Volkswagen will restore physical buttons to the dashboard in its latest compact car, part of a wider move away from touchscreens.
In a particularly retro touch, the new ID Polo will even have a volume dial.
For a decade or so, automakers rushed to replace knobs and switches with screens, Autoblog noted in October, but users largely disliked them: Controlling the air conditioning, for example, required delving through submenus while driving, which was both difficult and dangerous. Research found that using touchscreens took longer and distracted drivers.
Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and VW have all announced plans to return to more tactile controls, and US and EU regulators announced last year that cars with touchscreen controls could get worse safety ratings.


It is maybe less DIY friendly because the wheel will not stay on the hub without at least one bolt inserted. Once you realize that’s the case, you put the wheel on and one of the bottom lug bolts maybe 2-3 turns in to prevent the wheel from falling off. I don’t see how they would be any less safe than studs and nuts. You tighten them to the appropriate torque spec and will never lose a wheel. The only other disadvantage I see is that you’re not gonna be able to easily fix badly damaged threads, but when and how would that happen?
Yes. Well with regular studs you can hang the wheel off the studs and it’s easy to line up. Also yes with studs you just replace the stud, with wheel bolts you’re tapping the hub to repair it or replacing the hub. It’s just enshitification to sell parts and laboris what I’m getting at
My car is 26 years old, with OE hubs and wheel bolts. My family traditionally had VWs; none ever had any issues with broken threads or bolts. I’m pretty sure that the approach works and has worked for many decades.
Well it’s dumb
Skill issue.
Lol naw. Just bad design