Buttons in cars are a hot topic—or rather, the lack thereof. When the first iPhone hit the market in 2007, automakers scrambled to get screens into their vehicles as quickly as possible, hoping to cash in on the hot new touchscreen craze.
Early attempts at in-car touchscreen technology were… not great. But in the 20 years since, vehicle screens have become bigger, better, and faster. Touchscreen technology has improved so much, in fact, that automakers are now content to slather their interiors in glass, shoehorning everything from climate controls to vehicle functions into a single central interface.
But buyers are finally pushing back. No longer are consumers content with using a screen to control every single aspect of their vehicle—they want buttons. Some automakers have already gotten the hint, with new cars offering more tactile controls than before. Yet even in the year of our Lord 2026, there are still too many cars without simple, tactile controls.
By our count, there are just over 30 vehicles in the US that lack one of the most basic functions a car can have: a volume knob. We’re talking about a fixed, rotating, tactile volume controller somewhere in the center console (be it a knob or roller)—not just buttons on the steering wheel, which almost every new car has. Here’s what we found.
Audi
Audi RS E-Tron GT Interior
Photo by: Audi
Alright, let’s start with a controversial one—and Audi owners, feel free to correct me in the comments. The A3, E-Tron GT, and Q4 E-Tron do not have a traditional volume knob, by our very official measure (a fixed, rotating dial or knob). There is, technically, a circular… thing in the center console near the shifter, but it’s an odd touch-capacitive control that doesn’t work well. Not a volume knob.
Ferrari
Ferrari 849 Testarossa Interior
Photo by: Ferrari
We’re not all that shocked to learn that every single Ferrari model forgoes a traditional volume knob—the Italian supercar maker is so worried about driver ergonomics that they ditched the turn signal stalks for two buttons on the steering wheel. The same goes for the volume knob. Every modern Ferrari model, from the Amalfi to the 849 Testarossa, uses steering wheel volume controls exclusively. Interestingly, the upcoming Luce EV may be the first modern Ferrari with an actual volume knob
Lamborghini
Lamborghini Revuelto Interior
Photo by: DW Burnett / Motor1
Much like Ferrari, Lamborghini forgoes traditional volume knobs for the sake of driver ergonomics. The Italian automaker uses steering wheel and on-screen controls exclusively. Interestingly, the Urus SUV did have a physical volume knob until 2023, but the 2024 facelift ditched the volume knob in place of another screen. Sad!
Lotus
The Lotus Emira sports car does have a physical volume knob in the center console just ahead of the shifter, which is great news. Its sibling, the Eletra SUV, does not. Like many Geely-based SUVs (a few you’ll see on this list), the Eletra opts for on-screen and steering wheel controls exclusively.
Maserati
Maserati Grecale Interior
It’s always interesting when only one vehicle from a relatively large brand doesn’t have a tactile volume knob, but here we are. Even though every other Maserati retains its physical volume knob for the 2026 model year—yes, even the driver-focused MC Pura—the Grecale opts for screen and steering wheel controls instead. We’re not entirely sure why.
Mazda
Photo by: Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
Here’s another good example of a single model bucking the tactile knob trend of its siblings. For some reason, Mazda went in an entirely new direction with the interior of the latest CX-5, ditching its former physical controls for a massive touchscreen and—you guessed it—no volume knob in the center console. When we asked Mazda about this, the company said they are “focused on minimizing driver distraction.” Sure.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Interior
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
- AMG GT
- AMG SL
- C-Class
- CLA-Class
- CLE-Class
- E-Class
- EQ Models
When Mercedes-Benz debuted its massive Hyperscreen with new MBUX tech, it was revolutionary. All screens, all the time. But Mercedes is slowly starting to reverse course, adding tactile controls back into many of its newer models (like the latest S-Class). That said, many volume knob-less models remain. The entire EQ lineup still doesn’t have volume knobs, nor do newer models like the latest C-, CLE-, and E-Class. Those models do have volume haptic buttons at the base of the screen, but they don’t meet our definition of a traditional volume knob.
Porsche
Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo Interior
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
While Porsche’s newer EVs, like the Cayenne and Macan, do have physical controls for volume, the automaker’s OG EV still doesn’t. Even after a facelift, the Taycan still uses steering wheel controls for the volume, opting for a vertically oriented screen in the center console in place of physical controls. That said, Porsche knows that buyers want buttons; last October, the company stated that “we want to have some physical feedback.”
Rivian
Photo by: Victoria Scott / Motor1
Like many EV upstarts, Rivian went all-digital with the debut of the R1S SUV and R1T pickup. That means no volume knob. That said, the company does give you three ways to control the volume: steering wheel controls, on-screen sliders, and even by tapping the volume icon at the base of the center touchscreen. Hey, better than nothing.
Tesla
Tesla was one of the first automakers to market with no volume knob—hell, there aren’t even physical controls for things like the windshield wipers or air conditioning vents. Almost everything is baked into the screen. That said, this is still a roller on the left side of the steering wheel to control volume.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf GTI Interior
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
- GTI / Golf R
- ID.4
- ID. Buzz
Volkswagen has gotten a lot of heat for its lack of physical controls. Starting with the ID.4 and making its way to models like the ID. Buzz and even the beloved GTI and Golf R, the German automaker ditched its physical dials for a less-than-intuitive touch-capacitive slider at the base of the touchscreen. For a while, it wasn’t even illuminated, which made it impossible to use at night. Thankfully, the company is starting to reverse course and add buttons back into its vehicles; the new Tiguan has a massive volume dial in the center console, just like the good Lord intended.
Volvo
Photo by: Volvo
Like the Lotus Eletre higher up on this list, the Volvo EX30 is another Geely-based SUV that ditched its volume knob for digital interfaces almost exclusively. The lack of physical controls is absolutely maddening—as I noted in my review. That said, the EX30 is being discontinued in the US after this year.
