At last, an Objective Assessment to Evaluate the Distraction Levels Caused by Car Touchscreens

      Mazda

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      Benjamin Franklin stated that the two certainties in life are death and taxes, but regarding contemporary car interiors, we should add touchscreens to that list. Whether one appreciates them or not, touchscreens have dominated dashboards, a trend that contradicts safety considerations. A recent test conducted by the Swedish car magazine Vi Bilägare found that touchscreens in new vehicles are now more distracting than in previous years.

      The magazine tested 10 new cars alongside a 2016 Volvo V60. Drivers were asked to perform standard tasks—like adjusting climate controls, switching radio stations, and changing screen brightness—while driving at highway speeds on a closed airfield. They measured the time taken and distance covered during these tasks, comparing the results to a 2022 test that used the same methodology.

      The average distance traveled while interacting with the touchscreen—thereby splitting attention between the screen and the road—increased from 756 meters (2,480 feet) in the 2022 test to 813 meters (2,667 feet) in the new test. This translates to an additional two seconds required to complete a task with the 2026 infotainment systems when compared to the 2022 versions. Note that at 60 mph, you are moving at 88 feet per second.

      The expanded distance covered while manipulating touchscreens also suggests that car manufacturers' attempts to enhance these interfaces over the last four years have not been successful. As Vi Bilägare highlights, screens have become larger and are often better positioned than they were four years ago. Additionally, many manufacturers have introduced new hardware and software for the screens with sharper graphics and layouts intended to be more user-friendly. However, based on this test, this improvement hasn’t materialized.

      A clear example is the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, featuring the automaker’s most up-to-date operating system. Drivers averaged 35 seconds of screen interaction to complete tasks—15 seconds longer than what was seen in the 2022 GLB-Class test—and the screen took 19 seconds to respond to inputs after unlocking. The CLA covered an average distance of 1,116 meters (3,661 feet), ranking second for distance in the test behind the Mazda CX-60’s 1,137 meters (3,730 feet), a result that aligns with our observations. The Volvo XC60 was the top performer in the 2026 test, yet its average distance of 485 meters (1,591 feet) per task was still 68 meters (223 feet) longer than the Volvo C40 Recharge’s average in the 2022 test.

      However, not every finding was negative. The Tesla Model Y outperformed the Model 3 in the 2022 test. While it's easy to criticize the absence of buttons and knobs in newer models, the 2026 XC60 did better than the 2016 V60, which has more analog controls. Additionally, a 2005 Volvo V70 (tested in 2022) also surpassed the 2016 wagon.