Mazda 3 - Autocar staff don't like touchscreen infotainment

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Mon 23 Dec 2019 09:23
Mazda 3 - Autocar staff don't like touchscreen infotainment - oldroverboy.

I have to admit that I like the controls on my MG ZS. heating control and fan are two rotary dials. screen or cabin/defrost options are also buttons. Radio is a solid on off volume control rotary button and station selection via touchscreen or up down next to that and also duplicated on the steering wheel.

What concerns me about the touchscreen stuff is that the warranty, depending on maker is 24 or 36 months.

MG is 36 months, so I guess that I will be looking for a replacement car in about 8 months time.

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Mon 23 Dec 2019 14:24
Mazda 3 - Autocar staff don't like touchscreen infotainment - Avant

The best systems are those where the heating and AC have nothing to do with the infotainment.

I have no idea what possesses all these designers to muddle these quite separate functions. I've never seen any evidence of customers asking for it.

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Mon 23 Dec 2019 16:19
Mazda 3 - Autocar staff don't like touchscreen infotainment - Zippy123

I have no idea what possesses all these designers to muddle these quite separate functions. I've never seen any evidence of customers asking for it.

Cost.

Each button or knob costs money. Software, once written, costs minimal extra to fit to cars.

One of the reasons I chose my 2017 Hyundai Tucson was that it still had a row of buttons for satnav, phone and radio and wasn't all touch screen like some competitors.

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Mon 23 Dec 2019 19:38
Mazda 3 - Autocar staff don't like touchscreen infotainment - Engineer Andy

I have no idea what possesses all these designers to muddle these quite separate functions. I've never seen any evidence of customers asking for it.

Cost.

Each button or knob costs money. Software, once written, costs minimal extra to fit to cars.

One of the reasons I chose my 2017 Hyundai Tucson was that it still had a row of buttons for satnav, phone and radio and wasn't all touch screen like some competitors.

True, but imagine how many sales they lose by peeing off customers (especially older ones, who actually have most of the money these days) with an excuse of saving a few hundred quid, when ergonomically and from a safety perspective, buttons and dials are far better.

I'm glad Mazda have stuck with this ergonomic approach, which has also resulted in the interiors of their latest cars being very pleasant to be in and look at. Now if only they'd get their latest engines right...(from a 14yo Mazda car owner).

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Mon 23 Dec 2019 22:58
Mazda 3 - Autocar staff don't like touchscreen infotainment - Zippy123

I have no idea what possesses all these designers to muddle these quite separate functions. I've never seen any evidence of customers asking for it.

Cost.

Each button or knob costs money. Software, once written, costs minimal extra to fit to cars.

True, but imagine how many sales they lose by peeing off customers (especially older ones, who actually have most of the money these days) with an excuse of saving a few hundred quid, when ergonomically and from a safety perspective, buttons and dials are far better.

Agree. But I don't like to think of myself as an "older one". My body tells me otherwise! :-)

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