Technology

My vote is:

1. Button layouts that have worked for 20-30 years
2. Heads-up displays for readouts of current values. Mph/kmph is displayed by default and the display temporarily changes when something like volume, heat, radio station, track, etc. is adjusted

Best of both worlds

I think I agree. I would be fine with an infotainment system that:

1. doesn't cripple the car when broken
2. isn't integrated with non-screen controls like climate
3. still has functional buttons on the steering wheel

My malibu meets 2 and 3, but the fact that if the infotainment system breaks it cripples the entire car, puts me on edge. This would be mitigated if actual functionality was outside of it, and that the touch screen was just a control layer.

I disagree. I don't want to have to take my eyes off the road to change my music, or turn the volume up/down. They need to be physical buttons/knobs.

Monkey paw curls

Same exact cars but with button navigated non-touch screens.

now with #ADS, please tap the x to continue changing your GPS.

We already have distracted driving laws here. You can't use electronic devices like phones while driving. How a giant iPad in the middle of your dashboard doesn't count blows my mind.

Well, presumably this group is more about models of cars and less about individual driver behavior.

I consider temperature and fan controls to be safety critical for demisting windows etc for example.

Not far enough indeed.

I dont need all my entertainment as physical controls but I do at least want volume - and that is totally justifiable as a safety consideration too. Sometimes you need to mute it quickly if you think you heard something of concern on the road, or if you are like me, just to concentrate on driving when things get tricky!

There are so many other items you can apply similar safety arguments for:

Blowers and demisters - you shouldn't be messing around in a touchscreen when you see your windows starting to fog

Cabin temperature - Uncomfortable driver = distracted driver

In my opinion, the place to draw the line should be this:

If the need to interact with the feature is triggered by external road conditions it MUST be physical. (Example: wipers, heating, blowers, all headlight and fog light controls, enable or diasable lane assist, cruise control)

If the driver has the ability to themselves choose when to engage with the feature and can do it only when safe, then it can be fully touchscreen. (Example: satnav route, fuel economy settings, electric seat position)