Tesla's Screen-Heavy Model Y Just Beat Cars With 50 Buttons
The Wrong Kind Of Progress
Large infotainment screens are widely blamed for driver distraction, but the question is how much they actually affect drivers. Thanks to a new test from Swedish publication Vi Bilägare, there is now some insight into which new cars take the longest to perform basic tasks such as changing the radio station.
Vi Bilägare found that cars in its 2026 test took longer on average than those tested in 2022. Drivers traveled 813 meters, up from 756 meters four years earlier – a difference of roughly two seconds. That may not sound like much, but at the test speed of 110 km/h (68 mph), a car covers around 200 feet in that time. The Mazda CX-60 posted the worst result, traveling 1,137 meters (0.71 miles) before the tasks were completed.
Pressing All The Wrong Buttons
The CX-60's result is noteworthy because it challenges the common assumption that more physical buttons mean less distraction. It may not be familiar because it isn't sold in the U.S. But the important detail is that the vehicle has around 50 buttons, including the brand's signature rotary controller.
By comparison, most functions in the Tesla Model Y, including gear selection, are handled through its screen. Despite having significantly fewer physical buttons, the all-electric crossover posted one of the best results at 608 meters (0.38 miles). Only the Škoda Kodiaq and Volvo XC60 did better in the latest test, at 542 meters (0.34 miles) and 485 meters (0.30 miles), respectively.
Behind the Mazda were the Mercedes-Benz CLA at 1,116 meters (0.69 miles), Toyota Corolla Cross at 1,024 meters (0.64 miles), 2016 Volvo V60 at 863 meters (0.54 miles), BYD Seal U at 819 meters (0.51 miles), Nissan Qashqai at 813 meters (0.51 miles), Kia EV3 at 812 meters (0.50 miles), and Citroën C3 Aircross at 774 meters (0.48 miles).
Because the results showed that neither physical buttons nor touchscreens guaranteed better performance, the study suggests that execution – including layout, screen positioning, menu design, and software responsiveness – may matter more. One thing is clear: the screen-free 2005 Volvo V70 used as a benchmark in the 2022 test performed significantly better, completing the tasks in just 306 meters (0.19 miles).
Before Calling One Car More Distracting
Some may argue that the test does not directly measure distracted driving because it did not track how long drivers' eyes were off the road. Still, it provides a useful comparison of how efficiently different interfaces allow drivers to complete common tasks while maintaining highway speed.
The methodology involved four tasks: turning on the seat heating, raising the temperature by two degrees, and activating the defroster; turning on the radio and switching stations; resetting the trip meter; and dimming the instrument lighting while turning off the center screen. Each run was repeated if the car drifted out of its lane or failed to maintain the required speed.
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This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM.