Renault says it will not follow the industry trend of putting virtually every function behind a touchscreen. Physical buttons and switches will remain part of its interiors, even though the French manufacturer admits they are more expensive.

The reasoning is simple: frequently used functions should stay within easy reach so drivers can keep their eyes on the road.

Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey reiterated that philosophy during the local launch of the Symbioz, calling physical controls a “founding principle”.

“The Renault philosophy is to keep shortcuts as much as you can with buttons, which is more expensive, by the way,” Sealey told GoAuto. Technology should make cars simpler and more familiar, he argued, rather than forcing drivers through screen menus.

It is not merely an Australian view. Renault’s design department has previously described its aim as finding the right balance between “digital and physical”, specifically citing temperature adjustment as a function better served by a real control.

Back into the safety debate

That philosophy suddenly looks less old-fashioned. Euro NCAP changed its assessment protocols for 2026 and now evaluates the placement, clarity and ease of use of essential controls. Physical controls for frequently used functions can improve the Human-Machine Interface score by reducing distraction.

For some functions, the rules go further. Indicators, the gear selector and hazard lights require a direct physical input to receive full credit.

The first 2026 tests have already shown why this matters. Although the Zeekr 7GT still achieved five stars, Euro NCAP criticized its reliance on the central touchscreen for vehicle settings and climate control, giving it a poor score for general vehicle controls.

Renault is not alone in reconsidering the screen-first approach. Volkswagen has admitted it went too far with touch-sensitive controls, while Audi and Mercedes are also bringing more tactile switches back.

A forest of Renault stalks

There is, however, an ironic side to Renault’s argument about intuitive controls. Anyone regularly switching between cars may recognize another Renault habit: clustering a remarkable number of controls around the steering column.

On models such as the Renault 5 E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech, the right-hand side can carry the electronic drive selector, the conventional wiper stalk and Renault’s separate audio-control satellite. Depending on the model, regeneration controls add another element nearby.

There is logic behind each of them. Moving the electronic gear selector from the center console frees useful storage space, while Renault has even turned it into a design feature on the R4 and R5 with the customizable “e-pop shifter”.

The separate audio satellite goes back much further. Renault has used behind-the-wheel radio controls for decades, allowing drivers to adjust volume, stations and sources largely by touch. The Renault 11 Electronic already had such a satellite in 1983.

Individually, these are exactly the sort of tactile, eyes-on-the-road solutions Renault is now defending. The trouble starts when they all end up in the same place.

International testers have repeatedly commented on the resulting clutter. Auto Express found it easy to hit the wiper stalk instead of the gear selector while maneuvering the R5, while other reviewers have reported the same confusion when reaching for Drive or Reverse. Scenic testers have raised similar complaints.

Renault Group itself shows there is another way. The Alpine A290, closely related to the Renault 5, drops the column shifter altogether and uses separate D, N and R buttons on the center console. The A390 follows a similar approach.

Renault therefore neatly illustrates both sides of the debate: physical controls can be quicker and less distracting than touchscreen menus, but physical does not automatically mean intuitive. Their positioning matters just as much.