[for1nner]

Mazda always refused to go fully touchscreen.

Instead they have somehow rationalized that a control wheel and featureless buttons down in the center console are safer for people to use while the vehicle is active.

It's idiotic.

[ghostpepper]

Mazda still has a ton of physical buttons in addition to the screen though. The following are all _dedicated_ buttons / switches / knobs:

- Volume up/down (knob), press to mute

- Hazard lights (button)

- Windshield wipers (stalk) including front/rear, speed, intermittent, etc

- Headlights/highbeams (stalk)

- Turn signals

- AC on/off, fan speed, fresh air/recirc, seat warmers

- Temperature up/down is a dedicated, physical knob

- Driver/passenger windows

- Side mirror adjust

- Trunk open/close

- Cycle through backup camera views

- Parking sensor enable/disable

- Cruise control on/off/speed/distance

- Media controls (ff/rw/mute)

- There are even dedicated physical buttons for the touchscreen,eg. a button that always takes you to whatever map you're using (google/apple), a button that takes you to whatever is playing music (spotify/apple/podcast/etc)

Sorry if this sounds like I'm a mazda shill but every time this topic comes up on HN I am incredibly glad that I prioritized physical controls and IMHO they're really doing it correctly.

[bgirard]

I really like most of the hardware buttons. But when I need to make adjustments to the map with CarPlay, the wheel control just takes too much attention with driving. "How many rotations, ohh to far too, okay zoom out, ohh okay reset the view". I wish in these cases it also allowed touch.

[Rebelgecko]

I've found that the wheel is much easier to use while driving than a touchscreen, since you don't have to look down or stretch your body away from the steering wheel.