16 New Automotive Fashions That Nonetheless Use Bodily Buttons And Knobs As an alternative Of Screens

Initially, touchscreens have been a option to make navigation and media simpler for the driving force, however over time; producers have begun to make use of screens to regulate different capabilities. The justification from the producers has all the time been one thing alongside the strains of higher aesthetics, simpler manufacturing, and smoother software program updates. In actual life, although, it is one thing that may trigger you to take your eyes off the highway, scrolling by means of menus, after which urgent the improper a part of the display as a result of the automobile is shifting at freeway speeds. 

Fortunately, although, there are nonetheless a number of marques that also use bodily push buttons and knobs for almost all of their controls. As a bonus, none of those compromise on the display side of a automobile — eliminating a display can be business suicide — as a result of all automobiles on this record have each a touchscreen infotainment in addition to buttons. Readers are requested to remember that the variety of buttons varies by trim, so we have used the bottom trims the place attainable. Moreover, we exclude anticipated capabilities just like the home windows, hazard lights, and indicator stalks. 

First up, we’ve the Toyota RAV4; some of the in style passenger automobiles in America. It is a unbelievable possibility, with no less than 40 totally different buttons and three knobs. Of those buttons, 19 are on the steering wheel, together with a quantity rocker button on the left facet of the wheel. The buttons beneath the infotainment show management capabilities for the HVAC system and the window defrosters. There is a knob every for quantity, blower velocity, and temperature; and 4 cabin mild controls overhead, with an SOS button. 

On the steering wheel, the left cluster lets drivers navigate the smaller multi-info show between the gauge cluster, management media playback, and regulate the amount. The suitable-side cluster on the steering wheel handles the activation and deactivation of driver help capabilities like cruise management and lane-departure help. The rationale we particularly talked about the 2025 mannequin was as a result of the $29,800 ($1,450 vacation spot) 2026 RAV4 additionally falls sufferer to screen-gate, as we have checked out in our in-depth, hands-on evaluation of the car.

The 2025 Mazda 3 was a no-nonsense, no-frills automobile that offers consumers the whole lot they want and nothing extra. For 2026, the bottom trim is the two.5S, which begins at $24,550, although there’s additionally a $1,235 ($1,280 for transport to Alaska) vacation spot charge. This trim has buttons for each main operate the driving force may need. 

First, to the underside left behind the steering column are reminiscence seating controls, a button to silence the car proximity sensors, and traction controls. On the left facet of the steering wheel, there are controls for media tuning, quantity, name answering, and voice help. On the left facet of the steering wheel, there are buttons for setting and activating cruise management. 

For as soon as, the navigation show really has no buttons on the display itself, which allowed Mazda to place it additional set again into the sprint than is regular. Under that display there are buttons that management the air con, blower velocity, heating components within the automobile, and recirculated air. There are additionally two knobs on both facet of the below-infotainment row of buttons; with every knob controlling one facet of the local weather management zones.

Most of the buttons from the 2025 Honda CR-V carry over into 2026, the place the bottom trim is known as the LX, and begins at $30,920. Vacation spot charges for 2026 aren’t reside but, however the 2025 CR-V had a vacation spot cost of $1,395. On the left wing of the steering wheel on the LX trim, there are buttons to regulate the media playback, the amount, and the automobile’s voice assistant. On the left facet of the steering are the buttons for driver help options; although the drive mode rocker and hill descent management button are positioned close to the gear lever. 

The three knobs in the midst of the middle console (beneath the AC vents) management the temperature, blower velocity, and blowing modes, from left to proper respectively; whereas the amount management knob is positioned within the bottom-left nook of the infotainment show. Under these three HVAC knobs are the controls to have the air con on and off, for the heating, in addition to controls for each the back and front glass defrosters.

Recognized to the remainder of the world because the LC250 Land Cruiser Prado, this mannequin for 2026 is solely known as the “Land Cruiser” right here in America, as we do not get the bigger LC300 variant. Now, the 250 does get a reasonably laborious knocking from the media for being positively spartan inside, with which should not occur for a automobile that has a base MSRP of $57,200, with a $1,495 vacation spot charge. 

Nonetheless, that does add to the ruggedness of the car; a undeniable fact that I can attest to, having pushed a 2025 version 1958 Land Cruiser for per week final month. On the left facet of the steering wheel, there are buttons to regulate the driving force data show, whereas the correct facet has buttons for the driving force assists. Between the driving force door and the steering wheel are buttons for the parking sensors, auto-LED headlamps, trailer adjustment levers, and a wheel for controlling the brightness controls of the driving force display. 

In the direction of the middle of the sprint, there’s a quantity knob on the bottom-left bezel of the usual 8-inch infotainment display. Transferring all the way down to the gear lever reveals buttons for the differentials, traction management, an digital parking brake, and the drive modes. The HVAC techniques and defrosters are managed by buttons within the heart console.

Subsequent up is our first pickup on the record, within the type of the Ford F-150; which for 2026 begins at $39,330, with a $2,595 vacation spot charge. Close to the driving force’s left knee, there’s a complement of buttons that controls the engine auto-off characteristic, the headlights, and the emergency brake. On the correct wing of the steering wheel are buttons for controlling the drive data display and multimedia, whereas those on the left are for controlling the driving force help options like BlueCruise and lane-keep help. 

Towards the middle of the dashboard, beneath the touchscreen infotainment show are a number of rows of buttons and knobs that management the HVAC system, the digital camera techniques (if geared up), the truck’s multimedia that is enjoying, and the traction management, amongst different issues. The buttons for controlling the heated seats and glass defrosters are additionally positioned right here, proper subsequent to the knobs for the local weather management techniques. If the bundle is supplied, the pro-trailer backup help steering knob will probably be discovered to the bottom-left of the infotainment show.

Whereas the 2025 Kia Telluride nonetheless depends on a 20-year-old engine to energy itself, the inside is fairly fashionable, with the present technology nonetheless being fairly button-focused for many options. Starting on the driver’s left knee, there are buttons to regulate the driving force data show’s brightness, traction management, hill descent management, and the ability liftgate. On the steering wheel itself, there are infomedia and voice assistant controls on the left-hand facet, and controls for the adaptive cruise management on the correct. 

Sure trims (not all) of the Telluride even have a neat characteristic the place the drive data shows for velocity and RPMs can be utilized to briefly present a feed from the blind spot monitoring cameras; that is managed by way of a toggle on the indicator stalks. Under the infotainment system are search and supply controls for media, and even decrease are the HVAC switches and temperature knobs. For 2025, costs begin from $36,980, with a $1,495 vacation spot charge.

For the uninitiated, the Wrangler, which we’ve reviewed the 2024 mannequin of, is (arguably) Jeep’s flagship off-road providing, just like the Land Cruiser is for Toyota. Surprisingly, the 2026 Wrangler really retains the vast majority of its buttons even in contrast to a couple years in the past, with the bottom MSRP being $34,895 ($1,995 vacation spot). When it comes to buttons, the steering wheel has them aplenty. 

On the left facet are search and supply controls for media, together with a voice assistant activation button (on your telephone, when tethered), and for answering or rejecting incoming calls. As per the established pattern, the correct facet has toggles for the adaptive cruise management system. Beneath the infotainment show are buttons to regulate the HVAC system, and knobs for the amount, media in search of, and fan velocity. The traction management and mud-mode buttons are additionally on this complement; whereas the lever for the well-known switch case is positioned subsequent to the gear lever.

This small German saloon is exclusive within the sense that a lot of its bigger A-series siblings (just like the A4, A6, A7, and A8) have now misplaced a lot of their buttons for a panoramic display round 2021. However the A3 nonetheless has many buttons, which is shocking because it (arguably) sits close to the underside of the A-series lineup. For as soon as, the controls for the adaptive cruise management are on a 3rd stalk behind the left facet of the steering wheel, as an alternative of being on it. 

Coming to the wheel itself, the left financial institution of buttons controls the totally different views obtainable on the digital gauge cluster display, whereas the financial institution on the correct hand is for controlling the infotainment system and voice assistant. Transferring over to the infotainment show, at first look, it might seem to be the A3 has its HVAC controls routed by means of the display. 

Nonetheless, beneath every management (fan velocity, temperature, and so forth.) is a form of lever that may be pulled up or pushed down to regulate the setting. Under that row of levers is one other row of buttons for activating the traction management, parking sensors, and parking brake. It is pretty nicely appointed for an entry-level automobile. For 2026, the MSRP is $40,100, with a $1,295 vacation spot charge.

We reviewed the 2025 Nissan Rogue earlier, and it is good that even for the brand new 2026 mannequin, the automobile nonetheless has a great deal of buttons, though the MSRP is now $29,090, together with a $1,495 vacation spot cost. The cruise management toggles are on the correct wing of the steering wheel, together with buttons to reply calls and activate your telephone’s voice assistant. 

The left financial institution has controls for media and for the driving force display behind the steering wheel. Within the heart of the dashboard, beneath the touchscreen, there is a knob for the amount, media search controls, and a button to convey up the automobile’s digital camera. Under which might be the vents for the air con; beneath that are buttons to regulate the HVAC system, and two knobs for the temperature settings. There’s additionally a button subsequent to the driving force’s facet temperature management that prompts or deactivates the heated steering.

Apparently, RAM is operating with the thought of “if it ain’t broke, do not repair it” with their $41,025 ($2,595 vacation spot) 2026 RAM 1500. It retains the buttons from the 2025 RAM 1500 mannequin, albeit with the identical unusual structure the place a lot of the buttons border the very tall vertically-oriented infotainment touchscreen. Between the driving force’s door and the steering wheel is a knob to regulate the automated headlights, a rocker to regulate the adjustable pedals, and brightness controls for the driving force show. 

Driver help capabilities are dealt with by way of buttons on the correct facet of the steering wheel, whereas the left facet helps with media and mode choice, together with controls for the driving force data display. The PRNDL knob, or drive mode selector, is close to the correct knee of the driving force, behind the steering wheel. 

To the correct of that, the middle console is dominated by the huge display, surrounded by buttons that management the HVAC system on the left and the correct; There are additionally three knobs within the heart console at totally different factors, for the media quantity, media tuning, and trailer administration respectively.

For 2026, this mannequin additionally has numerous performance routed by way of buttons, that are largely carry-overs from the 2025 Honda Civic. To start with, the traction management and inside gauge brightness is managed by way of a toggle and a scroll wheel close to the driving force’s left knee. The left facet of the steering wheel has buttons for media in search of, one for bringing the voice assistant on-line, a rocker to regulate the media quantity, and a scroll wheel for the driving force show. 

The suitable facet of the steering wheel has the whole lot wanted for setting the cruise management up to be used. There are USB-c ports close to the gear lever, and likewise a slightly weirdly-shaped drive mode selector within the type of a rocker. The HVAC controls, together with these for the blower mode and recirculated air, are positioned within the heart console, with knobs for temperature and fan velocity. There are additionally bodily search controls and a quantity knob to the left of the admittedly small infotainment show; nevertheless it’s a reasonably good bundle contemplating the bottom MSRP is $24,595, with $1,195 vacation spot.

The Kia Soul is being discontinued after 2025, and for its last yr, did retain quite a lot of buttons. Under the oddly-shaped infotainment show is a cluster of buttons within the heart console, which management the media in search of, media supply choice, and extra, with a knob for the amount and tuning. 

Under the row of buttons are the HVAC controls that handle the blower velocity, defrosters, temperature, air recirculation, and fan route. Coming to the steering wheel, the left facet has controls for media and quantity, whereas the correct facet helps toggle the driving force help options on and off. 

Not like most of the different automobiles that we have listed, the Soul retains its guide handbrake lever, versus the e-parking brakes discovered on different automobiles. One thing we might prefer to level out right here is that the Soul could very nicely be essentially the most inexpensive possibility on our record, coming in with a base MSRP of $20,490 ($1,445 vacation spot) for the 2025 mannequin yr.

Similar to the 2025 Toyota Camry, this yr’s mannequin eschews a drive mode selector dial or lever, as every of the key drive modes on this automobile is its personal button, positioned behind the gear shifter. Above that, within the heart console is a row of buttons that management the local weather management and HVAC system as an entire, with the row of buttons being positioned above the AC vents, and beneath the media show touchscreen. On that infotainment show, within the bottom-left nook, is a knob for the media quantity. 

As with the opposite Toyota fashions that we’re that includes right here, the left wing of the steering wheel has media and driver show controls, whereas the correct cluster offers with driver help options like cruise management. Lastly, between the driver-side door and the steering wheel is a row of buttons to regulate the gas cap, boot lid, traction management, instrumentation brightness, and the auto headlights. The 2026 Camry begins at $29,000, with a $1,195 vacation spot charge.

Similar to for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, some capabilities within the up to date 2026 mannequin have been routed by means of the infotainment show; however the crucial ones like HVAC controls and quantity knobs are nonetheless buttons. In actual fact, there are round 20 buttons in whole, together with the steering wheel ones. First off, close to the driving force’s left knee are buttons for the AWD mode, parking brake, parking maintain, auto-start-stop, and an instrumentation brightness scroll wheel. Driver help capabilities like adaptive cruise management and lane hold help (if optioned) are toggled by way of the financial institution of buttons on the left facet of the steering wheel. 

 The suitable facet complement of steering wheel buttons is for controlling the media and driver shows. The controls for the air con, local weather management, seat air flow, blower velocity, and fan route are beneath the touchscreen show. The temperature controls, particularly, are nonetheless by way of knobs. Readers are requested to remember that this data was for the inner combustion engine (ICE) model of the car, which begins from $28,700 with $1,395 vacation spot charges, and never the EV.

A automobile that will get overshadowed by the Sequoia, Tundra, and Land Cruiser is that this one — the Toyota 4Runner, which we reviewed for the 2025 mannequin yr. In 2026, so far as buttons go, there’s a vary of them close to the driving force’s left knee, to toggle the traction management, gauge cluster brightness, auto headlights, and gas lid. Curiously, there’s additionally a guide scroll wheel that lets the driving force regulate the assault angle of the headlights. 

On the left facet of the steering are controls and rockers for the media and driver show display, whereas the correct has toggles and buttons for activating or deactivating help options like cruise management and lane departure warnings. Close to the gear shifter is a dial for the totally different drive modes, in addition to buttons for the parking brake, parking maintain, and the differential. Under the infotainment show, in the midst of the sprint are dials to regulate the temperature, and buttons for different HVAC capabilities. The 2026 mannequin begins at $41,570 and has a vacation spot cost of $1,495.

For 2025, the Armada really acquired a significant refresh, and although the screens are getting overwhelming, it nonetheless has some buttons. For one, the HVAC controls are nonetheless bodily, with levers for the temperature and fan velocity, and buttons for different controls like turning on the automated local weather management and defrosters. These are positioned beneath the AC vents in the midst of the sprint, and beneath that’s one other row of buttons. 

These management drive capabilities like traction management and the differential, with one button placing the diff into “auto” mode. Proper subsequent to that could be a dial that lets customers choose the drive mode; beneath that are the gear selectors. We are saying selectors, plural, as a result of every of the 4 important drive modes (Park, Reverse, Impartial, Drive) is its personal button. Lastly, the steering wheel additionally has buttons for the driving force help options, answering calls, and controlling each the car media and the driving force’s multi-information show. The 2026 Armada begins at $58,840, with a $2,190 vacation spot charge.