Little things mean a lot in the automotive field.
In the 2025 Infiniti QX80, an expansive dashboard greets you as you climb into the vehicle. In most cars, above the steering wheel, there are usually several displays, but it’s unusual for that specific area to be a touchscreen. Move over to the right, and the display in the center console is almost always a touchscreen these days.
On the Infiniti QX80, there are a few small buttons that are touch-enabled, pointing to a future where the dashboard could be touch-enabled across every part of the screens in front of you. It might seem like touchscreens would be more common above the steering wheel, but there are likely safety concerns, and it’s a bit awkward to reach into that area, which is blocked by the steering wheel.
At the same time, the Infiniti QX80 hints at how this could work, particularly on the portion of the screen to the left and right of the steering wheel. On the far left, you’ll find two buttons for adjusting the brightness. Again, subtle but forward-thinking, pointing to how future dashboard controls might evolve. These buttons were easy to find and made adjusting brightness much simpler.
To the immediate left of the steering column, you’ll find two more buttons: one for alerts and one for settings. This isn’t a major leap forward, but it’s notable because, in almost 14 years of car testing, I haven’t seen touchscreen buttons like these next to the steering wheel. Most manufacturers stick to the center console for touchscreen controls, so this is a refreshing change.
I like what Infiniti is doing with these buttons because it shows how touchscreen controls could expand in the future. There could be side panels to the left and right of the steering wheel for adjusting quick options like the radio and climate control, keeping our focus on the road instead of glancing at the center display. It also reduces the need to reach as far. Other useful settings, like the ability to toggle the heads-up display (HUD) on or off, could be located there, too. Currently, this is often buried in the center console menus.
Looking ahead, there’s potential to introduce swipe and gesture controls on the speedometer area of the display. Of course, this wouldn’t be for use while driving. I envision keeping hands on the wheel for driving, but it would be great if future cars had the ability to retract or hide the steering wheel altogether. This would be useful, not so much for self-driving mode, but for situations where you’re parked, such as waiting for the kids. In this case, you could bring up a movie, play a game, or adjust the car’s features without having to lean forward and use the main display.
Swipe gestures could also be helpful for quickly scrolling through different display customizations without searching for buttons—a task that can be more frustrating than it should be. The 2025 Infiniti QX80 is showing signs of breaking the mold when it comes to touchscreen controls, and I’m excited to see how this trend develops.