Surely the Volt's controls can be improved. I think the article posted here by Steverino, the thread-starter, has the right idea: simplify/improve the current design. Nevertheless, in my opinion and for the most part, the Volt's center console is sleek, safe, and efficient.
Bear in mind that the Volt center console controls several major devices and functions:
- Climate Control (including seat heaters)
- Radio/CD/DVD
- HDD (a big step forward, IMHO)
- Navigation
- Phone and PhoneBook
- Efficiency/Power Monitoring
- Battery Charging/Scheduling
- General Car Configuration
- Much more (Start, Drive Mode, Door Locks, Parking Brake, Flashers, etc)
No matter how you slice it, this is a boatload of capabilities to pack into a car, let alone design into one more-or-less-intuitive, easy-to-control, and safe (!) user interface. That is the objective after all.
BTW, I purposely have not included all the driver-side functions (speed, mileage, cruise-control, OnStar, etc, etc, etc). Perhaps the Instrument Panel Overview drawing (below) from the Volt User Manual provides a sense of the daunting design challenge/complexity.
I also included images of the center stack from two other cars: a 2010 Ford Fusion and a 2010 Aston Martin Rapide. I'll take the Volt center console, thank you very much!
From Wikipedia: iDrive has caused significant controversy among users, the automotive media, and critics. Many reviewers of BMWs in (automobile) magazines disapprove of the system. Criticisms of iDrive include its steep learning curve and its tendency to cause the driver to look away from the road too much.
Yes, no doubt, the Volt's center console can be improved (e.g., bury the AS1-2 and TP buttons, make the Pause button persistent so it becomes a Radio On/Off, and save a Default Drive Mode for folks who prefer Sport).
But GM engineers and designers deserve a lot of credit for having the courage to build a brand new interface. No question, the Volt's center console accomplishes a great deal. You just can't deny it.
IMHO, it is elegant and most of GM's decisions were superb.
Chris
Volt #541
Never again an iDrive...