In general, I don’t mind driving EV cars, but man the lack of physical controls drives me nuts. I don’t know why every EV car designer just collectively agreed that physical buttons are a thing in the past and go all in that centre screen. It’s so counter intuitive. That is one major reason I went with the new Accord instead of getting an EV: the AC knobs. During night drive, the thee knobs have a ring of white light around them which make the interior look pretty cool. Also it’s super easy to control fan speed and temperature using the knobs. I’m interested in the upcoming VW ID7, but even the AIR VENTS are controlled with the screen, like WTF??? And I thought it’s dumb to open the glove box using the screen in Tesla.
Got a Lightning with a big screen. Wasn’t a fan at first but you get used to it. It’s great for GPS viewing and android auto
Car manufacturers trying to modernise the console do not understand how it feels like trying to touch a very specific area of a screen while in movement, trying to focus on the road. Its so annoying even when I am sitting at passenger seat. one small bump on the road and you press some other button which does something else :D, no tactile feeling, you can’t operate it without looking at it. It’s no different than texting and driving.
I don’t understand what kind of micromanaging everyone seems to be doing with their car climate controls. I set it to my desired temperature and auto when I get the car and never touch it again.
I love physical buttons. I don’t hate screens. But I do hate screens for everything. Not enough for to stop me from getting an EV.
not all (or even most) EVs are that way.
BZ4X has buttons and it drives like a gas car so there’s even less change.
Still wouldn’t dream of buying one.
Shame it’s garbage in every other way
There are plenty of EV choices that have physical switches comparable to ICE cars.
Yup. BMW continues to use the I drive system in both their ice and Bev models. Not sure what op is smoking!? Or do they think the only evs are teslas?
To be fair way too many manufacturers are putting way too much screens into their cars.
Physical HVAC and volume should be mandatory.
It wouldn’t be so annoying in my Tesla if the auto climate worked as good as it did in my 2005 Audi A6, there I basically had it at one temp setting for summer and one for winter. Rarely touched it. In the winter I adjusted the seat heater the most.
What annoys me even more is that Tesla somehow seems to be getting away with going too far.
Removing parking sensors and the physical stalks… unless they miraculously manage to fix that with software and FSD my next EV won’t be a model Y, even though it’s quite a lot of EV for the money.
BMW has also cut down on physical controls significantly. The iDrive Controller and the assignable favourite buttons for example are or will be gone.
I drive doesn’t count as a physical botton because it just moves the cursor around the screen, you still need to look at the screen to accomplish your task.
Yes but that’s not what this post is about. Just downvote and move on.
You held on to your blackberry until your carrier forced you to upgrade to a smarter phone with no qwerty physical keyboard did you?
I joke, i get where you’re coming from. I think the only things I would want as physical buttons is the heat/AC
And the radio and the handsfree phone. My E10X thankfully has such buttons on the steering wheel.
I’ve never felt that an AC knob in my Tesla would improve it. That’s so silly. As if it’s difficult to press up and down on the screen.
Of course. Tesla does have an AC knob now anyways. Can easily control it with the scroll wheel with the latest update.
As if it’s difficult to press up and down on the screen.
It is, if you’re in traffic, and the road is bumpy, and the sun just suddenly came out and it’s starting to roast you and you’ve got to get the temp down NOW or else OH MY GOD!!
It really is better to just lock your fingers on a physical knob you can twist while keeping your eyes on the road. I could never buy any car in which I couldn’t just flap the air vents shut instantly with a physical control.
Bad as it is in some ways, my Leaf has mostly physical controls and I love that
I had a Leaf. The Tesla is far better in every way. Though the Leaf is a perfectly nice vehicle in its own right.
And no, it’s not difficult to adjust the temperature on a Tesla. That’s absurd.
I agree completely, physical knobs allow you to make adjustments to HVA/C or radio ect without taking your eyes from the road. I also dislike the current trend of removing them.
The sun just came out and my auto climate control system adjusted for it appropriately without my input. It stays at 21C regardless.
The lack of a good PKB on decently specced smartphones is a travesty, and I’ll die on this hill.
Also, the lack of buttons in modern cars is even more of a bad move since you need to be able to operate radio and climate without taking your eyes off the road.
There is some hope though: https://slate.com/business/2023/04/cars-buttons-touch-screens-vw-porsche-nissan-hyundai.html
What’s a “PKB”? Why do you have to make up acronyms all the time?
Physical keyboard
not sure why you think screens are not in new ICE cars.
not an ev problem, its a modern car problem.
Agreed. My Subaru Outback irritates me with the 4 clicks needed to do anything on it. Thankfully it has all the safety features to keep me safe while being distracted by their design.
You’re probably the only one
I drove a Genesis GV60 yesterday… You would LOVE it… SO MANY BUTTONS. I don’t know how many it needed, but there were 2x as many as needed.
I just switched from model 3 to gv60 and I’m loving all the buttons. Helps that they feel like high quality buttons. And it takes a bit to learn how everything works. But that’s because it offers so many features. But people who suck with technology might be intimidated by it.
We actually really liked the ride and experience. But, if it had 1/2 the buttons it has, would you think “it needs more?”
I can’t think of a single button that I wish was in a touchscreen menu instead.
Yes.
Yes, he’s the only one, makes sense
Silverado EV and Sierra EV have a few buttons, get one of those.
But otherwise I guess we can’t fight the future. Escalade IQ has more screens than a movie theater, they like that whole futuristic aesthetic, same with most other car makers.
Mulder intensifies
I think it will appeal to a certain segment but many people will want a car that’s more traditional but is a BEV. I am one of them. It’s why I am considering a PHEV.
Mini EV (or any other model) has buttons/ switches.