Welcome to the latest instalment of The Buzzword - our new column on the latest pulse and insights of the Malaysian automotive industry, where we aim to educate and discourse on a wide range of automotive topics, all without interference from advertisers and sponsors. The opinions expressed in The Buzzword belong solely to the author; they are not sponsored, nor are they for sale.
The digitalisation of driver interfaces has changed how we interact with our cars, but not all of it is rosy. Simple tasks such as changing the fan speed or the air-conditioning temperature on a touch-screen can be tricky, even to the point of distraction when the vehicle is in motion.
Yes, there’s voice command, but that in itself is a hit or miss – and not everyone likes talking to a car, especially in the presence of other occupants. And then there are the glitches or freezes associated with infotainment systems that are crammed full of on-screen controls – something which happens more often than manufacturers would care to admit.
When Volkswagen launched the all-electric ID.3 hatchback in 2019, it eliminated most physical switches which characterised the tactile and logical user interface of VW cars, replacing them with a range of touch functions, from infotainment, air-conditioning to steering wheel controls.
If these touch controls, which also filtered through to other VW models, had worked as intended, it would’ve been just be a matter of getting used to. But the software glitches were persistent and widespread, with disappointed owners lamenting how they missed the user-friendly interface of old.
The fallout made Volkswagen bosses vowing to build ‘true Volkswagens’ again, and to return to physical controls in future models. It was a gutsy call given that most other mainstream German carmakers have doubled down on touch controls (Mercedes-Benz and BMW, we’re looking at you), but as the world’s second-largest automobile group (after Toyota), what Volkswagen is doing would no doubt impact the industry, particularly in China where the brand still holds significant influence over the vast network of parts suppliers.
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It should be pointed out that Volkswagen’s change of tack isn’t a return to an analogue environment, but to make technology more accessible and simpler to use. On the new 2026 ID. 3 Neo (and probably forthcoming non-ID models as well), the touch sliders for air-conditioning and haptic-feedback steering wheel controls are history, replaced by good ol’ physical toggles and buttons.
The ID. 3 Neo’s entertainment system even has a dial for volume control, and there are now four individual window switches instead of the two which required nonsensical toggling between front and rear. Physical controls aside, we think those digitally-recreated 1970s retro dials are just plain cool. Thanks, Volkswagen!
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