New Car Trend away from physical buttons?

[EllieJedi]

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.

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The CX-50 and CX-5 are 2 of the models I’m considering partly because they still have physical controls and the screen isn’t the entire dash.

I just need to figure out if I will have enough room for my dogs, a 70 lb. Chocolate Lab and a 55 lb. Golden Retriever.

 

[Living42Day]

I have a 2024 GMC Yukon Denali. It still has all the knobs and buttons, but a touchscreen for the infotainment which is fine with me. I think the 2025 model transitioned to a touchscreen for most features, which I'm not sure that I like.

Not the biggest fan of the buttons for the PRNDL, though.

 

[_19disnA]

My new car has a combination of buttons and touch screen features. The most commonly used things like HVAC are all buttons. I find it a distraction to have to page through various screens while driving. GPS is a touch screen and you to be VERY careful where you touch various places on the screen or you end up changing something unexpectedly. Touch screen might be fine for your home PC, but not my preference for use in a moving vehicle where you have to keep your eyes focused on the road. Probably a good reason to visit dealerships and actually tryout the various cars you are considering since each might have a different approach to how the interior controls are configured.

 

[clappyclaps]

My late 2024 Audi is the same as a lot of those who have already responded, physical buttons for climate control but a touch screen for the infotainment and systems. The touch screen mainly gets used for Android Auto, and there are times I get frustrated with this as I have to look away from the road to do anything with my sat nav etc and it is dangerous to get distracted from the road.

What's even worse is that some modern cars now don't have a dashboard in front of the steering wheel and instead that information is shown on a tablet in the centre console. That's even more distracting to have to check a touch screen for something as basic as your speed!

 

[jimmymc]

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!

I'll usually adjust the temperature based on the weather, but I generally leave it in auto too. At least when I have a rental, my personal car has the older controls.

 

[loves to dive]

Another one who hates the touchscreen. My car has one for the maps/radio but it also has buttons so I rarely use the touchscreen. It also has voice control for the phone, again rarely use it. I'm one of those people that for some odd reason my fingers are the wrong temp. for touchscreens. Sometimes I have to restart my phone because my finger just can't activate the touchscreen. I also have one on my laptop which, again, I never use. As far as voice control, try using it with a southern accent. It never understands me.

 

[_19disnA]

I agree about any of those voice activated features. Tried using it on a prior car for the built-in phone and it never seemed to understand what I was saying. Another of those features that works great in the lab but not in the real world. I no longer bother trying to use anything voice activated.

HVAC I usually leave on 'auto' but there are times I have to override it when it is foggy or in cold weather to direct more air to the defroster.

 

[ClaraOswald]

The CX-50 and CX-5 are 2 of the models I’m considering partly because they still have physical controls and the screen isn’t the entire dash.

I just need to figure out if I will have enough room for my dogs, a 70 lb. Chocolate Lab and a 55 lb. Golden Retriever.

My husband has the CX-70 which is a bit bigger. He really likes it.

 

[BrianL]

I'll usually adjust the temperature based on the weather, but I generally leave it in auto too. At least when I have a rental, my personal car has the older controls.

Oh, I actually never use auto, it's just what is recommended. For me, windows down is auto unless the weather is bad.

 

[leahgoogle]

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?

You are not alone. At this point, I want to go back to the basic dashboard with knobs and buttons...lol. GenX here too.

 

[Turn the Page]

I got a Subaru outback 2 years ago. It has a large touch screen but also has physical buttons for many things. The updated model is bringing back more physical buttons as I understand it.

I can also confirm that the cargo area can hold 2 1/2 medium sized labs plus plenty of space in the back seat for a pup or two.

 

[_19disnA]

It seems like the car companies are all in a technology race with each other and don't want to be left behind. Would imagine these things are rarely used by most people and don't tend to work as well in the real world as in a lab somewhere. I often wonder if those who design these things ever drive the car using those features to see how they actually perform when driving?

I am not interested in having the latest technological gadget and am more interested in things that make the car more reliable or safer to drive. Touch screens can be a huge safety issue when you have to take your eyes off the road for longer to find/set/adjust something.

 

[sarahann77]

I got a new Subaru Crosstrek in May. It has the large screen with the touchscreen controls. Too distracting for me. DH wondered why I hadn't touched the AC etc after a week - I'm driving and takes too long to try to change. They want to advertise the large screen but it's mostly used for the specific sections to the useful area is about the same as any other.

 

[OKW Lover]

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 generally like having a touch screen for most functions. But as far as climate control goes, modern cars seem to have that covered without the need for constant attention. You just set the desired temperature in your car and the system automatically adjusts for heat/cool as the conditions change. No need to fiddle with the controls.

 

[EllieJedi]

I generally like having a touch screen for most functions. But as far as climate control goes, modern cars seem to have that covered without the need for constant attention. You just set the desired temperature in your car and the system automatically adjusts for heat/cool as the conditions change. No need to fiddle with the controls.

I’m usually ok with setting a temperature and leaving it during the warmer months of the year, but I don’t always like it during bad weather and subzero temps.

 

[firefly_ris]

My '18 F-150 has a good balance. Touch screen radio, bluetooth support, physical knobs for everything else, column shifter, no turbo engine. I intend to ride that thing until the frame rots out.

'23 Maverick, base of base models, but one thing I don't like about it is the little rotate knob shifter. I thought I would get used to it but we've had it for a few years and it's still dumb. On the bright side HVAC controls are physical knobs.

 

[RedAngie]

I hate renting new cars on trips where everything is controlled by a touch screen. It takes me a while to figure out the temperature, audio, etc. And by the time I’m comfortable the rental is practically over.

Avis assigned us a vehicle called a Volkswagen Atlas. (We could have picked something else but decided to try the Atlas). Besides being bigger than an army tank, none of the controls were intuitive and the fuel gage was especially deceptive. It looked like the gas was empty when it was full. When we got to our hotel from the airport, DH googled it and there were plenty of complaints and concerns about this SUV and its gas gauge.