I don’t disagree, but what’s up with climate? Of all the things I change during a drive, climate is probably the least used one. IMO, if the car has a decent HVAC system, it should be set and forget (less the defroster and A/C max in summer).
It might be that manufacturers see in their data that most people use it set and forget nowadays anyways, which made the cost cutting decision easier.
Idk, I probably have autism or something. In more extreme temps I like it blasting on me until I reach a tipping point at which it is completely overwhelming and I need it turned off or pointing away, haha. It could also be the fact that I am upgrading from a 2000. And I got an electric, so if I don’t need climate control using battery I want it off, which may change when I am on the highway. Other factors include not having a garage and doing a lot of outdoor activities that can leave one very hot/cold/moist for the drive home.
The thing that radicalized me on this issue was driving in a Tesla. You couldn’t even change the direction of the vents manually.
You’ve obviously never been in the same car as my mom. “ooh it’s cold in here, can you turn up the heating? A bit more? It’s still cold, a bit more?” “oh wow, now it’s really warm, can you turn down the heat?”
I have been fortunate to stumble into Mazda ownership a couple times in my life. I had a 1989 MX-6 coupe with a 5-speed manual ~25 years ago, and currently drive a 2012 mazda3. They have been doing a lot of great design for many years, and I think flying under the radar for many people. And the enjoyment of driving has always been on their radar. Hell, consider that they still make the MX-5 Miata! I think I wanna get me a fun little RWD zoom zoom with a soft top and a 6-speed.
If you look up the 2025 mazda3 interior, you see buttons and gauges, with a small central infotainment screen. Plus you can get that car in AWD with a turbo these days.
I don’t know how they are now but a couple of years back Mazda was on the other extreme for me. I don’t want to fiddle with a dial when all I would need is one tap. I don’t want to squit at a tiny screen to descipher the map. I don’t want to jiggle the knob for half an hour to write in 3 words in a search bar.
Having both a decent infotainment and also physical buttons for the most important functions is possible and there have been others that have done it better.
I just bought a newish car and would not even consider any without physical buttons for climate. It really helped narrow the options, haha.
I don’t disagree, but what’s up with climate? Of all the things I change during a drive, climate is probably the least used one. IMO, if the car has a decent HVAC system, it should be set and forget (less the defroster and A/C max in summer).
It might be that manufacturers see in their data that most people use it set and forget nowadays anyways, which made the cost cutting decision easier.
Idk, I probably have autism or something. In more extreme temps I like it blasting on me until I reach a tipping point at which it is completely overwhelming and I need it turned off or pointing away, haha. It could also be the fact that I am upgrading from a 2000. And I got an electric, so if I don’t need climate control using battery I want it off, which may change when I am on the highway. Other factors include not having a garage and doing a lot of outdoor activities that can leave one very hot/cold/moist for the drive home. The thing that radicalized me on this issue was driving in a Tesla. You couldn’t even change the direction of the vents manually.
You’ve obviously never been in the same car as my mom. “ooh it’s cold in here, can you turn up the heating? A bit more? It’s still cold, a bit more?” “oh wow, now it’s really warm, can you turn down the heat?”
Mazda?
Went with a Hyundai Kona Electric 🤷♀️
I have been fortunate to stumble into Mazda ownership a couple times in my life. I had a 1989 MX-6 coupe with a 5-speed manual ~25 years ago, and currently drive a 2012 mazda3. They have been doing a lot of great design for many years, and I think flying under the radar for many people. And the enjoyment of driving has always been on their radar. Hell, consider that they still make the MX-5 Miata! I think I wanna get me a fun little RWD zoom zoom with a soft top and a 6-speed.
If you look up the 2025 mazda3 interior, you see buttons and gauges, with a small central infotainment screen. Plus you can get that car in AWD with a turbo these days.
I don’t know how they are now but a couple of years back Mazda was on the other extreme for me. I don’t want to fiddle with a dial when all I would need is one tap. I don’t want to squit at a tiny screen to descipher the map. I don’t want to jiggle the knob for half an hour to write in 3 words in a search bar.
Having both a decent infotainment and also physical buttons for the most important functions is possible and there have been others that have done it better.