CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Thomas Schäfer has announced on LinkedIn that the German brand will be bringing back physical buttons to its steering wheels.

In the post, Schäfer revealed "We are sharpening our portfolio and our design, plus creating a new simplicity in operating our vehicles. For example, we are bringing back the push-button steering wheel!" He added that the brand is listening to owners, and the reintroduction of physical controls is something "customers want from VW." 

Volkswagen's touch-sensitive controls have come under criticism in recent years, especially on higher-end models like the Golf GTI and R, Tiguan R, and many of its electric cars. The controls are a sleek, black plastic piece located on the steering wheel that can be accidentally activated. Another issue users have noted is the lack of haptic feedback given when using a touch sensitive system.

2022 Volkswagen Golf R 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

The brand offers some models with lower specs that still use physical controls. For example, the Amarok pick-up truck. By acknowledging the benefits of physical buttons and that touch sensitive controls fall short, Volkswagen is effectively admitting they made a mistake.

Volkswagen has not yet announced when models that don't currently have physical steering wheel buttons will have them again. It is unclear when the same common-sense decision will apply to other touchsensitive climate control systems.

2023 Volkswagen Amarok 2023 Volkswagen Amarok

By the way, not only Volkswagen realized that touch controls are not always convenient. A recent test by Swedish car magazine Vi Bilägare pitted the touch screen infotainment and in-car controls of modern cars against those of a mid-2000s Volvo V70. The results showed that touchscreen systems, with their lack of feedback and longer loading times, can cause drivers to take three times as long to perform a task than if they were using physical buttons.

Tags: Volkswagen
Евгений Ушаков
Evgenii Ushakov
14 years driving