Volkswagen used to offer some of the best interior quality in the mainstream segment before the current generation of vehicles. In 2019, the Golf Mk8 ushered in a simplified cabin with fewer physical controls. That same year, the electric ID.3 pushed things further by eliminating dedicated rear window switches. To make matters worse, the steering wheel buttons became touch-sensitive.
Even more frustrating is the dreaded touch slider used to adjust climate settings. Located below the infotainment screen, it wasn't even illuminated at first, and it took VW several years to add backlighting to make it visible at night. Even the company's boss isn't a fan of adjusting the air conditioning and volume with sliders.
In an interview with Top Gear magazine, VW CEO Thomas Schäfer admitted that he doesn't see a reason why any customer would want this user interface: "I don't understand why anybody would have [touch-sensitive] sliders." Actions speak louder than words, and the German automaker has already pledged to eliminate this "feature" and restore real buttons.
In the upcoming ID. Polo, there is a dedicated row of physical buttons on the center console, supplemented by a rotary knob further down. Additionally, the steering wheel features traditional buttons without any of that touch nonsense. A closer look at the driver's door shows four window switches and other physical controls VW used for decades before embracing the minimalist wave like other brands.
As for why that happened, you'll rarely hear a company executive say it was due to cost-cutting. That said, we recently heard Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna admit that touch buttons are 50 percent cheaper to make. In VW's case, the head honcho told Top Gear that "there was a spirit of iPhone-ish kind of design and utilization." R&D boss Kai Grünitz approached the subject from a different angle:
'Every Volkswagen has been made for the board, and especially for the CEO. Luckily, [Ferdinand] Piëch and [Martin] Winterkorn had a feeling for what the customer wanted.'
Reading between the lines, the company's technical development chief suggested that former CEO Herbert Diess missed the mark regarding customer preferences.
The current leadership in Wolfsburg has told development teams that real buttons and proper door handles "are absolutely non-negotiable," meaning future models will include them. That will extend to next year's entry-level electric car, previewed in 2025 by the ID. Every1 concept.
Meanwhile, the ID.3 and ID.4 are getting facelifts this year, and it'll be interesting to see whether VW has invested in fixing past mistakes. The company has pledged to reintroduce traditional steering-wheel buttons across all ID. models, therefore, gradually reversing decisions made by previous management. Whether the touch sliders will remain on the facelifted models is unclear, though it's a real possibility, given that the 2026 Cupra Born still has them. Nevertheless, it's safe to assume they'll be phased out in the next generation of vehicles.
Motor1's Take: It's clear that many automakers went too far with cost-cutting, and those decisions have done more harm than good. VW vows a return to form, and hopefully that will also include improved materials. The Golf Mk8 has been heavily criticized for its drop in quality compared to the excellent Mk7, so ideally, VW will address those concerns as well.
The fact that VW is listening to customer feedback is reassuring. While we may not return to the switchgear and material quality found in 2010s cars, it's still a step in the right direction. Ideally, sister brands such as Skoda, SEAT, Cupra, and Audi will follow suit.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motor1.com?
- The Motor1.com Team
Context:
VW's CEO admits touch sliders were a mistake and promises to bring back physical buttons by 2026.
Context:
Touch controls are 50% cheaper to make but frustrate drivers who can't operate them without looking away.
Context:
Former CEO Herbert Diess pushed the minimalist design, but current leadership calls physical controls non-negotiable.
