Car owners show little interest in giant in-car touchscreens

A study by J.D. Power involving 68,000 owners of 2026 model-year vehicles indicates that drivers are increasingly dissatisfied with the trend of installing massive touchscreens in automotive dashboards.

According to the research, passenger-side screens are among the least valued features. Over one-third of surveyed owners reported never using passenger screens, while only 6% use them during every trip. Furthermore, larger displays have been linked to a higher frequency of infotainment system issues and potential safety concerns compared to traditional physical buttons and knobs.

In contrast, the most highly rated technologies were those that function seamlessly without requiring significant driver attention, such as smart ignition and smart climate control systems. Doron Hikry, Director of Customer Success at J.D. Power, noted that “the technology customers value most is often the technology they barely notice because it simply works.” The study also found that owners expressed limited enthusiasm for Level 2+ driver assistance systems.