by Many consumers are confused when it comes to new gear shifters in cars.
With everything from knobs to balls used to select gears, drivers are often baffled.
Counterintuitive designs are not just inconveniences; they can be a safety concern.
Earlier this month, Volkswagen finally admitted what we all knew long ago: in some cases, buttons are good and screens are bad. It has been often discussed why hiding controls behind ever-changing menus on seemingly bright touchscreens is considered premium, but according to the organization Euro NCAP,
But the lack of buttons and the continuous increase in screen sizes is not the only thing that car manufacturers fail to keep in place. Gear shifters are becoming unnecessarily complicated, as many, from automotive journalists (including myself) to engineers and car company executives, point out. And of course, there are buyers who aren’t always satisfied with the way gear selection works in their shiny new cars.
The days when cars had traditional column or console-mounted shifters are long gone; modern vehicles have a vast assortment of unusual shifting mechanisms like dials, joysticks, touchscreens, and even glass balls.
Linda Hoff, a frequent traveler, found herself stranded on the road, unable to figure out the joystick-like shifter in a rental car. Her frustration echoed a common sentiment among drivers unfamiliar with modern shifter designs. “I didn’t even know how to drive this car,” she said. “So, I had to go back to the rental agency and say, ‘Is there a trick to this one?'”
The shift from mechanical linkages to electronic control systems has given car manufacturers the freedom to experiment with innovative designs, but not all changes have been well-received. Some configurations, like Chrysler’s rotary shifter located near the radio volume control, have raised safety questions. Drivers are concerned about the potential to accidentally shift gears while adjusting volume. It’s a very worrying possibility.
Luxury brands have embraced even more ambitious designs. introduced Crystal Sphere, a glowing ball that spins 180 degrees to reveal a rotary shifter in their electric vehicle. While this design is visually appealing, some owners find it impractical, and one even lost a Post-it note in it.
, known for its tendency to push boundaries, integrated gear selection into the touchscreen interface, completely eliminating traditional shifters. While some owners, like Jeff Tropiano from Colorado, have adapted, others, particularly his wife, find the setup baffling. “When she gets in my car, she says, ‘I just don’t know what to do,'” he shared.
The modernist approach to gear shifters has not been without controversy. Chrysler’s rotary shifter has been linked to instances of rollaway and even a fatality. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that these vehicles’ gear shift device lever is “not intuitive and provides poor tactile and visual feedback to the driver, increasing the possibility of unintended gear selection.”
Recently, Consumer Reports testers inadvertently engaged the shifter into reverse while shutting down adaptive cruise control. The company Rivian responded by releasing a software update to address this issue.
Despite these challenges, experts believe that the key to success is familiarity. If drivers get used to their car’s unique controls, the confusion usually fades. However, as car manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of design in search of distinction and efficiency, the debate over intuitive controls versus innovation is far from over. For now, drivers may need to carefully study the manual for their new car—which, in some cases, is also hidden in one of the infotainment system’s menus…
