I remember the first time I sat in a car that felt completely alien to me. It was a rental in a foreign country, and within minutes, I was fumbling with the controls, trying to figure out how to adjust the temperature. The touchscreen was laggy, the buttons were scattered in places that made no sense, and even turning on the headlights required a deep dive into the owner’s manual. That experience made me appreciate how much thought (or lack thereof) goes into dashboard design.
A car’s dashboard is more than just a collection of screens, buttons, and knobs—it’s the nerve center of the driving experience. The best dashboards disappear into the background, allowing you to focus on the road. The worst ones make you work harder than necessary, turning every adjustment into a frustrating puzzle.
So how do you evaluate a car dashboard? Whether you’re buying a new vehicle, renting one, or just curious about automotive design, here’s a deep dive into what makes a dashboard functional, intuitive, and enjoyable to use.
The Layout: First Impressions Matter
When you step into a car, the dashboard sets the tone for the entire experience. The best designs immediately make sense, even if you’ve never driven that particular model before.
A well-designed dashboard should follow natural ergonomics, meaning the controls you use most frequently—climate, audio, headlights, hazard lights—should be within easy reach. Buttons should be logically grouped, not scattered across different sections of the console.
For example, German automakers like BMW and Audi often design dashboards with a driver-centric focus, angling the controls slightly toward the driver to improve accessibility. Meanwhile, Tesla has taken a minimalist approach, removing nearly all physical buttons and consolidating everything into a single touchscreen. While sleek, this design has sparked debate among drivers who find it distracting to use a screen for basic functions like adjusting the air conditioning.
The key takeaway? A dashboard should feel intuitive, not like a puzzle you need to solve while driving.
Screens vs. Physical Controls: Striking the Right Balance
Touchscreens have become the dominant trend in modern car interiors, but not everyone agrees that’s a good thing. While a large, high-resolution display can make a car feel futuristic, it also introduces new challenges—especially when replacing traditional controls.
A study by Sweden’s Vi Bilägare magazine found that physical buttons are significantly safer than touchscreens. In tests involving real drivers, simple tasks like adjusting the radio took nearly twice as long when using a touchscreen compared to physical controls. This delay increases the time a driver’s eyes are off the road, increasing the risk of accidents.
Manufacturers like Mazda and Honda still prioritize physical buttons for core functions like volume control and climate adjustment. On the other hand, companies like Tesla and Rivian have committed to a fully digital interface.
From an evaluation standpoint, the best dashboards find a balance: a responsive touchscreen for complex functions like navigation and smartphone integration, but also tactile controls for frequently used settings. If a car forces you to navigate multiple menus just to adjust the fan speed, that’s a red flag.
Screen Placement and Visibility
Not all screens are created equal. A dashboard display should be positioned so you can glance at it without taking your eyes off the road for too long.
Some manufacturers place infotainment screens too low, forcing drivers to look down to read navigation instructions. Others place them at eye level, making them easier to reference. The ideal placement is somewhere in between—close enough to the driver’s line of sight but not obstructing the windshield.
The screen should also be easy to read in different lighting conditions. Poorly designed displays become nearly invisible in bright sunlight, while overly reflective surfaces create glare. A good dashboard screen should have an anti-glare coating and high contrast so that text and icons remain clear at all times.
Instrument Clusters: Digital vs. Analog
For decades, cars relied on analog dials to display speed, RPMs, and fuel levels. But with the rise of digital technology, many manufacturers have replaced traditional gauges with fully digital instrument clusters.
Digital displays offer customization, allowing drivers to switch between different layouts or prioritize certain information. For instance, some cars let you toggle between a standard speedometer view and a full-screen navigation display. Others, like Mercedes-Benz, allow you to change the entire aesthetic of the instrument panel, switching between minimalist layouts and high-tech graphics.
However, digital clusters aren’t always better. Some screens can be overly complicated, cluttering the display with too much information. The best dashboards keep the essentials—speed, fuel level, and engine temperature—clearly visible at all times, without forcing drivers to dig through menus.
Connectivity: Smartphone Integration and Wireless Features
A modern dashboard should seamlessly integrate with your smartphone. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become industry standards, allowing drivers to use their preferred navigation apps, stream music, and take calls without relying on built-in infotainment systems.
Some manufacturers, like Ford and GM, have begun offering wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, eliminating the need for a physical USB connection. However, not all wireless implementations are smooth—some suffer from lag or connectivity issues, making them more frustrating than useful.
Beyond smartphone integration, a good dashboard should also offer convenient charging options. USB-C ports, wireless charging pads, and well-placed storage compartments make a difference in everyday usability.
Voice Control: The Future of Dashboard Interaction?
With the increasing complexity of car dashboards, voice control has been positioned as a solution to reduce distractions. Ideally, a driver should be able to adjust climate settings, change the radio station, or set a navigation destination without taking their hands off the wheel.
However, execution varies widely between manufacturers. Tesla’s voice assistant is relatively responsive, while some older systems struggle with basic commands. The best voice control systems are those that work smoothly in real-world conditions, without requiring drivers to repeat themselves multiple times.
Materials and Build Quality
A dashboard isn’t just about functionality—it’s also about feel. High-quality materials, like soft-touch plastics, leather, or brushed aluminum, make a car feel premium. Cheap, hard plastics, on the other hand, can make even a high-tech dashboard feel low-rent.
When evaluating a dashboard, it’s worth paying attention to small details:
- Are the buttons and knobs sturdy, or do they feel flimsy?
- Does the touchscreen respond quickly, or does it lag?
- Are there rattles or creaks when pressing on the dashboard?
These details may seem minor, but they play a big role in how satisfying a car is to use over time.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
A well-designed dashboard should integrate safety features in a way that enhances, rather than distracts from, the driving experience.
Many modern cars include blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control. However, the way these alerts are presented matters. Some cars use subtle visual cues, like small icons on the dashboard or side mirrors, while others rely on loud chimes and flashing lights that can become annoying over time.
The best dashboards offer safety features that are helpful without being intrusive. A good example is Volvo’s driver alert system, which gently vibrates the steering wheel if you start drifting out of your lane, rather than blaring an alarm.
Final Thoughts: What Makes a Great Dashboard?
A well-designed car dashboard should be intuitive, easy to use, and visually appealing. Here’s a quick summary of what to look for:
- Logical layout: Controls should be within easy reach and grouped logically.
- Balance of touch and physical controls: Screens are great, but essential functions should still have tactile buttons.
- Good screen placement and visibility: The infotainment screen should be easy to see without distracting from the road.
- Clear instrument cluster: Digital or analog, the main driving data should always be easy to read.
- Smartphone integration: Seamless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity is a must.
- Build quality: High-quality materials and responsive controls improve the experience.
- Non-intrusive safety features: Alerts should assist rather than annoy.
A dashboard isn’t just a design element—it’s the interface between driver and machine. Get it right, and it enhances every aspect of driving. Get it wrong, and even the best car can feel frustrating to use. When evaluating a vehicle, don’t just look at the specs—pay attention to how the dashboard makes you feel.
