I could not imagine having to go back to buttons for anything I actually want to control. Once you get used to a well-designed touchscreen, buttons are just so clunky and unintuitive for most functions. Dials are probably my most favorite physical control, but other than volume there's not much it's useful for in a well-designed, modern car anymore. It was great for radio stations, but is terrible for Spotify.
replySetting temperature manually by dial doesn't make sense anymore either- most cars have too many things to change and an expanding menu is great. There's hot cold, faster fan lower fan, feet vs head-height (we're already looking at more than three separate controls). Now there's seat heating and cooling (with varying power), steering wheel, defrost, controls of vent direction, etc.
I'll admit the touchscreen might be daunting if it's a rental but it takes like one week to get everything mapped out mentally (and going back to physical controls on rentals sucks).
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replyI cannot relate to this at all. Controlling the AC with three knobs is not a challenge. Did you grow up using an iPad perhaps?
replyNot exactly, I got my first iPad in college. It's not so much that it's a challenge as it's totally unnecessary effort. I'm sure when the controls came out they were great, then they turned into some weird sprawl that was just designed to look complicated so the car looked like it had lots of features. Now, minimalism reigns king in tech and the one screen is the newest, (imo best) form factor, along with the steering wheel controls, etc.
replyThat works as long as you actually stick to your guns and keep them as deal-breakers. If you accept them with some grumbling, that's still a sale and that provides no backpressure to the manufacturer.
replyI agree. It also works if you mention it as a dealbreaker, leave without buying, and then buy at another shop. Yes, I realize this can be more work and may not be feasible for everyone.
replyIn Europe it's done through EuroNCAP: https://etsc.eu/cars-will-need-buttons-not-just-touchscreens...
replyIt has already started asking for physical buttons for key functions to give manufacturers the top safety rating, and it's working. Buttons are coming back.
Their source is "a Swedish motoring magazine in 2022". Europe sure does love regulation- no desire or call for finding the best way to implement vehicular controls, just a desire to lock in old functionality with a flimsy excuse.
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