Car manufacturers these days are offering premium features even in their budget models. The recently launched Maruti Dzire sedan is an example of this trend. Ten years ago, a sunroof was considered a premium feature and was offered mostly in luxury cars. However, it is now available in almost every compact SUV in the segment. Another popular feature in the market is a touchscreen infotainment system. Car manufacturers are increasing the size of these screens with every update or model, and some people find this annoying. In many cars, the controls for AC and other features are also integrated into the touchscreen, which is not something everyone likes. Hyundai is one such brand that focuses a lot on features including touchscreens. It seems like they are considering to bring back physical control buttons for AC on their models.
The touchscreen infotainment system itself is not necessarily the issue; rather, it is the decision to integrate AC and other controls into the touchscreen. Hyundai Design North America’s Vice President recently admitted that, like Tesla, they had also tried integrating these controls into the screen, but they have now realized it wasn’t what customers wanted.
Customers, particularly in the U.S., have found this integration annoying, prompting the brand to reintroduce physical buttons. Physical buttons for controls like AC and drive modes are much easier to use than a touchscreen. On this subject, it’s worth noting that Hyundai is not the only manufacturer in the market doing this.
In India, brands like Skoda, Volkswagen, MG, and even Tata Motors offer touch-sensitive buttons on the center console to control AC and other features instead of physical buttons. These touch-sensitive buttons are often placed on a glossy black panel, making them difficult to locate while driving. These panels often don’t even have a groove over them to make it easier to locate.
When these controls are on the touchscreen, it’s even more distracting, as you must take your eyes off the road to ensure you’re not selecting the wrong menu. With physical buttons, people can use these features confidently without looking away from the road.
This trend isn’t limited to car brands in India. While we enjoy premium features in cars, manufacturers worldwide have been adopting this approach for some time. The main reason many brands choose touch panels or controls is to create a clean dashboard look.
However, they don’t realize that this “clean look” often leads to customer confusion. Many older drivers, for instance, find modern cars frustrating due to the lack of physical buttons and the tiring nature of touchscreen navigation.
Older drivers are accustomed to physical buttons and toggle switches, which provide a reassuring feel that touchscreen panels lack. It’s commendable that Hyundai has recognized the drawbacks of touchscreen controls and decided to reintroduce physical buttons, putting customer experience first.
This announcement applies to Hyundai’s international models, and we hope this change will extend to Indian models as well. It would be great to see more manufacturers reconsider physical buttons for the center console, especially AC and other essential controls.
