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Amidst the rise of large central touchscreens, one automaker persists in equipping its vehicles with a physical rotary dial on the center console. Brands like Audi, Mercedes, Mazda, and a few others have incorporated a rotary controller on the center console to manage infotainment functions.
However, Audi and Mercedes have long transitioned these controls entirely to touchscreens, and the new-generation Mazda CX-5 indicates that the Japanese automaker is also phasing out the physical rotary dial from its center console.
According to Motor1, BMW pioneered the use of this physical rotary dial when it introduced iDrive on the 7-Series in 2001. Initially criticized for its complexity, iDrive has since become a benchmark for in-car infotainment systems.
Over time, BMW refined iDrive, transforming it into one of the most intuitive automotive infotainment systems. While entry-level models like the X1 and 2-Series Gran Coupe have dropped iDrive, the rotary dial remains a staple in most other BMW vehicles.
Motor1 notes that touchscreens are ideal when the vehicle is stationary. However, during driving, the rotary dial offers a more convenient and safer way to adjust settings.
BMW’s current iDrive rotary dial can rotate 360 degrees in both directions, tilt forward/backward, left/right, and be pressed to select options.
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BMW has also enhanced user experience with shortcut buttons surrounding the iDrive dial. While not replicating the tactile feel of physical buttons, these touch-sensitive shortcuts significantly streamline interaction with the system.
Nevertheless, the iDrive rotary dial’s days appear numbered. BMW’s upcoming electric Neue Klasse models, starting with the iX3, are expected to eliminate the physical infotainment controller, as evidenced by recent prototypes.
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