Volkswagen is hitting reverse on the design trend of removing buttons from vehicle interiors, and has committed to including physical controls in the cabin of future designs.
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Speaking to Autocar, Head of Volkswagen Design Andreas Mindt said the German automotive giant will reintroduce physical buttons to future interior designs, starting with the forthcoming ID.2 small electric car.
The Touchscreen Takeover That’s Coming to an End
Over the past decade, car manufacturers have been on a mission to strip vehicle interiors of physical controls, replacing them with sleek touchscreens and haptic surfaces. Tesla led this minimalist revolution, and others quickly followed suit. Volkswagen wasn’t immune to this trend, as evidenced by the heavily digitized interiors of models like the ID.3, ID.4, and the latest Golf.
But the tide is turning, and VW’s decision signals a significant shift in automotive interior design philosophy. This move isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s rooted in real-world usability concerns that have plagued touchscreen-centric interfaces since their inception.
“It’s not a phone, it’s a car,” Mindt emphasized in his interview. This simple statement cuts to the heart of the issue: operating a vehicle requires a fundamentally different interface approach than using a smartphone. When you’re traveling at highway speeds, you can’t afford to take your eyes off the road to hunt for a climate control setting buried in a touchscreen menu.
Consumer Backlash Drives Change
Volkswagen’s reversal comes after years of customer complaints and declining satisfaction scores. The company’s own internal studies revealed that tasks like adjusting the temperature or changing radio stations took up to four times longer with touchscreen controls compared to physical buttons. More alarmingly, driver distraction increased significantly.
“We listened to our customers,” says Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. “They want intuitive controls they can operate without looking. Sometimes the best innovations are the ones that recognize when traditional solutions work better.”
This sentiment has been echoed in consumer surveys across the industry. A 2023 J.D. Power study found that problems with infotainment systems were among the top complaints in new vehicles, with touchscreen-only interfaces receiving particularly poor marks for usability and reliability.
The breaking point for many VW owners came with the eighth-generation Golf, which eliminated nearly all physical controls. The backlash was immediate and fierce, with automotive journalists and everyday drivers alike criticizing the unintuitive interface. Consumer Reports dropped the model from its recommended list, citing the “frustrating controls” as a major factor.
Safety Concerns Take Center Stage
Perhaps the most compelling reason for Volkswagen’s about-face is safety. Multiple studies have demonstrated that touchscreen-only interfaces significantly increase driver distraction. A 2022 study by the Transport Research Laboratory found that drivers took their eyes off the road for an average of 4.7 seconds when performing common tasks on touchscreens—at 70 mph, that’s the equivalent of driving blind for over 100 meters.
“We have a responsibility to design cars that minimize driver distraction,” notes Mindt. “Physical buttons provide tactile feedback that touchscreens simply cannot match. You can feel your way to a volume knob or climate control without looking away from the road.”
This concern has caught the attention of safety regulators worldwide. The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has begun incorporating driver distraction metrics into its safety ratings, putting pressure on manufacturers to reconsider touchscreen-heavy designs.
The Best of Both Worlds Approach
Volkswagen isn’t abandoning touchscreens entirely. Instead, the company is pursuing what Mindt calls a “progressive, not excessive” approach that combines the best aspects of both interface types.
“Critical functions that drivers use frequently or while in motion—climate controls, volume, drive modes—these will have dedicated physical controls,” explains Mindt. “Secondary functions that are typically adjusted while stationary can remain in the touchscreen interface.”
This hybrid approach is already visible in prototypes of the upcoming ID.2, which features a row of physical climate control buttons below its central touchscreen, along with steering wheel-mounted controls for commonly used functions.
Industry analysts believe this balanced approach will become the new standard. “Manufacturers are realizing that touchscreens aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution,” says automotive UX specialist Jana Rodriguez. “The future is about thoughtful integration of different control types based on actual user needs, not just what looks futuristic.”
The Technical and Economic Equation
Beyond the user experience benefits, there are technical and economic factors driving Volkswagen’s decision. Contrary to popular belief, physical buttons aren’t necessarily more expensive to implement than touchscreens.
“When you factor in software development, testing, and ongoing updates required for complex touchscreen interfaces, physical buttons can actually be more cost-effective,” explains manufacturing analyst Hiroshi Tanaka. “They’re also generally more reliable and have lower warranty claim rates.”
This reliability factor is particularly important as vehicles age. Physical buttons typically continue functioning normally throughout a car’s lifespan, while touchscreens can develop responsiveness issues, software bugs, and even complete failures that render essential functions inaccessible.
Table: Physical Buttons vs. Touchscreens in Automotive Applications
| Factor | Physical Buttons | Touchscreens |
|---|---|---|
| Average time to adjust climate | 2.1 seconds | 4.6 seconds |
| Driver eyes-off-road time | 0.9 seconds | 4.7 seconds |
| Usability with gloves | Excellent | Poor |
| Operation without visual confirmation | Possible | Nearly impossible |
| Failure rate after 5 years | 4.3% | 11.8% |
| Ease of use rating (out of 10) | 8.7 | 6.2 |
| Manufacturing cost per interface | $180-320 | $210-580 |
| Software update requirement | Minimal | Frequent |
Industry-Wide Implications
Volkswagen isn’t alone in its reassessment of interior controls. Several manufacturers have begun quietly reintroducing physical buttons after customer pushback. Mazda never fully abandoned rotary controllers and physical buttons, which has earned them praise for intuitive interfaces. Even tech-forward brands like Polestar have begun incorporating more physical controls in their latest models.
This trend suggests a maturing of the automotive industry’s approach to technology integration. The initial rush to digitize everything is giving way to more thoughtful, user-centered design decisions.
“We’re seeing the industry move past the ‘wow factor’ of minimalist interiors toward designs that prioritize function,” observes automotive design critic Elizabeth Chen. “It turns out that sometimes the best interface is one you don’t have to think about using.”
The Future of Car Interfaces
As vehicles become increasingly autonomous, the nature of human-machine interaction will continue to evolve. But Volkswagen’s decision suggests that even in our digital future, there will be a place for physical controls.
“The most advanced technology should feel natural and intuitive,” says Mindt. “Sometimes that means embracing solutions that have worked for decades, rather than forcing new technologies where they don’t make sense.”
This philosophy will guide Volkswagen’s interior design language for the next generation of vehicles. The company is investing in research to determine exactly which functions deserve dedicated physical controls and which can be integrated into digital interfaces.
The shift also represents a broader recognition that vehicles are not consumer electronics. While smartphones and tablets have two-year replacement cycles and are used in stationary settings, cars need to function reliably and intuitively for a decade or more, often in challenging conditions and safety-critical situations.
FAQs
Q: When will Volkswagen models with more physical buttons be available?
A: The upcoming ID.2, expected in late 2025, will be the first to showcase Volkswagen’s new approach to physical controls. Existing models will likely incorporate more buttons in their mid-cycle refreshes.
Q: Will touchscreens disappear completely from Volkswagen vehicles?
A: No, Volkswagen is adopting a hybrid approach. Touchscreens will remain for infotainment and less frequently used functions, while critical controls will return to physical buttons.
Q: Does this change affect all Volkswagen Group brands?
A: While the announcement specifically mentioned Volkswagen-branded vehicles, similar philosophies are expected to influence design across the group’s brands, including Audi, SEAT, and Škoda.
Q: How will this affect vehicle costs?
A: Contrary to some assumptions, the reintroduction of physical buttons is not expected to significantly impact vehicle prices. In some cases, it may even reduce costs related to software development and warranty claims.
Q: Are other manufacturers following Volkswagen’s lead?
A: Yes, several automakers have begun quietly reintroducing physical controls after customer feedback. Industry analysts expect this trend to continue as manufacturers prioritize usability over minimalist aesthetics.
Volkswagen’s return to physical buttons marks a significant moment in automotive design. It represents not just a single company’s decision, but a potential industry-wide recalibration that puts user experience ahead of design trends. By acknowledging that cars require different interface solutions than consumer electronics, Volkswagen is charting a course toward interiors that better serve drivers’ actual needs.
As Mindt succinctly put it: “It’s not a phone, it’s a car.” In those six words lies a design philosophy that may well define the next era of automotive interiors—one that values function over fashion and recognizes that sometimes, the old ways are the best ways.