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.
“Car, help, I need the police”
“Sure. Now playing The Police.”
“Every Breath You Take” plays as you bleed out impaled on the steering column.
Do you have a “call police” button in your car now?
Yes, but I do drive a refurbished 1966 Batmobile and this comes standard.
I’ve never had a car with a police call button, but I’m not sure how much help that’ll be if you’re impaled if you could still reach it maybe.