Volkswagen Revives Physical Buttons in Cars Amid Consumer Backlash
In a surprising move, Volkswagen has announced its intention to bring back physical buttons inside cars. The German automaker had previously abandoned this design feature, opting for infotainment screens that critics argued resembled tablet computers.
Design chief Andreas Mindt revealed the company's change of heart, stating that they would "never make this mistake again" when it came to incorporating physical buttons into their vehicles. This decision comes after a series of complaints from consumers who found themselves squinting down at steering wheels to access basic functions such as adjusting music volume.
Volkswagen has confirmed that physical buttons will be reintroduced in future models, including the upcoming ID.Polo, starting with a small number of essential functions like volume control, heating, fans, and hazard lights. The company's new interior architecture now features an "intuitive operating environment" with newly structured screens and separate buttons for climate functions.
However, not all changes are to consumers' advantage. The updated steering wheel design has been met with skepticism, particularly from those who dislike circular shapes. Volkswagen's decision to move away from traditional round steering wheels appears to be a nod to trends seen in other cars like the Tesla yoke, which has raised safety concerns.
While it remains to be seen how well-received these changes will be by consumers, one thing is certain: physical buttons are back in the driver's seat.
In a surprising move, Volkswagen has announced its intention to bring back physical buttons inside cars. The German automaker had previously abandoned this design feature, opting for infotainment screens that critics argued resembled tablet computers.
Design chief Andreas Mindt revealed the company's change of heart, stating that they would "never make this mistake again" when it came to incorporating physical buttons into their vehicles. This decision comes after a series of complaints from consumers who found themselves squinting down at steering wheels to access basic functions such as adjusting music volume.
Volkswagen has confirmed that physical buttons will be reintroduced in future models, including the upcoming ID.Polo, starting with a small number of essential functions like volume control, heating, fans, and hazard lights. The company's new interior architecture now features an "intuitive operating environment" with newly structured screens and separate buttons for climate functions.
However, not all changes are to consumers' advantage. The updated steering wheel design has been met with skepticism, particularly from those who dislike circular shapes. Volkswagen's decision to move away from traditional round steering wheels appears to be a nod to trends seen in other cars like the Tesla yoke, which has raised safety concerns.
While it remains to be seen how well-received these changes will be by consumers, one thing is certain: physical buttons are back in the driver's seat.
. Physical buttons just make so much more sense, you know? I mean, how many times have you been driving and your music is too loud or the heater's on blast and you're trying to adjust it all while keeping an eye on the road? It's just easier with real buttons 
. Plus, they look way better than those giant infotainment screens that take up like 2/3 of the dashboard 
. I'm curious to see how this plays out in practice though - will they actually make it easy to use? 
so it seems they listened to us after all 
60% of people surveyed still prefer physical buttons over screens 
but i'm kinda curious about those new steering wheel designs... not a fan of the circular shape myself 
safety concerns are valid tho 
stats show that round steering wheels can increase blind spot area by up to 20% 
on the bright side, it's good they're making some changes after all these years... like the new ID.Polo's climate functions will have separate buttons 
btw did you know that VW sold over 12 million cars in 2022? 
anyway, gotta say, volume control & heating buttons are nice to have back so can't complain too much
. But now that we're all glued to our screens all day, I guess it's a good idea? 
. The circular steering wheel design though... 
I'm literally shocked they're bringing back physical buttons! Like, what even happened to those infotainment screens? 
. At least now you can adjust your heat without having a seizure from squinting 
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. But if they've made sure it's safe and intuitive for drivers, then bring on the physical buttons! I'm all for innovation and making driving easier and more enjoyable 
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. Maybe I'll even get to try out a new VW model and see how it feels 
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anyway, does this mean we'll be seeing more of those old-school car designs now too? and whats up with the circular steering wheel thingy... sounds kinda weird to me 
Can't they just stick with traditional round ones? 
. But, for regular people like me who just want to adjust their music or turn on the heater without having to stare at a screen all day, physical buttons sound kinda nice? Maybe it's just a good way to make cars feel less like tablets on wheels 
.
, I mean who doesn't love having actual controls on their steering wheel? its so much easier to use than trying to squint at a tiny screen while driving, trust me my mom will def be happy about this lol 
. The idea of separate buttons for climate functions sounds like a win too 
. But hey, these physical buttons might just be the compromise between old and new that consumers were looking for 
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but hey, at least they're listening to consumers now. fingers crossed it'll make a difference for the next gen of volkswagen owners! 
... and what's with all the circular steering wheels? can't they see how ugly those are? 