For the past few years, Volkswagen has been on the receiving end of a very specific kind of owner frustration: the kind that happens when you just want to turn down the fan speed, but instead you are poking at a screen like you are trying to unlock a phone with greasy fingerprints. Now VW is making a pretty clear statement that it gets it, and it is bringing physical controls back for the stuff drivers use every single day, starting with the upcoming ID. Polo and its new cockpit layout.

The ID. Polo’s cabin is basically a greatest-hits playlist of common sense. Right under the center display, VW has added a dedicated strip of hard controls for climate functions and the hazard lights, so you are not hunting through menus when you are trying to do something simple. Even better, there is a proper rotary knob in the console for volume, and it is not just for show. It also doubles as a quick way to scroll through tracks and stations, which feels like the kind of small win you appreciate more the longer you have lived with touch sliders.

Volkswagen is also ditching the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons that have drawn plenty of criticism. In their place are real, clicky buttons laid out in a way that looks like it was designed by people who actually drive their cars in the real world. The digital gauge cluster even leans into a retro vibe with selectable graphics inspired by the original Golf, which is a fun nod without turning the whole interior into a cosplay project.

There are other details that matter, too. VW is going back to four window switches, skipping the odd two-switch-and-toggle setup some models used. The company is also talking about nicer materials, and the ID. Polo backs that up with fabric trim across parts of the dash and door panels, which is notable for an EV expected to land under €25,000 before incentives. Screen fans still get their fix with a 10.25-inch driver display paired with an infotainment screen that is nearly 13 inches, even if both still sit a bit proud of the dash instead of being fully integrated.

The bigger story here is what this signals for the rest of VW’s lineup. The ID. Polo is being positioned as the start of a wider interior reset, and VW says this button-forward philosophy is also headed to future affordable EVs, including a smaller entry model planned for 2027 with pricing around €20,000. If VW sticks the landing, this could be one of those rare course corrections that instantly makes daily driving feel less annoying, and it might even make shoppers give the brand another look the next time they are cross-shopping small EVs.