This touch screen hate reminds me of iphone vs nokia hysteria. Touch screen in the car is far more superior, has more usability pros and in the long term will make cars cheaper. Since it radically eliminates car design complexity.

Usability: main trend, your car doesn't need so many overwhelming controls like in the past :

1. Tachometer, oil, temperature etc.. all go away due to electric cars. all you need to monitor regularly is speed. Even that partially replaces with speed sound notifications when you're above limit since cars are smart enough to read signs. Even something like windshield wipers is controlled automatically, far better and frequent reaction to the outdoor conditions. And it's just getting and better and smarter with time.

2. Phone-less experience: You don't need a phone mounted in your car somewhere if your car has a decent screen for navigation, internet and multi media. No wires, no annoying manual operations to mount/connect the phone every-time you sit in the car. No constant distraction, better security.

3. Drive controls: EV is far better at controlling traction, any kind of manual control has no meaning unless you want a "ride a horse" experience. Hence that, you mostly need steering wheel-mounted or even without it e.g. new model S. Floor-mounted is an anachronism and has nothing to do with usability since there is no logical reason to keep it on the floor. The only explanation, i'm old and I'm used to having it this way.

4. Air conditioner and climate control: touch screen is by far more superior as it gives you control from one place. You don't need to change settings from several places manually pushing something to get comfortable. Just count number of frictions you do , you change temp, you change flow in one place in the center, by the left door, right door... And that's every time you need to change settings. In most of the cases, you switch profiles, and you're good. It also works when you're switching the car. It knows what corner to blow the air, how strong, and what temperature you prefer in the previous car you drove recently. If you need the other passenger preferences or you're in the car just by yourself. If the car is heating, blow one way, if it's cooling do it other way...

5. Back up cameras: Any big screen gives you amazing observability, with several cameras. Simple rule of thumb the bigger the better.

6. Multimedia, full screen with movies, games, decent albums covers, in-car karaoke while on the trip... I guess this one is the clearest win.

7. Navigation: Yep, do you want to see a map on tiny phone or low-quality monitor or you want to observe your trip on a giant screen? No brainer unless you are biased.

8. Customization. Yeah, people are different. Manual controls don't let you do so.

9. Updates. Yep, manufacture can add extra features. Retrofit upgrades will work better since new/updated hardware can be easily integrated on the screen.

10. Keys, access management, security: You don't have keys, start button. You can leave the message that a car temperature is good and a dog is in good condition. You can programmatically restrict access to the glovebox when you're in valet parking, so no one will steal your documents, etc... it's so easy without manual controls.

The summary is :

if you drive a sport car, touch screen+EV is better, it will go faster, with better traction etc.

if you like outdoor: same as sport, better driving, an overview of complex spots, maps, planning of your trip, notifications etc... companies like Rivian market offering is completely about outdoor, Cybertruck, Ford follows.

if you like comfort, sit-and-drive feeling: EV+Touch+Voice screen is the best option. You don't need start buttons, manual keys, manual controls etc... Just approach the car, open the door hit a pedal, and drive.

Despite all these pros, the main problem is implementation. Look at Volkswagen. They try to copy the success of competitors, but they've been cheap with hardware and usability, their screens are glitchy. But that's just bad quality. The same was with some first-gen touch phones, that were able to glitch even when someone calls you.