Volkswagen Sticks to Its Promise and Brings Buttons Back

As with many other automakers, Volkswagen has taken plenty of flak for cramming most functions into touchscreens. However, Wolfsburg appears to be listening to customer feedback by bringing back dedicated controls for frequently used features. The ID. Polo leads the company’s push for an intuitive dashboard layout that doesn’t require getting lost in submenus.

The physical row of climate controls mounted below the center display isn’t the only noteworthy change. Nestled between the wireless smartphone charging tray and the cupholders is a rotary knob for volume control. The dial also lets you browse through tracks and radio stations. If you do opt to use the large screen, a cassette-deck-style interface throws it back to the era when VW ruled Europe.

That nostalgia continues on the driver’s side, where the digital instrument cluster adopts a retro look inspired by the original Golf. It can be selected through the infotainment system or via a button on the steering wheel. Speaking of which, VW has opted for proper buttons instead of the touch-sensitive keys many have criticized. Capacitive controls have already been dropped from certain models following customer backlash, so it’s no surprise the ID. Polo comes with real buttons.

Physical buttons on the steering wheel

Photos by: Volkswagen

Volume knob

Photos by: Volkswagen

We’re also glad to see four window switches instead of just two. In some existing VW models, there's a dedicated toggle to select between front and rear windows. Beyond the straightforward layout, VW is promising nicer materials throughout the cabin, which is refreshing to hear for an EV priced at under €25,000 before incentives. To that end, the electric Polo covers portions of the dashboard and door cards in fabric.

Is the interior perfect? Not quite. Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer the driver’s display and infotainment screen to be neatly integrated into the dashboard rather than perched on top. On the plus side, the ID. Polo at least features a more substantial instrument cluster instead of the ID.3’s tiny screen mounted on the steering column. The driver display measures 10.25 inches diagonally and is paired with a nearly 13-inch infotainment screen.

2026 Volkswagen ID. Polo cabin

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Source: Volkswagen

Overall, the ID. Polo signals VW’s return to form when it comes to intuitive dashboard design. The ID. Cross concept, slated to become a production model later this year, should also inherit this interior layout and the Polo name.

An even cheaper EV arriving in 2027, with a sub-€20,000 starting price, will follow the same philosophy by retaining traditional controls. That smaller electric hatch has already been previewed by the ID. Every1 concept and will also receive a proper production name. It could revive an old moniker like up!, although we’d much rather see Lupo make a comeback.

Buttons Are Back:

Scout's Trucks Will Have Buttons: 'Mechanical Switches Give You a Connection'

Mercedes-Benz Is Bringing Back Buttons: 'Physical Buttons Are Better'

Skoda Gets It: People 'Need Buttons and Dials'

Ferrari Admits It Made a Mistake When It Deleted Real Buttons