Subaru's introduction of physical buttons and knobs for its 2026 Outback SUV marks a shift back to tactile vehicle controls, addressing customer frustrations with touchscreens. This change reflects a broader trend among automakers responding to critiques of touch-sensitive interfaces, which many consider distracting and less intuitive. Notably, Tesla has reintroduced a physical indicator stalk for its Model Y, aligning with consumer preferences. Subaru, Hyundai, and Volkswagen are among the companies recognizing the need to balance technological advancement with user-friendly designs.
This is great," one Reddit user wrote in response to a post showing images of physical dials and knobs inside the new Outback. "Everyone in the industry tried to copy Tesla and eliminate all knobs and switches.
Subaru isn't the only automaker rethinking the trend. In November, South Korean carmaker Hyundai said it was similarly backing away from overrelying on screens.
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