Previous generation of Volkswagen Group cars had mixed dashboards to be borderline perfect in terms of layout and user interface. It strikes just the right balance between buttons and screens, a feature that almost all Scoda, VW, Seat and other VAG cars had until the late 2010s or so. After that, VW began shoving nearly everything into the touchscreen in the name of minimalism. They wouldn’t call it cost-cutting.
But VW is aware that a large portion of its customer base prefers a more analog interface. Customers in Europe tend to favor “tactile controls, long-term durability, and driving dynamics.” It’s a different story in China, where buyers prioritize “AI-first, connected vehicles, with seamless voice control and smart cockpits.”
Comparing EV shoppers in Europe and China, VW’s combustion-engine cars have also largely abandoned physical buttons and knobs. The latest, wagon-only Passat is a clear example of how tablet-like displays have taken over dashboards in recent years. The similarly sized ID.7 Tourer electric wagon also keeps hard buttons down to a minimum.
In VW’s defense, it has promised a return to form. We’ve already seen tentative steps, with the Golf GTI and R reintroducing real buttons on the steering wheel. Additionally, future models will include tactile controls for frequently used functions. Earlier this year, the company’s design chief Andreas Mindt admitted that going screen-heavy was a mistake.
Since VW-badged cars are always twinned with other Group products to spread out costs, there’s a good chance that future models from Skoda, SEAT, Cupra, and the rest of the gang will also revert to proper dashboards. Including more separate controls will undoubtedly drive up production costs, which, logically, will be passed on to buyers. It’s a sacrifice some of us are willing to make.
Average age of an electric car buyer in Europe is 56, whereas in China it’s under 35 which answers the question of why cars developed by the VW Group in China aren’t sold in Europe. It all comes down to differing regulations, costs, and customer preferences.
After InsideEVs
Производство Volkswagen Passat стартовало в 1973 году и продолжается по сей день. Автомобиль пережил смену восьми поколений! Изначально Passat создавался как классический семейный автомобиль и имел кузов хэтчбека. Но на сегодняшний день VW кардинально изменил свою модель: она прибавила в габаритах, а по техническим характеристикам стала одним из самых продвинутых авто современности, с очень гибкой возможностью установки дополнительных опций. В настоящее время автомобиль производится на заводах Volkswagen в Эмдене и Цвиккау (Германия). За всю историю существования модели было продано более 15,5 миллионов экземпляров. 