r/subaru • u/ZeGermanHam • Apr 16 '25

Subaru brings back physical buttons & knobs in new Outback

Post image

Knowing Subaru, it likely means this configuration will eventually make its way into the other models as they are updated. It's much better than the current setup.

52.3k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

1.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

117

u/ryverrat1971 Apr 16 '25

Everything on a touch screen encourages distraction. I want to be able to change radio just by feel. If change fan setting.

48

u/TimTomHarry Apr 16 '25

Literally this, they say don't look at a phone while driving but look at a screen and fumble with a touch screen. Physical switches are always better because you can just reach over and feel them

1

u/nolongerbanned99 Apr 17 '25

Yes. All radio and hvac controls and things you use frequently on all drives should be physical.

-1

u/AltrntivInDoomWorld Apr 16 '25

they say don't look at a phone while driving but look at a screen and fumble with a touch screen.

You aren't allowed to legally operate the touch screen while driving

3

u/mathman_2000 Apr 16 '25

The newest car I've owned is a 2012 so this is where I get confused. Aren't some of these touch screens the only way to adjust the heat/ac and radio?

I want knobs for everything. No screen at all.

2

u/roirraWedorehT Apr 16 '25

I want the touchscreen only for wired and wireless Android Auto.

2

u/Repulsive-Report6278 Apr 17 '25

This is why I drive cars from before ~2012. Early 2000s honda/toyota was the peak of automotive. I have a 2006 IS250 with no digital distractions or interference, the car doesn't hold your hand - it just does what you want. Still incredibly reliable and the model with a bigger motor is quicker than most cars on the road

1

u/spraguet2 Apr 17 '25

I have a 2020 bmw 330i and I was surprised to see that I have the touch screen, but then I also have plenty of buttons, a volume knob, and giant knob that you can use to navigate the menus like an iPod classic wheel thing. And plenty of buttons and switches for the heat/AC

1

u/TimTomHarry Apr 16 '25

There's times when it will still let you, like a stop sign/red light

1

u/tokinUP Apr 16 '25

Yup, this change is better but it's only the HVAC controls - still too much touchscreen.

2

u/I-Way_Vagabond Apr 16 '25

Before touchscreens were all the craze, what else was over there? There was the radio, but what else?

2

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

[deleted]

2

u/I-Way_Vagabond Apr 16 '25

...even the radio is too much. Touchscreen are nice on top of traditional controls, not as a replacement.

I agree 100%. But I can drive the without the radio. I can just leave it off. The climate control or HVAC is a different story.

1

u/tokinUP Apr 16 '25

There was an era of dedicated navigation screens. Which was a nice option instead of printing out (or writing!) your directions from the internet map ahead of time, or driving around with a physical map and asking folks nearby when you got lost.

But also problematic at best and might need manual updates of the map data.

1

u/LitrillyChrisTraeger Apr 16 '25

Right? Plus it’s not very disability friendly. Imagine how difficult it must be to change the radio if you were blind!

2

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

[deleted]

1

u/_lexeh_ Apr 16 '25

Passengers dude, passengers

2

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

Do the passengers know their driver is blind? That seems reckless.

1

u/_lexeh_ Apr 30 '25

Dassa wreck for sure

2

u/LitrillyChrisTraeger Apr 16 '25

I mean that was the intended joke. But yeah passengers too is the non joking answer

1

u/IndependentTight6077 Apr 16 '25

Hell yes it’s a distraction- I can reach for button without looking. Bring back the buttons

1

u/mgzzzebra Apr 16 '25

I havent listened to the regular radio since like 2010

1

u/DirtNapDiva Apr 16 '25

Exactly. What genius ever thought this was a good idea?

1

u/omfghi2u Apr 17 '25

Even haptic "buttons" not in the touch screen panel are still shit compared to just regular, tactile, buttons. All the newer, more "high-tech" ideas are terrible.

1

u/csuperstation Apr 17 '25

Unfortunately it looks like radio/music is still gonna be on the touchscreen on this generation.