--- title: "Subaru Is Bringing Back Physical Knobs and Buttons in Its Cars" description: "To the relief of many, Japanese carmaker Subaru has brought back physical buttons and knobs for its 2026 Outback midsize SUV" date: "2025-04-20" modified: "2025-04-20" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/subaru-bringing-back-physical-knobs-buttons" categories: - "Advanced Transport" tags: - "cars" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Subaru Is Bringing Back Physical Knobs and Buttons in Its Cars ![To the relief of many, Japanese carmaker Subaru has brought back physical buttons and knobs for its 2026 Outback midsize SUV]() *\Image: Subaru / Futurism\* ## Benjamin Buttons To the relief of practically anybody who drives a car regularly, Japanese carmaker Subaru has [brought back physical buttons and knobs]() for its 2026 Outback midsize SUV. It's yet another sign that carmakers are finally starting to listen, ditching massive touchscreens that have taken over a vast number of vehicle controls in favor of tactile buttons, switches, and knobs. Tesla, in particular, has [garnered a reputation]() for burying core functions in confusing touchscreen interfaces, including on-screen buttons for turning on the indicators and even for opening the glove compartment. However, even Tela has seemingly listened, returning to a physical indicator stalk for its latest Model Y — rudimentary but easy-to-use tech that's been around for [around for a century](). ## Touch Ado It's something that consumers have been [shouting from the rooftops for years now](). Not only are touchscreens annoying to use, but experts have warned they could be dangerous as well, by [needlessly distracting]() the driver while on the road. "This is great," one Reddit user [wrote]() in response to a [post showing images]() of physical dials and knobs inside the new Outback. "Everyone in the industry tried to copy Tesla and eliminate all knobs and switches." "Finally some sense prevails," another user wrote. Previous versions of the Outback, a midsize SUV, forced owners to use a vertical touchscreen for climate controls. "I might have to trade in my 2024 for this," one Reddit user [added](). "I fucking HATE the touch screen." Subaru isn't the only automaker rethinking the trend. In November, South Korean carmaker Hyundai [said]() it was similarly backing away from overrelying on screens. Earlier this year, German carmaker Volkswagen [also announced]() that it would bring back physical buttons for the five most important functions in all of its vehicles, starting next year. "We will never, ever make this mistake anymore," VW design chief Andreas Mindt [told *Autocar*](). "No guessing anymore. There's feedback, it's real, and people love this." "Honestly, it's a car," he added. "It's not a phone: it's a car." **More on physical buttons:** *[Someone Is Hacking Crosswalk Buttons to Speak in the Voice of Elon Musk Lamenting the Terrible Sadness in His Life]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()