#physical-controls

#physical-controls

The new Volkswagen ID. Polo's interior is charmingly retro, in more ways than one. It doesn't just pack a lot more buttons and physical controlsthe compact EV also features design cues from classic Volkswagen models, like the original Polo and Golf. Best of all: a digital "tape deck" view when you play music. Volkswagen loves to lean on nostalgia. But sometimes, it just doesn't work out.

Porsche revealed the interior of its upcoming electric Cayenne on September 30, 2025, and I'm experiencing the kind of cognitive dissonance that only comes from loving something I fundamentally disagree with. The cabin features what the company calls the largest continuous digital surface in any Porsche to date. Translation: screens everywhere. As someone who prefers minimal dashboard clutter, I should hate this. But Porsche's execution here is genuinely impressive, even if it represents everything wrong with modern automotive design philosophy.