Volkswagen Swears Buttons And Knobs Are Coming Back

Volkswagen interiors reached their peak in the 2010s, when the cars had just the right blend of buttons and screens. At the turn of the decade, minimalism reared its ugly head as Wolfsburg decided it was a good idea to integrate access to most functions into the screen. The dreaded touch slider, which wasn't even illuminated at first, certainly didn’t help either. Still, we’re willing to give VW a pass if it stays true to its pledge to bring back physical controls.

The company’s Head of Technical Development told Autocar that a new dashboard design is in the works to rectify past mistakes. Kai Grünitz explained that upcoming updates for the ID.3 and ID.4 will introduce a revamped interior with a focus on traditional switchgear. The ID.2all concept previewed VW’s new approach, and while it's a step in the right direction, we’re still craving for the layout used in the Golf Mk7.

VW ID2.all concept

Grünitz isn’t the first high-ranking VW official to promise a return to old-school controls. Not long ago, design boss Andreas Mindt shared details about the future interior direction: "Starting with the ID.2all, every model will have physical buttons for the five most important functions: volume, heating for both sides, fan control, and the hazard lights, positioned beneath the screen. These will be standard across all future VW vehicles."

Mindt even went so far as to say VW will “never, ever make this mistake anymore. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing anymore. There’s feedback, it’s real, and people love this. Honestly, it’s a car. It’s not a phone.”

According to Autocar, an insider has confirmed that a rotary knob for volume control will return in future models. That same source indirectly admitted that eliminating conventional switchgear had been a misstep: “If you develop something that works, and it has worked for years, there’s no reason to replace it.” Yet VW did just that by attempting to fix what wasn’t broken.

VW ID2.all concept

While EVs will lead the charge, combustion-engine cars are also expected to reintroduce physical buttons. Realistically, though, future VWs probably won’t offer as many tactile controls as a previous-generation Golf. Still, there’s reason for optimism: the facelifted Mk8 Golf already features real buttons on the steering wheel for the GTI and R. In Europe, the R-Line trim also ditched capacitive-touch keys with the arrival of the Mk8.5.

Hopefully, this long-overdue return to traditional controls will also rub off onto sister models from Skoda, Audi, and the rest of the VW gang. The first three models with the updated interior are set to land in 2026: the production-ready ID.2 and facelifted versions of the ID.3 and ID.4.

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Source: Autocar

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Volkswagen Swears Buttons And Knobs Are Coming Back