Are minimalist EV interiors a thing of the past? Polestar seems to think so, as it’s quietly revolutionizing its cabin designs before the screen-heavy backlash reaches a boiling point. While sleek, button-free dashboards have dominated electric vehicles in recent years, Polestar is now leading the charge to bring back tactile controls and expanded customization options—a move that could redefine how we interact with our cars.
But here's where it gets controversial: Is the shift away from touchscreen-centric interiors a step backward, or a much-needed return to user-friendly design? Polestar’s current models, like the Polestar 3 and 4, rely heavily on a single screen for most functions, leaving drivers to navigate menus for even the simplest tasks. This approach, inspired by Tesla’s minimalist philosophy, has sparked frustration among those who prefer the immediacy of physical buttons. Now, Polestar is listening.
In a recent interview with InsideEVs, Polestar’s head of design, Philipp Römers, confirmed that upcoming models will reintroduce more physical switches. While he didn’t specify which functions will get dedicated controls, this change is likely to be a welcome relief for drivers tired of touchscreen gymnastics. And this is the part most people miss: Polestar isn’t just adding buttons—it’s also expanding interior color options and enhancing personalization features, catering to its younger customer base, who are, on average, a decade younger than those of luxury giants like Audi, Mercedes, and BMW.
Take the Polestar 4, for example. Currently, physical controls are limited to the steering wheel, seat adjustments, stalks, and a few media buttons on the center console. Nearly everything else is buried within the touchscreen. While Polestar never went fully button-free, the cabins can feel starkly minimalist—almost to a fault. The upcoming changes aim to strike a balance between modern aesthetics and practical functionality.
But don’t expect these updates overnight. The revised interiors won’t debut until the second-generation Polestar 2, teased for next year, and the new Polestar 7, slated for 2027. Until then, models like the updated Polestar 4 ‘wagon’ and the Polestar 5 grand tourer will retain the familiar minimalist design.
So, here’s the question: Is Polestar’s shift toward more tactile interiors a smart move, or are they overcorrecting in response to criticism? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts on whether buttons are making a comeback or if touchscreens still reign supreme.
