VW moving away from touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons

Drivers asked and Volkswagen listened. The public and the press have criticized some of the in-car technology found in models like the GTI, and the company is taking this feedback to heart. It announced that buttons will replace the touch-sensitive surfaces on the steering wheel.

“We are sharpening our portfolio and our design, plus creating a new simplicity in operating our vehicles. For example, we are bringing back the push-button steering wheel! That’s what customers want from Volkswagen,” explained company CEO Thomas Schäfer on LinkedIn.

He stopped short of providing a precise timeline or a list of the models set to receive an updated steering wheel. As of writing, Volkswagen installs a steering wheel with touch-sensitive surfaces in a wide range of models including the Golf GTI and the ID.4. The upcoming ID. Buzz was revealed with touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel as well; it’s a feature the company began rolling out a couple of years ago.

Earlier spy shots may hint at the timing of the change: In September 2022, our spies spotted a prototype of the refreshed Golf with a new infotainment system and actual buttons on its steering wheel. There’s a catch, however. The hatchback that they photographed was a European-spec model, and some of the more basic trim levels sold across the pond still ship with actual buttons on the steering wheel.

“You’ll likely see the first car in the U.S. late in 2024,” a Volkswagen person told Autoblog.