Volkswagen says it is bringing physical buttons back to cars – and it’s about time
VW appears to have made a U-turn in its decision to gradually rid its modern vehicles of physical buttons. This was stated by the company's interior designer, Darius Watola Coach that its recent ID.2all Concept “demonstrated a new approach across all models” and was a direct response to “recent customer feedback” around annoying touchscreen functionality.
In stark contrast to much of the German brand's recent all-electric ID range, as well as the latest generation Golf, the recent unveiling of a physical ID.2all concept car (above) shows a row of physical, backlit buttons below the main dials . touchscreen infotainment display, as well as a rotary control in the center tunnel that allows physical interaction with menus on that display.
This physical model goes beyond early concept images by adding even more switches.
This step was taken to address some of the recent criticism of the brand. In a separate interview with CoachVW CEO Thomas Schäfer told the outlet that the reliance on touchscreens has “done a lot of damage” to the brand, with customers and journalists alike complaining about the decision to focus everything on displays or clunky touch surfaces and capacitive buttons.
The concept car, which a select number of journalists were allowed to sniff around early on, will form a new production model that will sit below the current ID.3. The car will hit the market sometime in 2026 and VW claims the aim is to offer it for less than €25,000 (approximately $28,000 / £22,000 / AUS$41,500) when it goes on sale, while offering an electric offers a range of 450 kilometers from a larger 56 kWh. battery pack. Rumor has it that a more affordable 38 kWh option is also available.
Despite the budget price, VW design boss Andreas Mindt claims the company's vision for the future is to ensure that upcoming models will have a “stable and likeable design, always with a secret sauce”. He also admitted that “customers say a pure touchscreen isn't enough and they expect physical switches and dials for key functions.”
The concept previews a row of buttons that control things like air conditioning, rear window defroster and hazard lights, all important functionalities that the driver needs to access quickly and without distraction.
Granted, it doesn't seem like VW is putting everything on physical buttons yet, but meeting the pure touchscreen haters in the middle feels like a step in the right direction.
Analysis: Interior UX drops ID range
A driver's impression is largely shaped by how they interact with the infotainment system while driving a modern car, and the user experience in Volkswagen's ID range is perhaps one of the biggest negatives.
Take the ID.4 as an example. It's a fantastic EV – smooth to drive, quiet, spacious and offers solid electric range for the money – but VW's decision to commit everything of screens and capacitive buttons means the daily experience is much more difficult than it needs to be.
The electrified family crossover has no physical buttons, not even for important things such as the handbrake. This turns on automatically when you stop, but there's a menu screen to turn it off, which seems completely illogical.
The temperature controls and volume sliders consist of two touch surfaces below the main infotainment screen, which can be easily pressed while interacting with the navigation or another menu. None of these have backlights, making them almost impossible to locate in low-light situations.
Below this is another series of recessed capacitive surfaces that display the parking menu, climate control and driving modes. All they do is act as shortcuts to submenus on the display, requiring more interactions than are strictly necessary.
Finally, and to wrap up a button-based rant, the haptic buttons on the steering wheel activate far too easily when the driver is, er, steering. And see how long it takes for someone to figure out how to adjust the exterior mirrors. It almost looks like a hidden Easter egg, when really it should be a big, obvious button.
The relentless drive to rid modern car interiors of physical buttons and dials isn't just a VW problem, as Tesla owners have put up with this sort of thing for years. But while it may feel modern and even futuristic, it is often far from practical and not what real buyers want.
Additionally, one of the biggest criticisms I leveled at the ID.4's interior after driving a press car for a few weeks was that it felt too sparse, especially in the more basic models with gray cloth and matching gray plastic. A few buttons and dials scattered here and there would have really brought the place to life.