New Car Interiors Aren't Getting More Distracting, You're Just Getting Old

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re getting old, and it’s warping your perception about what’s acceptable in cars. Over and over I see folks online complain about how cars’ interiors are getting overly complicated and distracting, but I promise you that is not the case. I’ve driven dozens of cars with all sorts of different levels of touchscreens, buttons, tech features and ambient lighting, and in most cars I’ve found that the more tech there is, the better it is.

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This online discourse was most recently brought to my attention after I drove the Mercedes-AMG GLC43. Whenever an interior picture of that car (or any modern Mercedes-Benz for that matter) is posted — especially one taken at night with the extensive ambient lighting system activated — most of the comments will be about how this is too distracting and they’d never be able to safely drive the car with all of it going on. I’m here to say that it’s just not true in the real world.

I cannot speak for what sort of attention issues you’re dealing with, but modern interiors are really not that difficult to use while still concentrating on the road. You’ll see folks complain that touchscreens are distracting and they just want goddamn buttons back, but if you’re even slightly technology literate, a touchscreen is not going to be an issue for you. No, I don’t want to hear about how you have to take your eyes off the road to change a radio station. Your presets are always going to be a hard button on your steering wheel. And no, I don’t want to hear about how you’re constantly changing your car’s temperature. Put your AC unit on Auto and leave it alone. Stop being strange.

In a lot of ways, touchscreens are actually better at making your car simple because of how customizable most of them are. Pretty much every modern system lets you put your most used icons and features on one screen, so you always know exactly where to find what you’re looking for. In the olden days of hard buttons, your dash would be cluttered with features you had no use for. Now, that shit can be hidden away. Sure, it takes about five minutes to set it up, but once it’s done, it’s done forever.

Ambient lighting also shouldn’t be an issue for you. You’re a goddamn adult. What do you mean you’re distracted by pretty colors? Grow up. They’re a nice design element that can add a certain special feeling to your car’s interior. I don’t know, man. To me, it heightens the whole occasion. Aren’t our normal lives boring enough that a little light show in the car is a welcome sight?

OK, say you really do hate ambient lighting and there’s no changing your mind. You can always just dim it, set it to a subtler color or turn it off if it’s not for you. That’s the magic of modern cars. They’re pretty much infinitely customizable, so you can tailor it to be exactly what you want.

Regardless, touchscreens and ambient lighting are not things to be afraid of. They’re what young people, what car buyers want. I know that doesn’t always jive with what the average enthusiast wants, but the future is now, old man. Time to get busy living or get busy dying.

I know you are all gonna flame me in the comments for being a cuck or a fool or whatever. Just remember, I don’t care and I’m only 27.