- Hyundai is slowly backing away from the all-screen strategy to inside design.
- Hyundai Design North America Vice President Ha Hak-soo mentioned that folks “get burdened, aggravated and steamed once they need to management one thing in a pinch however are unable to take action.”
Screens inside new automobiles are higher than ever. They’re big, they’ve nice decision and the software program behind them is normally snappy and properly thought out. However after years of shoving what are basically TVs on dashboards, it seems that folks don’t actually like coping with them, particularly if accessing often-used options like local weather management or quantity settings means digging via menus on a display screen whereas driving.
That’s harmful, nevertheless it’s additionally very annoying, as Hyundai Design North America (HDNA) discovered via the magic of focus teams. That’s why the Korean automaker is seeking to convey again old school buttons in upcoming automobiles. The facelifted Ioniq 5 already has a redesigned HVAC management panel, however extra are within the pipeline.
“As we had been including built-in [infotainment] screens in our automobiles, we additionally tried placing touchscreen-based controls, and folks didn’t desire that,” mentioned HDNA Vice President Ha Hak-soo in a latest interview with Korea JoongAng Every day.
The explanation why Hyundai–like different automakers–went down the all-touchscreen path was initially as a result of “wow” issue of Telsa’s massive multimedia programs. The Korean automaker even went so far as placing two touchscreens on the steering wheel of an idea again in 2019. Finally, although, Hyundai modified its thoughts and is now slowly reversing course.
“After we examined with our focus group, we realized that folks get burdened, aggravated and steamed once they need to management one thing in a pinch however are unable to take action,” Ha mentioned.
Picture by: InsideEVs
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a redesigned switchgear panel on the middle console.
For variety of years, automotive journalists, lovers and business specialists have sounded the alarm for automakers to cease with the touchscreen controls. Extra just lately, The European New Automotive Assesment Progamme, higher often called Euro NCAP, which performs crash testing and points a star-based security ranking, entered the dialogue with a extra severe tone. in easy phrases, the group mentioned that starting in 2026, automakers must match bodily buttons for sure features in the event that they need to get a five-star ranking, the best attainable. That’s along with the standard lively and passive security options like airbags and computerized emergency braking.
It’s cool having a giant display screen–and even a number of screens–inside a automotive. It’s even a fairly well-disguised cost-cutting measure, regardless of few automakers admitting it. But it surely’s actually distracting to must undergo a menu or a slide-out bar to alter the temperature or skip the present track. With a easy bodily button or knob–and no, these shiny haptic surfaces aren’t the identical factor–you’ll be able to simply attain out and do what you need with out even wanting.
