The Comeback of Physical Buttons

For years, car manufacturers seemed locked in a competition to see who could fit the biggest touchscreen into a dashboard.

Physical buttons disappeared, knobs became digital sliders, and even simple tasks like adjusting the heating or turning on the demister often meant digging through multiple on-screen menus.

Now, that trend may be heading into reverse.

Updated 2026 safety rules from Euro NCAP, the organisation behind Europe's influential vehicle safety ratings, are putting a fresh spotlight on how easy cars are to use while they're moving.

The changes mean manufacturers could lose valuable safety points if essential controls are too difficult or distracting to operate while driving.

Recent coverage of the changes suggests physical controls for key functions are once again being encouraged as part of safer vehicle design.

The result? After years of disappearing from new cars, physical buttons could be making an unexpected comeback.

Touchscreens undoubtedly bring some advantages.

They allow manufacturers to update software remotely, reduce the number of components inside the cabin and create sleek, minimalist interiors that look futuristic in marketing photos.

The problem is that driving isn't the same as using a smartphone.

Many drivers have experienced the frustration of trying to change the cabin temperature, activate the heated seats or adjust a setting while travelling at speed.

What once required a quick press of a button can now involve several taps, swipes and glances away from the road.

Safety experts have increasingly questioned whether this approach has gone too far.

While touchscreens can look impressive, they can also demand attention from drivers at precisely the moment that attention should be focused on the road ahead.

That's one of the reasons Euro NCAP has expanded its focus beyond traditional crash protection and into how drivers interact with vehicle technology.

New assessments will place greater emphasis on human-machine interfaces, including the placement and usability of physical controls.

The change creates an interesting challenge for manufacturers. For more than a decade, the industry has moved steadily towards digital-first cabins.

Brands have invested heavily in large displays, touch-sensitive controls and software-driven interiors. Some vehicles removed almost every traditional switch in favour of a central screen.

Now designers may need to strike a better balance.

The expectation isn't that touchscreens will disappear. Modern infotainment systems, navigation tools and connected vehicle features are here to stay.

Instead, the focus is shifting towards keeping frequently used functions simple, intuitive and accessible without requiring drivers to hunt through menus.

Items such as climate controls, wipers, hazard lights and other essential functions are increasingly being viewed as better suited to physical controls that drivers can locate by touch alone.

Ironically, the future of vehicle design may end up looking slightly more like the past.

The rise of the touchscreen transformed the modern dashboard. The next phase of vehicle design may be about finding a better balance between digital innovation and practical safety.

If current trends continue, one of the biggest automotive stories of 2026 could be the return of something many drivers never wanted to lose in the first place: a button you can actually press.