Physical Buttons Make Comeback on Mazda Steering Wheels as Company Adopts First Touchscreen (thedrive.com)
- Reference: 0178327898
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/07/10/1752220/physical-buttons-make-comeback-on-mazda-steering-wheels-as-company-adopts-first-touchscreen
- Source link: https://www.thedrive.com/news/mazda-admits-it-was-wrong-about-touchscreens-bets-on-steering-wheel-controls
The company is pairing the enhanced steering wheel controls with Google Assistant voice commands and a 15.6-inch central touchscreen that now houses audio and climate controls previously operated by physical dashboard buttons. Mazda had been the sole mainstream holdout against touchscreen infotainment systems, relying instead on a console-mounted dial. The steering wheel redesign represents the company's attempt to maintain its "hands on the wheel, eyes on the road" safety philosophy while adopting touchscreen technology that customer research indicated buyers wanted.
[1] https://www.thedrive.com/news/mazda-admits-it-was-wrong-about-touchscreens-bets-on-steering-wheel-controls
Who wants that... (Score:2)
> touchscreen technology that customer research indicated buyers wanted.
Who are the people wanting this? Maybe I am strange here, but hoping that [1]Slate's upcoming offering that doesn't even have an infotainment system [slate.auto] just a holder for a tablet and then physical climate controls works out.
[1] https://www.slate.auto/
Re: (Score:3)
They want a touch screen because you need at least some touch screen to do Apple CarPlay or Android Auto or other similar ecosystem applications.
For example, a touchscreen is nearly a requirement for decent GPS UI. There are applications where the multitouch gestures are hard to beat for the UI.
Problem is the industry struggles with the concept of "touch screen for *some* things, but not everything". So you get things like "here's the touchscreen you wanted, *including* replacing those HVAC hard controls
Re: Who wants that... (Score:2)
I am very fond of BMWs interface. It is very smooth and intuitive. I very much like the gesture pads on audi and Mercedes. It is very nice to just write what you want and it figures it out. Benz has the best cursive handwriting detection I have ever seen in a car.
That said, we are in the future. We shouldnâ(TM)t be interacting with screens anymore. We should be telling the car what we want and it figures it out.
Google Assistant (Score:2)
Is a "critical function"?
No touch screen, no purchase (Score:2, Interesting)
Mazda was at the top of our list when we were buying a car in 2023.
Lack of touch screen for use with Apple CarPlay was why we bought a Honda instead.
TFA says they phasing it out (Score:2)
I hate touchscreen control in cars, will never buy one unless HVAC temperature, defrost, and volume controls are all actual physical dials and/or buttons. If that means I have to drive mine into the ground, well mechanics bills are still less than a new car payment.
Re: (Score:2)
I've got a '25 Corolla, and all of the features you listed have physical buttons; just the way I like it as well.
Fuck no! (Score:1)
FTA:
“[It] will be powered by Google built-in technology. So we have Google Maps natively integrated, we have access to the Google Play Store. The Google Assistant will enhance the voice control."
If that shit can't be disabled out of the gate, then this is a hard "NO". Totally aside from the spying aspect of this - and the potential advertising problem as well - I will never buy a car that requires an internet connection for basic functionality.
Sadly, millions of (mostly unwitting) traitors to humani
It's a start, but ... (Score:3)
... I want my choke knob back.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't forget spark advance and a hand crank.
Re: (Score:2)
> and a hand crank
[1]Got it [youtube.com].
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPIfF_Bc_w0
Re: (Score:2)
If you wanna mess with your fuel mixtures nowadays you get yourself a tune.
Touch screens are dumb. (Score:4, Interesting)
They save the company a ton of money - one touch screen can duplicate 10, 20 30 or more gauges.
But when the touch screen breaks, you lose everything rather than just the rpm.
They distract drivers, and create a ton of safety concerns, hence the 'return' to physical buttons.
Touchscreens are the worst option (Score:2)
I have the "console mounted dial" in my car, and I'll take that over a touchscreen any day. It is just for unimportant things though, I also have physical controls for all the important stuff which is non-negotiable in any car I'd even consider buying.
the dial (was) awesome (Score:2)
Mazda's legacy button layouts plus the dial are really great. I have a 3rd Gen Mazda3 and it's nearly perfect. There is a touch screen but it's never used. The dial turns and also pushes for select, and there are some other buttons around it for getting back out of menus and a home button, and some shortcuts for various things. All within comfortable reach just between the gear selector and parking brake (real mechanical parking brake handle!) without having to raise your arm and glance away from the r
Re: (Score:2)
> I hope they will eventually be considered a quirky novelty relegated to the dustbin of history, while more traditional button interfaces make a comeback.
Hardly, considering that the act of driving itself will soon be considered a quirky novelty.
Re: (Score:2)
I have a 2021 CX-30 and agree, the dial works great (I admit, I don't use Android Auto or Carplay). The general layout of the controls in the central console is really nice as there is never a need to reach for the dash to control the infotainment system, everything is there with your arm resting on the middle arm rest. I was hoping Mazda would hold out so this news makes me sad. Hopefully the knob will make a comeback.
TFS contradicts TFA? (Score:2)
I read the Slashdot title / summary, and it sounded like Mazda redesigned the steering wheel to have more buttons and understand that touchscreens have safety concerns. Then I go to the article, which has this in the first paragraph: "But after a generation of development as the only major outlier in the industry, the company is now pivoting to a conventional, touchscreen-style experience—and axing most of its physical controls in the process."
I will add this blurb: "But it’s not just the navi
Sounds great except the touch screen (Score:2)
I didn't know Mazda didn't yet have any touch screens before. Had I known I probably would have looked at some of their vehicles.
Re: (Score:3)
They've had touchscreens and physical buttons for years, but the screens are disabled by default if the car is moving. It looks like the 2026 CX-5 got rid of all of the physical buttons, so I guess my CX-50 will be my last Mazda.
Re: Sounds great except the touch screen (Score:2)
Apple CarPlay and Google auto are atrocious on Mazda screens. Try to zoom in and zoom out, your eyes are down on the screen instead of out on the road. At least with touch screen I can blindly stab until I see the zoom changing in my periphery.
Within the last 2-3 years they changed the Menu functionality, prior to that you had to use that silly knob to back out and get to another menu. Very very very difficult to change radio stations and then get back to the map for instance. They made it slightly better
Re: (Score:1)
Fuck all touch screens in cars...
I want physical controls...the ones on the central console of the old days worked great, I could do most everything by feel or if I had to look...1-2 second glance.....
I don't want a fucking ipad to control everything when I'm driving a car, especially at higher speeds...