Carmakers Rethink Touchscreens, Embrace Buttons Amid Driver Complaints
For years, safety experts and drivers alike have lamented the disappearance of the humble button in modern cars. Sleek, digital displays have largely replaced tactile knobs, but concerns about these alluring devices making distracted driving worse are mounting. Now, there are signs the shift toward touch-screen dominance may be reversing.
After years of fully embracing touchscreens, Korean automaker Hyundai is publicly changing course. Hyundai Design North America Vice President Ha Hak-soo acknowledged the company was initially drawn to the “wow” factor of massive, all-in-one screen-based infotainment systems in a recent interview with JoongAng Daily. However, customer feedback revealed that the reality fell short of the initial appeal.
“When we tested with our focus group, we realized that people get stressed, annoyed and steamed when they want to control something in a pinch but are unable to do so,” Ha explained.
As a result, Hyundai announced they will integrate physical buttons and knobs for many in-cabin controls across its new vehicle lineup. They are not alone; Porsche and Volkswagen are also planning to buck the touchscreen trend, reflecting a growing “screen fatigue” among car buyers.
Touchscreens, Cost, and Functionality
The first car touchscreen dates back to the 1986 Buick Riviera. Over time, screens have grown in size and functionality, evolving beyond controlling the AC and radio, and integrating core vehicle mechanic controls and smartphone integration through systems like Apple CarPlay and Google CarPlay. Touchscreens also became more cost-effective for carmakers.
In theory, this should free up space and allow increased driver customization. However, a recent survey of U.S. car owners conducted by JD Power indicated that consumer satisfaction with vehicles decreased for the first time in 28 years. The main driver of this dissatisfaction was complicated, difficult-to-navigate touch-based infotainment systems. A more recent JD Power survey found that a growing trend of passenger-side display screens are considered “not necessary” by most drivers.
Safety Concerns
Reliance on complicated touch-based infotainment systems does not come without safety hazards. A 2017 AAA Foundation study found that drivers navigating in-car screens to program navigation or other features were distracted for an average of 40 seconds, covering a half-mile at 50 mph. Buttons and knobs, while not completely distraction-free, allow drivers to use them more easily without taking their eyes off the road.
The Button’s Revival?
A few carmakers are going back to basics in response to this growing customer dissatisfaction. Hyundai is responding directly to customer feedback complaining about touchscreen systems adding unnecessary friction to simple functions. According to Hyundai Design VP Ha, some functions that required several taps on a touchscreen could be executed instantly with a physical knob.
“As we were adding integrated [infotainment] screens in our vehicles, we also tried out putting touchscreen-based controls, and people didn’t prefer that,” Ha noted.
These remarks come one year after luxury carmaker Porsche revealed that they would move away from fully touch-based experiences and reintroduce more physical controls for its Cayenne SUV. Volkswagen similarly announced they would replace touch-sensitive controls on their steering wheels with physical buttons in response to complaints.
While the trend is shifting, some carmakers, like GM and Ford, are sticking with large touchscreens as standard in upcoming models. Mercedes-Benz has even announced its own “Hyperscreen” display. While screens aren’t disappearing anytime soon, the increasing demand for buttons might give them a fighting chance.
