Euro NCAP is rewarding physical buttons in its safety assessments, potentially influencing how manufacturers design future car controls.
The organisation’s 2026 protocols favour accessible buttons and switches for essential driving functions, reflecting concerns that touchscreen menus can increase driver distraction.
Lack of physical buttons can often be a criticism of the latest models, particularly with the latest electric vehicles.
Its latest assessments highlight the differences between manufacturers’ approaches.
Audi’s Q7 and Kia’s EV2 scored highly for their driving controls, while the Xpeng X9 lost marks for its reliance on a central touchscreen.
All three achieved five-star overall safety ratings, demonstrating that the control assessment is one element of the wider evaluation.
Safety scores encourage design changes
Under Euro NCAP’s Safe Driving assessment, essential functions should be operated through a direct physical input rather than be hidden within touchscreen menus.
These include indicators, windscreen wipers and washers, hazard warning lights, the horn and the eCall emergency button.
By rewarding accessible physical controls, Euro NCAP is encouraging manufacturers to consider ease of use and driver distraction when designing vehicle interiors.
The Audi Q7 scored 90% overall for driving controls, comprising 100% for essential driving tasks and 80% for comfort and infotainment functions.
Euro NCAP praised its clearly visible buttons and stalks, which it said reduced the potential for distraction. The Kia EV2 also scored highly for its controls.
In contrast, the Xpeng X9 scored 20% for primary driving controls because of its reliance on the central touchscreen.
Dr Aled Williams, programme director at Euro NCAP, said: “We applaud Audi and Kia for taking a more common-sense approach.
“Our latest protocols reward the intelligent use of physical buttons and controls, as this can reduce driver distraction, and both Audi’s new Q7 and Kia’s EV2 do an excellent job of keeping safety simple.”
Results from other models assessed during 2026 underline the variation in manufacturers’ approaches.
The BMW iX3 scored 100% for driving controls, while the Cupra Raval and Geely E2 both achieved 80%.
The Zeekr 7GT and Aion UT scored 20%, while the Leapmotor B05 received 0%.
BYD Shark and Mazda 2 Hybrid results
The BYD Shark pick-up also received five stars under a 2025 rating adapted from Australasian NCAP testing, supplemented by Euro NCAP impact assessments.
A penalty was applied after a side curtain airbag failed to deploy correctly, although the vehicle delivered good driver assistance and solid crash protection results.
The Mazda 2 Hybrid retained a four-star 2025 rating carried over from the related Toyota Yaris.