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.

  • MBech@feddit.dk
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    3 days ago

    I met one of those cars the other day. Was absolutely fascinating watching the headlight matrix dim to not blind me. I am left wondering, how good it is at noticing bikes and pedestrians though.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Mine does not act on pedestrians

      I haven’t been in a situation to see if it reacts for bicycles. It seems to react to lights, rather than shapes so it’s possible