'Physical Buttons Are Better'- Mercedes-Benz Is Bringing Back Key Controls

Big touchscreens may look futuristic, but Mercedes-Benz has decided that old-school buttons still matter and look classy. With the launch of the new GLC SUV, the company revealed that it is bringing back physical buttons, switches, and rollers, especially on the steering wheel.

The reason is that customers actually prefer them. According to Autocar UK, Magnus Östberg, Mercedes' software boss, explained during the Munich Motor Show, "The data shows us the physical buttons are better, and that's why we put them back in."

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Mercedes collected and considered user feedback from its software-defined CLA model and found that many enthusiasts, especially certain age groups, value real buttons

over touchscreen menus. The new button-fitted steering wheel will now become standard on future Mercedes models, although how many buttons you get in your car may depend on the market.

However, one should not expect cars to suddenly be filled with knobs and dials everywhere. Mercedes hinted that if more physical controls return, they will mostly be reserved for larger luxury cars, where there’s more space for such buttons and designs.

This move reflects a bigger shift in the auto industry, as brands like BMW, Volkswagen and Hyundai have also started putting physical controls back into their cars after learning that removing them somehow frustrated drivers and created a hassle in the controls. Even regulators are stepping in, as Euro NCAP may soon reduce safety ratings for cars that lack proper physical buttons, starting January 2026.

The tablet trend in cars may be fading, as automakers realize that sometimes, simple is more safer and easy to operate.

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