Hyundai Will ‘Always’ Incorporate Buttons and Knobs for Volume and Climate Control

      The Drive

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      Physical dashboard controls are seeing a resurgence, and Hyundai appears to be the most enthusiastic among automakers. The South Korean manufacturer has been advocating for an increase in buttons and knobs since 2023, citing the dangers and stress of excessive reliance on touchscreens for drivers. We are beginning to witness the initial concrete outcomes of this approach, and Hyundai has no intentions of reversing it.

      Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president for product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor North America, conveyed this sentiment to The Drive at the 2026 New York Auto Show, highlighting the significance of physical controls in the automaker’s future vehicles—especially the body-on-frame midsize pickup Hyundai intends to introduce by 2030.

      The Hyundai Boulder concept. Hyundai

      “We will always include, particularly in a work truck, the buttons that users frequently need to operate without having to look at them,” Boyle remarked, specifically mentioning volume and climate controls. She noted that smartphone interfaces and other relevant technologies will also be integrated, but not at the cost of physical controls.

      “Essential functions that require repeated use will remain manual knobs. That’s a certainty.”

      Boyle explained that in the past, the push for physical controls often put product planners at odds with designers who would prefer “everything to be electronic” if given the choice. However, that perspective is shifting.

      The Hyundai Boulder concept. Hyundai

      “Honestly, we no longer have to contend with design on this issue as much,” she stated. If the Boulder concept—Hyundai’s surprise unveiling at the New York show—is any indication, designers have indeed progressed. The singular screen concept has been cast aside, replaced with smaller screens accompanied by their own controls.

      It remains uncertain whether this particular setup is feasible for production, and we will need to wait to see the interior of the midsize pickup that will utilize the Boulder’s body-on-frame architecture. The Santa Cruz received additional buttons in its final refresh prior to its cancellation, but we will gain a clearer understanding of Hyundai’s new direction in dashboard controls when redesigned versions of the Elantra and Tucson debut, likely as 2027 models.

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