this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2026
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Volkswagen will restore physical buttons to the dashboard in its latest compact car, part of a wider move away from touchscreens.

In a particularly retro touch, the new ID Polo will even have a volume dial.

For a decade or so, automakers rushed to replace knobs and switches with screens, Autoblog noted in October, but users largely disliked them: Controlling the air conditioning, for example, required delving through submenus while driving, which was both difficult and dangerous. Research found that using touchscreens took longer and distracted drivers.

Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and VW have all announced plans to return to more tactile controls, and US and EU regulators announced last year that cars with touchscreen controls could get worse safety ratings.

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[–] echodot@feddit.uk 45 points 6 days ago

US and EU regulators announced last year that cars with touchscreen controls could get worse safety ratings.

Yeah that's the real reason they're moving back it's got nothing to do with the complaints from the customers because they've been ignoring those for over a decade. They just know that people won't buy their cars if it receives a substandard rating.

But hey I'll still take the win.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 24 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] Goodtoknow@lemmy.ca 14 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Not till we have robust, strong, public transit and walkable communities and the majority of personal cars are gone.

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[–] myfunnyaccountname@lemmy.zip 26 points 6 days ago

Good. Hate touchscreens. It never fails that as you are going to touch something, you will hit a bump and miss. And that’s after taking your eyes off the road to find the button or dig through 4 menus to find it.

[–] BilSabab@lemmy.world 17 points 6 days ago

Who knew that would happen eventually after sensor screens failed time and time again at worst possible moments?

[–] radiofreebc@lemmy.world 15 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Touchscreens are so dangerous. Glad to see buttons coming back.

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[–] Nioxic@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 6 days ago (1 children)

they have to

it'll be a law in china in the future

And EURO NCAP (who make safety ratings for cars) have said they'll stop giving 5 stars, if a car has no physical buttons for essential controls (i dont reclal what they believe is essential though)

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 5 points 6 days ago (8 children)

apparent it's

turn indicator signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, and the horn

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[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 15 points 6 days ago (1 children)

That touchscreens in cars are still allowed while using a phone is not?

[–] user224@lemmy.sdf.org 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)

You are supposed to look at the road, yet we have roadside billboards.

[–] mika_mika@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago

You are supposed to go the speed limit but it is safer to follow the flow of traffic if everyone is speeding.

[–] biofaust@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Time for some cassette futurism design!

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Unironically I want this so bad, I'm one of those Gen Z guys who grew up around old tech but I love my clunky 1970s-1990s tech. There's just something viserally satisfying about sloting in a tape.

[–] StuffYouFear@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I added a old radio with a Minidisk player into my car when the radio died

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Fucken hell the fuck did you find a minidisk player? That's unironically awesome, though whenever I see minidsiks I think of Starship Troopers.

[–] StuffYouFear@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Ebay, although it is a Japanese version of headset so you have to get a fm frequency shifter to make it work with US radio st

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[–] SethTaylor@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

My pencil is ready

EDIT: This is not a euphemism

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 days ago

My PEN IS working.

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[–] lepinkainen@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago (7 children)

ID.BUZZ with physical buttons, 4WD and an upgraded heat pump (the current one is designed for ID.4 sized cars) would be the perfect car for me.

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[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago

I hope regulators pay attention to technology this time instead of just reacting.

My car has controls with no physical buttons but I can control with voice assistant. Technically that means I can do it without taking my eyes off the road but it’s physical buttons are much better

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 12 points 6 days ago (19 children)

Now get rid of point-source quasar LED headlights. OK, we get it, science now allows us to get every electron in every atom to emit bazillions of photons every picosecond. That's nice. Like AI, we don't need it and no one asked for it.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (2 children)

We need to go even farther, not go back.

Brighter headlights are better for safety to allow drivers to see more ….. but clearly humans can’t be trusted with them. Active matrix headlights are the best answer.

I find it fascinating to drive with high beams on, but watch a dark spot in my headlights follow oncoming cars so I don’t blind them. Everyone should have them

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[–] Jtotheb@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (4 children)

Tangentially relevant. Anyone seen the new Microbus? It’s appalling. They gave it angry headlights like every other stupid generic car on the market. A hideous grille. And it’s got a giant flatscreen tv for all the interior controls. All in a 60s throwback vehicle specifically chosen for its nostalgic character. How do these people get promoted into decision making roles???

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[–] gergolippai@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Yesss, now i can replace my 2016 car that still had buttons! (Not that i will... or need to...)

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago
[–] shrimpgirl@lemmy.cafe 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Great. Now (for cars in general) remove all the unnecessary computerization nobody asked for and have a physical link between the throttle, transmission and the pedals. That's sure to help with all the sudden unintended acceleration issues that also cause drivers to be unable to shift into neutral because the computer (a single point failure) decided to shit the bed.

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