If you've been driving a car that's more than ten years old, then your car probably doesn't have a large touchscreen. While your car might have a smaller touchscreen typically less than 6 inches diagonally, it still relies on conventional controls and buttons for many of the operations.

That's no longer the case in modern cars where even the bargain basement versions have a touchscreen. You might be in the market for a new car, and most of the models you're looking at probably rely on large touchscreens (over 8 inches). What's more the technology is far more advanced than the system in older vehicles. Should you buy a car that has a large, complicated touchscreen?

Touchscreens are Distracting

Of course, not all touchscreens are created equal. Just because a touchscreen is large doesn't mean it's bad. There are several factors that play a role in whether or not a touchscreen helps or harms the driving experience. If a large touchscreen is situated in a good position to use it, meaning within arm's reach, then it can help make matters easier. On the flip side, if it's not responsive to your touch (meaning there's a lag in the response time), if menus are hard to decipher quickly, or if basic car functions are buried layers into the menu, then all of those things can make it tougher to drive safely.

We've driven cars where there's a big, vivid screen. Whereas something that big can be attractive all by itself, it tends to draw your eye away from the road too often if it's big and fancy. If you're distracted easily, it doesn't help matters to have a huge screen. This can be exacerbated if it's a screen that's mounted in the middle of the dash, houses all the relevant data, and replaces the actual gauges. Your eyes are pulled from where the gauges would normally be situated and, instead, you have to do everything on the center screen.

The result is more distraction, in addition to the smartphone that's already pulling you away. More electronics is never good when it comes to driving, but manufacturers still feel pressured to make their cars more modern with more and more tech, bigger tech, and visually busier tech. Physical Controls Moved to the Screen

Despite the fact that car touchscreens are harder to use than conventional control buttons, more automakers are moving these conventional controls to screens in an effort to be modern and visually attractive. Cars that rely mostly on physical switchgear tend to look and feel more dated, even though it's easier to use buttons and knobs while driving because you can touch and feel them, and you don't have to look away from the road to use them.

Tactility is a huge bonus when it comes to car operations. Think of it this way. If you know where your temperature control knob is, you can just move it using your hand and probably don't have to look to use it. But if that control is a small button on the touchscreen, you have to look away from the road. To make matters worse, if the adjustment is two layers in, you have to find it first. Then, if the screen is not responsive, it's further delay and distraction.

Then there are exceptions like Porsche, who is reversing course by moving their climate controls back from touchscreen control to physical buttons. They're doing this because they realize that buttons are quicker and easier to operate.

Touchscreens are Less Reliable

Most infotainment screens on modern vehicles are stuffed to the gills with technology. It's not just one screen but multiple screens with numerous functions. Climate, navigation, seat heat/ventilation, audio, settings, alarms, safety features, apps, camera views, you name it. What this equates to is a higher, almost dizzying, level of complexity. You might love looking at it, but these systems are overly complicated, and that's based on the fact that everything has to be controlled via computer processing and electronics.

What does that mean in terms of reliability? Well, it's not good. If your infotainment screen is touch-controlled, that means that means it can break and no longer respond to touch. If your screen goes dark, and there's no redundant physical control, then it won't work. Reliability goes down the tubes because you have to have the entire system looked at by an expert. It's not something you can fix yourself.

Back in the day, if your audio knob cracked, you could just buy a new one and put it in yourself. Now, if the volume slider on your touchscreen doesn't work, you have to get someone to look at the infotainment system, not something you can do yourself, and things could get pricey out of warranty.

Simpler is Better

Touchscreens are virtually unavoidable, but if you can find a vehicle that still has a heavy reliance on physical controls (known as switchgear), then you're in for a treat. You'll find that there's pretty much no learning curve when it comes to these cars. Climate controls use buttons and knobs, and it's just push and turn. There's very little to worry about.

Mazda cars are one great example of a good blend of infotainment and switchgear combined. On some modern Mazdas, the screen functions are executed by a physical knob between the seats, and you can only use the touch function for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This discourages distraction, and it makes drivers lean on the buttons on the center console or the control knob.

This would be the route we would take for ourselves for a new car that still looks techy but relies on physical controls more often than not. So, when it comes to car shopping, don't look for the system that looks the best. Find one that's responsive, easy to read, can be operated without the touchscreen, and is coupled with good physical buttons and knobs. You'll be glad you did.