Hyundai Will "Always" Utilize Buttons and Knobs for Volume and Climate Control

      The Drive

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      Physical dashboard controls are making a resurgence, and no company is as passionate about this trend as Hyundai. The South Korean car manufacturer has been advocating for an increase in buttons and knobs since 2023, arguing that excessive dependence on touchscreens poses risks and adds stress for drivers. We’re beginning to see the first practical outcomes of this approach, and Hyundai is committed to it.

      Olabisi Boyle, the senior vice president for product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor North America, conveyed this message to The Drive during the 2026 New York Auto Show, highlighting the significance of physical controls in the company’s forthcoming models—especially the body-on-frame midsize pickup that Hyundai aims to debut by 2030.

      Boyle emphasized, “In a work truck, we are always going to incorporate the buttons that people frequently need to operate without having to look.” She specifically mentioned volume and climate controls. While she noted that smartphone integration and other relevant technology will also be part of the design, it won't come at the expense of physical controls.

      “The essential controls that you use regularly will remain manual knobs. That's simply how it will be.”

      Boyle acknowledged that previously, the push for physical controls had led to friction between product planners and designers, who, if left unchecked, would prefer everything to be electronic. However, that dynamic is shifting.

      “Honestly, we don’t have to clash with design as much anymore,” she remarked. The Hyundai Boulder concept—unexpectedly revealed at the New York show—suggests that designers are indeed adapting. The all-encompassing screen concept has been abandoned in favor of smaller displays, each with dedicated controls.

      It’s uncertain if this specific design can be mass-produced, and we will have to wait a while to see the interior of the midsize pickup that will be built on the same body-on-frame platform as the Boulder. The Santa Cruz had a few additional buttons in its final update before discontinuation, but we’ll get a clearer picture of Hyundai’s new approach to dashboard controls when redesigned versions of the Elantra and Tucson arrive, likely as 2027 models.

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