Car interiors have followed design trends much like home interiors, but the shift toward glossy black surfaces and touchscreens for nearly every function has drawn criticism from drivers. Nissan senior design manager Hiren Patel says that reaction is helping bring physical controls back into the conversation.
Patel told Ars Technica that automakers and designers adopted switchless interiors partly to reduce costs and make cabins feel more like software experiences. Replacing buttons with screen-based controls could also avoid the expense of developing and producing separate parts for different vehicles.
But a clean-looking cabin in a showroom does not necessarily work as well on the road. Drivers have complained that adjusting settings such as the temperature or seat position through menus takes their attention away from driving. Patel said these tasks can feel less direct than using a phone, where controls are readily accessible and familiar.
Modern cars also have numerous systems to manage, and controls are arranged differently by each automaker. As a result, drivers may need to navigate several menus, with no universally effective approach yet established, Patel said.
Sources: Ars Technica.