decryption's blog - Things That Annoy Me About Cars in 2026

Things That Annoy Me About Cars in 2026
September 13, 2026
This is a big rant about the things in modern cars that piss me off, because I have been looking at a new car and am thoroughly unimpressed with all the options available to me. All the electric cars within my price range and with the features I want, are all plagued by one or more of these design flaws:
Massive panoramic glass roofs
Lack of physical buttons for common controls
Smartphones and NFC cards instead of keyfob with buttons
Difficult to use door handles
Poorly calibrated ADAS "bings and bongs"
EVs lacking proper one pedal driving
I will now explain each annoyance in excruciating detail.
Panoramic Glass Roof
Glass roofs are endemic in electric cars, even the cheap base models, and I hate them.

Being relatively tall, my head is only a few centimeters away from the hot, burning glass radiating directly onto my middle aged balding scalp. In summer the interior side of the glass gets so hot that it hurts to touch.
Not only does it hurt my head at worst, mildly uncomfortable at best, the radiant heat makes the cabin so warm that the car's air conditioner has to work harder to compensate.
I know there are third party shades available and many cars have built-in blinds to cover the roof, but they're band-aids stuck over the problem versus just putting a normal fucking roof on the damn thing.
Physical Buttons for Common Controls
I actually like having a big screen in the car where all the settings are controlled from, viewing maps, using CarPlay and so on. I also don't care about having a speedometer or secondary display behind the steering wheel. I've driven over 150,000km without one and don't miss it.
What I do hate is having to do common tasks on the touch screen while driving. For example, on my Volvo EX30:
Changing the following distance when using cruise control.
Turning on/off headlights, auto lights are good but I still regularly need to manually control them.
Adjusting fan speed or temperature for the climate control.
Opening the glovebox requires pressing a button on the touchscreen.
Some of these things can be done with voice control, but that can be unreliable. On some EVs even things like gear selection are done on the touch screen!
I also dislike the trend for the buttons that do exist, to be difficult to press without looking at them. On my EX30's steering wheel, all the buttons on the wheel are flat, so mishits/non-register of presses are common and frustrating.

I'm not the only one who dislikes this and finds it distracting and frustrating.
A Volkswagen designer said in 2025: "We will never, ever make this mistake any more. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing any more. There's feedback, it's real, and people love this. Honestly, it's a car. It's not a phone: it's a car."
A Hyundai executive told the media in 2024, "we also tried out putting touchscreen-based controls, and people didn�t prefer that", "people get stressed, annoyed and steamed when they want to control something in a pinch but are unable to do so".
It's also unsafe, with governments stepping in to force common-sense:
China mandating a range of things that must be physical buttons for all new cars as of July 1st 2026.
Euro NCAP wants "separate, physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive manner, limiting eyes-off-road time and therefore promoting safer driving".
ANCAP's CEO said in 2025 that "tactile buttons and/or stalks will be rewarded" in its updated safety rating system.
Despite this, so many Chinese cars available in Australia new in 2026 are devoid of physical buttons:

Smartphone/NFC cards instead of keys
This isn't as widespread, many EVs still come with a traditional keyfob with buttons to lock and unlock the car, or at least an optional one you can buy later (Tesla), but brands like Leapmotor and Volvo's new cars don't even have the option.
When it works, it's great, when it doesn't, it's awful. The amount of times I've stood in the rain, or on the side of a busy road, or in my garage, trying to lock or unlock my car door due to a software bug is embarrassing.

It's a common problem on the Volvo EX30's sub-reddit despite many OTA software updates claiming to have "improved" it:
Frustrated with EX30 key/card detection, any better setup?
Let me in, come on, let me in!!
Keyless Entry Frustration
Digital Key unresponsive and Proximity unlock not functioning
Fob only works intermittently
When I owned a Tesla, I had similar issues using my smartphone as the key and regularly had to use the NFC card as a backup. At least Tesla now offers a keyfob with buttons as an option.
Leapmotor, a Chinese brand, told media in April 2026 that "future models sold outside China will be offered with a conventional key", recognising customer pain using an intermittently working or slow NFC/smartphone only setup to get into their cars.
Give smartphones as an option, but here's nothing wrong with a dumb keyfob that has a button to lock it and button to unlock it and hell, even let me insert the fob into a dock or a special area as a pretend ignition to start the car! The car industry solved locking and unlocking car doors decades ago, why are we re-inventing it?
Weird Door Handles
Sorry for all the GIFs, but look at these clips I made from car YouTubers trying to open the doors on some EVs:

All these designs suck compared to a normal goddamn door handle you put your hand inside.

These door handle designs got so bad and unsafe in emergencies, that the Chinese government is mandating "the outside of every passenger door except the boot, to have a recessed space measuring no smaller than 6cm (2 in) by 2cm by 2.5cm to allow access to the handle" as of Jan 1st 2027.
Not only are these unconventional door handles awkward to use for passengers who are unfamiliar with your car - I got very tired of explaining how to open the door to anyone that got into my Tesla when I owned one - they are difficult for people with wrist, finger or other hand issues compared to a classic door handle.
We solved door handles 60 years ago, why are we fucking around with them!?
Poorly Calibrated ADAS
Advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) are features in a car like:
Forward collision warning
Lane departure warning/lane centering
Pedestrian collision warning
Blind spot monitors/warnings
Driver attention/drowsiness
Automatic emergency braking
Speed limit recognition/warning
Adaptive cruise control
Different manufacturers have different names for them, but they're all good features to have. If you've never fucked up while driving, good on you, but normal people make mistakes and these systems, when they work, can prevent collisions. These features have saved my life, literally, on more than one occasion.
The caveat being - when they work. It's a well known frustration of modern cars that the ADAS systems can be overbearing:
Survey by insurance company IAG and Queensland University of Technology found that "60% of Australian drivers surveyed admit to actively turning off the ADAS safety features in their cars".
A UK survey by "automotive risk analyst Thatcham Research found that 82% of drivers in the UK reported feeling safer with ADAS fitted to their car but almost a quarter regarded the features as distracting, irritating or intrusive".
ANCAP will "score vehicles on how gently or aggressively the lane-keep assist works" and will "reward vehicles for well-designed systems such as driver monitoring".
Searching the web for "bings and bongs" pulls up lots of car owner forum responses:
Is there an EV with minimal driver aids? Or one with a permanent switch to turn it off?
Bings & Bongs & steering tugging returned
Help me choose an EV that doesn't 'bing' so much
I'm loathe to link to John Cadogan, but his assessment of the ADAS situation on some cars from 2 years ago is hard to disagree with.

The Volvo EX30 does ADAS perfectly. They're unobtrusive and work when they need to. The Tesla Model 3 I used to own also did a very good job besides for some "phantom braking" when using adaptive cruise control which came and went depending on the OTA update. I also owned a Hyundai Ioniq 6, which had fine ADAS, but the speed limit alerts were infuriating - constant beeps when you go 1km over the limit. You can turn it off, but it would re-enable itself each time the car is restarted.
Unfortunately it's difficult to determine ADAS quality from a spec sheet or even from a video review. The person testing the car may just be shit at driving or has a lower threshold for annoyance than me or you. There are also software updates that change ADAS behaviour from when the car was reviewed at launch, compared to 1-2 years later when I buy the car.
The only way to really know how the ADAS performs in daily driving is to test drive the car along your usual routes and see what happens.
No One Pedal Drive Options
If you're unfamiliar with one pedal driving, watch this video:

I love it. It's one of the perks of driving an EV and when I go to a car without it, I miss it so much. Nissan started it with the LEAF's e-Pedal, Tesla perfected it and a good number of EVs have it available. They all let you turn it off so if you don't like it, you don't have to use it. The driver can choose.
Unfortunately, many otherwise good EVs don't offer it at all. They almost all offer regenerative braking, but they don't bring the car to a gradual stop and hold the brakes for you. They often require the use of the brake to completely stop the car - that's not one pedal driving.
I understand not making it the default option, but not having it as an option on the giant touch screen along with the dozen other driving customisations is disappointing, and robs the car of one of the really cool benefits of driving an electric vehicle!
Skoda realised the error of their ways and are introducing proper one pedal drive on their MY27 cars, the first Volkswagen-group car to get it. I hope more manufacturers take their lead and make all their EVs have super smooth, refined and accurate one pedal drive. Just drive a Model 3 or shit, a 2017 Nissan LEAF and copy that please.
Only One Car in Austraila in 2026 Meets My Requirements
You'd think that with so many EV models on sale in Australia now, I'd have a wide range to choose from. Unfortunately not.

I spent the last few days in undiagnosed autistic nerd mode creating a spreadsheet of all the EVs in Australia that:
Have 400km+ WLTP range
Driver's seat position memory
Listed on carsales.com.au for under $65,000
The only car that ticked all the boxes:
No glass roof
Normal door handles
360-degree camera
Keyfob with buttons to lock & unlock
Full one pedal driving
Is the 2026 MY27 Skoda Elroq Select 60 with the Signature Pack, for $56,000 with 406km range. Normal door handles, no glass roof, full one pedal drive! Unfortunately some things are still touchscreen dependent, like climate control, so not perfect.

Every other EV on the list has some sort of gotcha. One pedal drive, but a dumb glass roof. Normal roof and one pedal drive, but dumb door handles!
I don't need a new car urgently, so I'll keep an eye on the Aussie EV market. Maybe things will get better as they try and reach mainstream drivers, not people who are into gizmos on wheels.

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The author expresses significant dissatisfaction with several design flaws and technological implementations present in modern electric vehicles in 2026, focusing on issues that they perceive as detrimental to driver comfort, safety, and usability. One major complaint revolves around the widespread use of massive panoramic glass roofs, which the author finds physically uncomfortable and problematic due to the radiant heat they generate, which negatively impacts cabin temperature regulation.

The lack of physical buttons for common controls is another central focus. While the author appreciates large touchscreen interfaces for navigation and media, they strongly object to performing essential tasks like adjusting cruise control settings, managing lights, or accessing the glovebox solely through the touchscreen while driving, noting that this introduces unnecessary distraction. This preference is supported by industry commentary, where designers and executives have expressed concern that relying excessively on touch input can cause user stress and annoyance in critical situations. This concern is reinforced by regulatory movements, such as China mandating physical buttons and safety organizations like Euro NCAP and ANCAP rewarding systems that incorporate tactile controls to limit driver distraction.

A related design concern involves the control interfaces themselves. The author dislikes the current trend where existing physical buttons are poorly designed, making them difficult to press accurately without visual confirmation. This contrasts with the expressed view from a Volkswagen designer who advocated for physical buttons to ensure real, immediate feedback in the car, arguing that a car should prioritize tangible, responsive controls over purely digital ones.

Further physical design criticisms include the reliance on smartphones and NFC cards instead of traditional keyfobs with dedicated buttons, which causes frustration when technology fails, such as during entry or unlocking procedures. The author contrasts this with the established solution of physical keyfobs and emphasizes that the automotive industry has already solved the locking and unlocking mechanism decades ago, questioning why this is being re-invented with less reliable digital methods.

The design of door handles is also criticized as being awkward and potentially unsafe, especially in emergency situations. The author notes that these designs are less intuitive for unfamiliar passengers, presenting physical challenges for users with various physical abilities compared to conventional handles. This point is supported by government mandates, such as the Chinese requirement for recessed spaces for door handles to ensure adequate access.

The performance of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) is examined critically. Although these systems are intended to enhance safety, the author points out that they can be overbearing, leading to frustration. Research cited suggests that while ADAS improves safety perception, a significant portion of drivers find the features distracting, irritating, or intrusive. The author notes the difficulty in assessing ADAS quality from specifications alone, suggesting that real-world experience through testing is necessary, as software updates can alter system behavior unpredictably.

Finally, the absence of proper one pedal driving capability in many electric vehicles is highlighted as a disappointing omission. The author values this feature, noting its seamless integration with regenerative braking. The lack of this feature, especially when contrasted with the availability of regenerative braking, is seen as robbing electric vehicles of core benefits. The author suggests that manufacturers should follow leaders like Tesla and Nissan in implementing smooth, reliable one pedal driving features across all models.

In summary, the author concludes by noting the scarcity of electric vehicles in the Australian market that satisfy their specific criteria—including long range, memory, acceptable price, proper physical controls, and one pedal driving—suggesting that the current market offerings do not align with the author's vision for functional and user-centric automotive design.