Ferrari recently announced that it would bring back a button-centric steering wheel on its newer models, including the recently debuted Amalfi—a move that appeared to cement the growing demand for more physical controls in new cars.
Over the last few years, loading all vehicle controls and functions into the main infotainment screen has become increasingly popular in car manufacturing. We see this especially in new vehicles from Tesla and Chinese brands. While doing this organizes a vehicle’s cabin into a more minimalist layout, it makes for a steeper learning curve in operating the car itself.
However, according to a report from Motor1.com, Mazda believes that drivers actually prefer touchscreen controls. That sentiment then informed the cabin layout of the all-new Mazda CX-5, which features a large infotainment screen and minimal buttons around the center console.
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Mazda claims drivers prefer this layout as it keeps their hands on the steering wheel. Voice-activated controls for climate settings, navigation, and audio eliminate the need to take a hand off the wheel to tap a button. And other features like engaging an ADAS function can be engaged directly from the steering wheel.
In a way, Mazda’s study aligns with what Ferrari now offers, as drivers still keep both their hands on a button-filled, tactile steering wheel.
Volkswagen and Hyundai have respectively stated that they plan to bring back buttons in their next releases, while BMW will be doing away with buttons in the Neue Klasse’s Panoramic iDrive system. At the center of these decisions are customer demand and safety, and it looks like Mazda tried to find a balance with its large screen and few buttons.
