Contemporary Gear Shifters Are Overly Complicated, Resulting in Frustration, Stranding Drivers, or Leading to More Serious Consequences | Carscoops

      Gear levers are becoming obsolete, replaced by rotary dials, screen menus, and even glass orbs. Although these new designs may be visually appealing, they often prove to be counterintuitive and can even present safety risks.

      Numerous consumers find themselves puzzled by the unfamiliar gear shifters in modern cars and their unconventional designs. With a variety of options from dials to orbs for selecting gears, many drivers experience confusion. These non-intuitive designs are not merely inconvenient; they also raise safety concerns.

      Earlier this month, Volkswagen acknowledged what many had suspected: in some situations, buttons are preferable while screens can be problematic. There has been ongoing debate regarding why hiding controls behind ever-changing touchscreen menus is considered a luxury, but Euro NCAP suggests this could also pose safety risks.

      The absence of buttons and the increasing size of screens are not the only issues automakers are grappling with. Gear shifters are becoming unnecessarily complicated, a fact noted by automotive journalists (including myself), car engineers, and executives alike. Additionally, consumers are not always pleased with the way their new vehicles select gears.

      Gone are the days of traditional column-mounted or console shifters; contemporary vehicles now showcase an array of non-standard shifting mechanisms like dials, joysticks, touchscreens, and glass orbs. Linda Hoff, a frequent traveler, found herself stranded in a rental Nissan Rogue, unable to comprehend its joystick-like gear selector. Her frustration reflects a shared sentiment among drivers unfamiliar with the latest shifter designs. “I had no idea how to operate this car,” she remarked. “I had to return to the rental agency and ask, ‘Is there a trick to this?’”

      The transition from mechanical linkages to electronic controls has granted automakers the freedom to innovate, though not all changes have garnered positive feedback. Some arrangements, such as Chrysler’s rotary dial shifter positioned near the radio volume knob, have sparked safety concerns. Drivers worry they might inadvertently shift gears while adjusting the volume, which is a startling possibility.

      Luxury brands have taken design even further. Genesis introduced the Crystal Sphere, a luminous orb that rotates 180 degrees to reveal a twist-knob shifter, in its GV60 EV. While it is visually impressive, some users have found it challenging to use, with one person even losing a Post-it note within the mechanism.

      Tesla, known for its innovative spirit, has incorporated gear selection directly into its touchscreen interface, completely removing traditional shifters and leaving only roof-mounted buttons as an alternative. While some owners, like Jeff Tropeano from Colorado, have adapted, others, including his wife, find the system confusing. “When she gets in my car, she says, ‘I just don’t know what to do,’” he shared with the Wall Street Journal.

      The modern design of gear shifters has not been without its controversies. Chrysler’s dial shifter has been associated with rollaway accidents and even a fatal incident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that these vehicles feature a center console shift lever that “is not intuitive and provides poor tactile and visual feedback to the driver, increasing the chance of unintentional gear selection.”

      In a recent incident, Consumer Reports testers inadvertently shifted a Rivian R1S into reverse while trying to turn off adaptive cruise control. Rivian addressed the problem with a software update.

      Despite these difficulties, experts indicate that getting used to the controls is crucial. Once drivers familiarize themselves with their unique vehicle controls, the confusion generally diminishes. However, as automakers continue to explore design boundaries in pursuit of uniqueness and efficiency, the discussion about intuitive controls versus innovative designs remains unresolved. For now, drivers may need to thoroughly review their vehicle's manual— which, in certain cases, may also be hidden within the infotainment menus.