Hyundai is the latest manufacturer to go on record to say that it is reintroducing physical buttons to future vehicles, following customer backlash surrounding fiddly and often distracting touchscreen systems.

As we were adding integrated [infotainment] screens in our vehicles, we also tried putting touchscreen-based controls, and people didn’t prefer that,” Hyundai Design North America VP Ha Hak-soo told Korea JoongAng Daily in an interview that InsideEVs spotted.

Hyundai admits it made a mistake by replacing too many physical controls with touchscreen buttons. The automaker’s US design chief says American drivers hated the trend, so future Hyundais will feature more old-school switches. However, the firm thinks attitudes may change when cars are equipped with more self-driving technology.

The reason why Hyundai–like other automakers–went down the all-touchscreen path was initially due to the “wow” factor of Telsa’s large multimedia systems. The Korean automaker even went as far as putting two touchscreens on the steering wheel of a concept back in 2019. Ultimately, though, Hyundai changed its mind and is now slowly reversing course.

H yundai is backtracking on the idea of moving as many controls to touchscreens as possible. Korea JoongAng Daily reported on a visit to the Hyundai Design North America's (HDNA)

Hyundai, like Toyota, still preserves physical buttons in its cars, unlike many automakers that have opted for touchscreens for almost all functions.

A focus group of Hyundai owners has unearthed what many motorists have been calling for: less touchscreen controls in new cars.

The car brand Hyundai acknowledges it may have gone too far with touchscreens, as many customers have expressed frustration over the shift from traditional buttons to digital controls. Touchscreens have simplified car interiors,

Modern Hyundai cars and SUVs have some of the nicest interiors in their price ranges, with interesting designs, relatively upscale materials, and loads of tech. The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is probably the best example,