Tired of Touchscreens? These 6 Cars Offer the Best Physical Controls

Miami Herald

19-05-2025

If carmakers' return to physical controls isn't evidence enough that screens are distracting, there is also mounting outcry from car buyers, as well as push from safety regulatory bodies like Europe's NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program for the return of essential physical controls.
In today's automotive market, big touchscreens and digital interfaces dominate the cabin experience, often at the expense of usability and safety. While these features offer a high-tech aesthetic and access to a virtual library of fancy features, they also increase the time to execute the most basic automotive operations, like adjusting climate and audio. Fortunately, a few automakers still understand the value of intuitive physical controls-dials, knobs, and buttons placed within easy reach of the driver. We laud certain manufacturers in 2025 for their commitment to driver-focused ergonomics, blending modern tech with excellent switchgear that makes life behind the wheel simpler and safer. From compact SUVs to versatile pickups, these vehicles strike an ideal balance between innovation and intuitive operation.
The Mazda CX-50 ($30,500) offers one of the most attractive and driver-centric interiors in the industry. Mazda continues to focus on great physical controls, even for its latest vehicles, because at the end of the day, the brand is still about the driving experience. While many automakers are moving toward tablet-style screens and capacitive buttons, Mazda has held the line on usability by preserving a rotary infotainment controller and a smart, well-organized dashboard layout. The CX-50 is a standout, not because it's got the fanciest cabin in the Mazda stable but because its physical controls are nearly peerless. The CX-50 exemplifies how physical controls can enhance the driving experience without sacrificing modern tech.
Physical Control Highlights:
Rotary Dial for Infotainment: The CX-50's rotary Commander controller, located on the center console between the front seats, allows users to navigate menus without reaching for the screen. It has satisfying action and can be operated without a touchscreen, which Mazda tends to eschew in order for drivers to focus on the road. The knob is right-sized and knurled for easy gripping and operation. There's also a convenient audio knob parked right next to it. Dedicated Climate Control Panel: The CX-50 has grippy temperature adjustment knobs and a simple line of physical buttons for dual-zone climate settings that remain easily accessible on the center stack. They're also precise and well-placed for easy reach while driving. Steering Wheel Controls: Buttons are located above and below toggle switches, and they control audio, cruise, and phone functions without confusion or accidental activation. They're well-placed and hard to mash accidentally, a big bonus.
It was high time Toyota built the three-row Grand Highlander ($40,860). It's big, attractive, and tremendously practical. It even comes in a hybrid variant. We continue to marvel at the Grand Highlander's cabin, not just because of its space and comfort but also because it has some of the best physical controls for a 7-passenger family SUV. Toyota's Grand Highlander isn't just a larger variant of the popular Highlander-it's a three-row SUV that impresses with thoughtful design and real-world functionality. In fact, its physical controls are even better than the regular Highlanders. Despite offering a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen in higher trims, Toyota wisely keeps the most essential functions tied to physical controls, and the result pays off for the driver. Toyota's approach is simple: keep tech available, but never let it become a barrier to core vehicle operations. That makes the Grand Highlander a top pick for families seeking ease of use.
Physical Control Highlights:
Big Climate Controls: The central climate command controls are 100% physical. Two large temperature adjustment knobs are front and center. The row of switches between them manages the remainder, and they're all easily accessible and intuitive.Heated and Ventilated Seat Buttons: The climate control knobs are flanked by seat heat/ventilation buttons instead of being parked behind layers of menus on the touchscreen. Additional climate control buttons and toggles on the panel make adjustments a cinch. A Simple Audio Knob: A staple feature that Toyota retains, making quick audio adjustments seamless. It's right on the frame of the infotainment screen, adjacent to the driver's right hand. Of course, you can also use the steering wheel audio control, but it's nice to see a physical audio knob right where it belongs.
The 2025 Toyota RAV4 ($29,250) is about to get redesigned for next year, but the current model is still a bastion of ergonomic brilliance. It remains one of the best-selling vehicles in America, and part of that success lies in its highly functional cabin with some of the best physical controls in any crossover at any price. The moment we used the rubberized, turbine patterned audio knob grips, we were in love. Though not as luxurious as other entries on this list, the RAV4 delivers consistent, intuitive control placement across all trims, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. Whether you're commuting or road-tripping to the country, the RAV4 ensures you don't have to guess which part of the screen adjusts your fan speed.
Physical Control Highlights:
Rubberized Climate Knobs: Large, textured knobs with integrated temperature displays make them easy to operate-even with gloves. They're large and protrude dramatically for no-brainer grip. The set temp is clearly displayed right next to them with hot and cold bars for easy interpretation. A great traditional shift knob: We love that there's no shift buttons for the transmission. Instead, Toyota keeps a right-sized physical shift knob that's not too stubby nor too tall. It's still doesn't take up a lot of real estate, so there's room for the drive mode selector. Physical Drive Mode Selector: No screen controls here. Just a large, easy-to-use drove mode control knob that toggles between Eco, Normal, and Sport modes. Push the center of the knob to go back to Normal without even looking.
The sixth-generation Honda CR-V ($30,100) is a marvel and not just for its handsome exterior and wonderful hybrid variant. Honda's latest CR-V cabin redesign embodies the same great thinking behind its sheetmetal with one of the best-executed interiors in its class. The look, the feel, and the ergonomics just make sense. The interior is refreshingly analog in the best way, offering an ideal mix of screen-based features and physical switches. While we wish the infotainment system was better, the physical controls shine through. It seems like nothing escaped scrutiny because it's echelons better than its predecessor. The CR-V interior feels familiar and functional, which is a welcome change in a market drifting toward overly complicated interfaces.
Physical Control Highlights:
Separate HVAC Controls: Real knobs and push buttons govern the climate system, laid out cleanly beneath the central honeycomb patterened vents. The triple knobs that are well-sized and nicely spaced control temperature and fan speed. They don't require any interpretation when driving, and they actuate with precision. The line of climate buttons occupies the lower row, and they're big and simple, just the way we like 'em. Tactile Audio Controls: On the left portion of the infotainment screen frame lies physical audio controls: a volume knob, tuning buttons, and a home and back button for easy operation. .Conventional Gear Selector: Unlike its own Pilot and Passport stablemates, the CR-V gets a real PRND shift lever. It's much more intuitive than the pushbutton setup in other Honda SUVs, and you don't even have to look at it to shift. It's so simple, it's brilliant.
The redesigned 2025 Hyundai Kona ($24,550) bears almost no resemblance to its predecessor. The second-generation model has taken a huge leap forward in style and technology, yet it retains an emphasis on tactile control to the same degree, but with way better looks. Even in higher trims with dual 12.3-inch screens, Hyundai balances the digital with superb analog controls, making the cabin accessible for drivers of all ages and tech comfort levels. The center stack is awash with clean knobs and buttons, as is the center console. We think it's even better than the revised interior of the pricier Tucson. The Kona's success lies in not overwhelming the driver with unnecessary complexity. It provides just enough buttons to make control intuitive without feeling cluttered.
Physical Control Highlights:
Dedicated HVAC Panel: A panel of actual buttons controls temperature, airflow, and fan speed independently of the infotainment. The Kona's climate buttons are simple, easily reached, and fuss-free. Superior Audio Controls: The clean line of audio controls is spaced perfectly above the climate control panel. The contoured buttons and backlit knobs provide quick control of audio functions, and they look as good as they work. Intuitive Column-Mounted Shift Lever: Hyundai uses a stalk for gear shifts. While it doesn't move up and down like an old-school version, it's large grooved rectangular shape rotates forward for drive, back for reverse, and pushes in for park. Easy peasy. It's way better than most column-mounted versions.
Who would've imagined Ford would revive an old nameplate from a '70s compact car and turn it into a hot-selling compact pickup truck? The 2025 Ford Maverick ($28,145) is everyday practical with its 54-inch bed length, great storage choices, and up to 42 mpg city from the hybrid model. It also has some of the easiest physical controls found in any truck, and Ford did them right by not making them complex or overwrought. Although the 2025 Maverick upsizes its formerly 8-inch infotainment screen to a much larger 13.2-inch version, it still makes use of great, knobs and buttons to control climate and audio. Whether you're hauling lumber or navigating city streets, the Maverick's physical controls allow you to focus on the task at hand without fiddling with screens or menus.
Physical Control Highlights:
Simple HVAC Interface: There are two large climate control knobs, one for fan speed and the other for temperature with an easy readout embedded within. Between those knobs are buttons for seat temperature and other climate adjustments. They're right below the big center vents and within easy reach. They're also big just like a proper pickup truck's should be. Easy Audio Control: Parked just below the infotainment screen are excellent audio controls. Knobs and a line of buttons make for quick audio adjustment. The fact that they are angled upward toward the driver makes operation that much easier. One of Best Rotary Shifters: Some might malign non-traditional shift knobs, but the rotary version on the Maverick is one of the best. Its easy-trip trim and satisfying click make it intuitive to shift gears without even looking. The center park button is also a cinch to use.
Final thoughts
In an era of increasing digitization, physical controls offer a tactile and distraction-reducing alternative to fully touchscreen-based interiors. The Mazda CX-50, Toyota Grand Highlander, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Kona, and Ford Maverick prove that automakers can-and should-strike a balance between innovation and usability. These six vehicles demonstrate that physical controls still play an essential role in making driving safer, easier, and more enjoyable. We can't wait to see what other automakers will bring to the table when they return to physical controls of their own.
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