this morning it was 43 when I walked my dogs, and currently it’s 68. I don’t want to have to use a touchscreen tablet while I’m driving to adjust the temperature. I had a loaner the last time my car was in for major service that you could adjust the temperature with voice commands but it wasn’t as exact as the dials use to be. I get the tablet controls may be cheaper but this seems like a safety issue to me.

I’m going to need to find a model that still has physical buttons. I’m an older GenX, so yes I’m likely showing my age but I’m wondering if I’m alone in not liking this trend?

My 2025 Toyota Rav4 has a lot of buttons still. There is a touchscreen for navigation and music, but buttons for the fan speed, defrost, air direction, etc. The temperature is controlled by turning a (large) knob.

 

[BrianL]

You're definitely not alone. In fact, the amount of complaints I see about touchscreens on car forums gets annoying.

Very few cars only allow you to adjust HVAC on the touch screen. Most will at least have a knob to adjust the automatic temperature setpoint, and plenty still have the classic 3 dials or 2 dials and mode buttons. Plus a lot of people use automatic controls and rarely adjust them.

The good news is that almost all cars have radio and cruise control buttons in the steering wheel, which is my favorite.

Yeah, what I was advised was to leave it on auto and never touch it - it will supposedly keep the inside of the car perfectly comfortable all the time. Of course, to me, perfectly comfortable usually means all windows down and the sunroof back!

 

[Lumpy1106]

Just bought a 2024 Corolla. It has a nice mix - buttons and knobs for climate control, Car Play screen controls for everything on your phone. We have a Honda CRV that isn't quite as intuitive but not bad. Our Ford Fusion OTOH is all screen controls and I don't like it. I practically have to pull over to control anything.

 

[lorimt]

I don’t mind the touch screens but my DH (older Gen X) hates them. He was very happy that the last car that he really wanted and ended up buying had lots of buttons. It’s a 2022 Cadillac CT4.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I have a 2024 Mazda CX-50 and it has a small screen but it has actual buttons and knobs as well for things like climate control, seat heater/cooling, music controls. Also buttons on the steering wheel for some things. I definitely prefer it and it was one of the things that factored into my car choice. A Subaru Forester was also at the top of my list but I didn't care for the giant screen there.

Not the best picture but you can see the small touch screen at the top. But then below are buttons. I don't use the screen much unless I'm using navigation. I mostly just leave it as a clock.

In the center console area, there is a large knob that you can also use to navigate through the screen instead of reaching forward for the touchscreen access. It's actually quite handy on the rare occasion I do need to use the screen for stuff. Or to just switch it back over to my clock.

 

[barkley]

our '24 bronco has knobs for heat and a/c temperature/fan controls, buttons for seat warmers and defrost. I'm not a fan of touch screens-i don't like taking my eyes off the road and forget voice control I can't stand those.

 

[tvguy]

I have a 2018 Camry with the knobs, buttons for temp controls. The only thing on the touchscreen is entertainment. I get adjust the temp and defrost and other things by feel without my eyes leaving the road.

My husband drives a Subaru Outback. Just about everything is controlled through a screen. I have to take my eyes off the road for too long to make adjustments. I'm sure I'd get better at it if I drove it all the time, but even then, if I'm doing some adjusting and I hit a bump, my finger moves on the screen and I end up adjusting something else or messing up the screen entirely.

Subaru is actually one of the automakers going back to physical buttons. https://futurism.com/the-byte/subaru-bringing-back-physical-knobs-buttons

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

They are probably fine UNTIL something goes wrong. We had a rental vehicle over the summer, a Kia, and it's like EVERYTHING was a touchscreen.

My car is so old that it doesn't have a touchscreen, (just a display/backup camera) and that screen goes black a lot of the time too. I would hate to think how much it would cost to repair that.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I love the screen for navigation, but I would prefer buttons for most things

 

[MillauFr]

Yes I rented a Subaru in Hawaii and didn't like the large screen. Also renting a Kia in Vancouver it was a pain to drive down the road and change the km/hr display to miles/hr when I crossed the border.

 

[EllieJedi]

I love the screen for navigation, but I would prefer buttons for most things

I love the screen for navigation, but I would prefer buttons for most things
I like a screen for navigation, but for things like temperature and volume controls for the sound system, I do like actual buttons.