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Audi Could Make Its EVs Better by Making Them “Worse”

Audi is bringing some physical controls back to selected models. The change challenges screen-first cabin design, not the range or capability of its EVs.
Entry121 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Audi’s EVs could feel better to use if the company made some controls less digital: its November 2025 update says selected models will replace certain touch-sensitive virtual-cockpit controls with physical ones. That is a case for making the interface more tactile, not for reducing range, charging speed, or capability. Audi has not published independent testing showing that the change improves usability or driver attention.

What Audi is changing

In a November 26, 2025 announcement, Audi said updates to the A5, Q5, A6, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron lines would bring a refreshed user interface and replace some touch-sensitive virtual-cockpit interfaces with physical controls. Audi said market content and timing vary, so the announcement does not establish that every version in every market receives the same change. Nor does it announce a retrofit for vehicles already on the road. Audi’s update announcement describes the changes as part of broader model updates.

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The manufacturer’s description of easier operation is not an independent usability result. The documented change supports a narrower point: Audi is bringing some physical controls back rather than relying entirely on touch-sensitive interfaces.

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Why a “worse” screen-first cabin may be harder to use

A touch display can put navigation, media, vehicle settings, and personalization in one configurable place. A physical control can make a frequently used function easier to locate by feel, without requiring the driver to find and select an on-screen target. Those are different interface trade-offs, not proof that either approach is universally better.

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  • Direct operation: a dedicated control can provide a consistent way to operate one function; a screen can consolidate many functions and adapt what it shows.
  • Information and personalization: large displays can present more information and configurable menus, but the driver may need to navigate those menus to reach a setting.
  • Attention: physical controls may reduce the need to look for a touch target, while screens can make complex information visible. The Audi sources document the equipment, not comparative effects on distraction, safety, or ease of use.

Audi’s A6 e-tron shows the screen-rich direction the company has taken. Its panoramic display includes an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and a 14.5-inch MMI touch display; an optional passenger display measures 10.9 inches. Those are Audi-published screen specifications, not evidence that the layout is more or less usable. Audi’s A6 e-tron announcement sets out the display configuration.

Physical controls do not make an EV worse

The provocative claim is about the cabin interface, not the electric drivetrain. Range, charging speed, efficiency, and battery service life are separate measures; improving or changing one does not establish the result for the others. Audi describes its battery development as balancing service life, range, and fast charging. Bernhard Rieger, Audi’s expert on cell integration, said the company aims for performance “throughout the entire life cycle,” alongside long range and long-term reliability. Audi’s battery article explains that stated goal.

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For scale, Audi’s 2024 A6 e-tron release describes 800-volt technology and a maximum DC charging capacity of 270 kW. It says the battery can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 21 minutes under the specified conditions; those figures are Audi claims for the stated vehicle and charging context, not guaranteed outcomes for every market, charger, or trip. The same release reports WLTP range figures of up to 756 kilometers for the Sportback and up to 720 kilometers for the Avant. They are test-cycle figures, not promises of real-world range. Audi’s A6 e-tron release provides the specifications.

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What to check before comparing Audi EVs

Model-year announcements and headline specifications are not enough to determine what a buyer will get. Confirm the equipment and technical figures for the exact model, trim, and market.

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  • Controls: check the model year and local equipment list to see which functions have physical controls and which remain touch-operated.
  • Range: identify the measurement cycle and vehicle configuration. Audi’s archived Q4 e-tron page labels its range figures as WLTP results and warns that equipment, tires, weather, traffic, and individual driving affect consumption and range. Those archived figures should not be treated as current specifications. Audi’s archived Q4 e-tron page explains the qualifications.
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The real trade-off

Audi’s return of some physical controls suggests that an EV cabin does not have to become more screen-dependent to feel modern. Whether the revised layout is better for a particular driver remains unproven by the cited sources; the most useful test is to try the exact local-market vehicle and check whether its frequently used functions are easy to operate. Audi CTO Geoffrey Bouquot called the 2025 updates evidence of the future viability of the PPE electric and PPC combustion platforms, but that statement is a company assessment, not an independent verdict on the interface.

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