Being comfortable behind the wheel of a car can compensate for mediocre or even subpar performance in other areas. Likewise, the best engine, suspension, and tech may not be enough if the seat feels like a concrete bench or the controls feel impossible to use. As such, automakers constantly experiment with vehicle ergonomics to provide the best possible experience for drivers and passengers.
I could discuss plenty of near-universal car ergonomics issues. Good choices include optimized button and control placements, heated seats, and seat belt designs. Conversely, I’m sure plenty of you have experienced the “pit of doom” between the front seats and console that seemingly no manufacturer has figured out how to fix.
However, instead of looking at things widely adopted by the automotive industry (good or bad), I wanted to explore some brand- and model-specific changes to ergonomic designs, materials, and layouts. Some were widely praised, while others became the subject of harsh complaints. Here are my picks for the five best and five worst car ergonomics seen in the 21st century.
Best: Nissan
Car ergonomics begins with the seating, which needs to be suitable for long drives. Nissan Zero Gravity seats are inspired by NASA and designed to achieve the weightless “neutral posture” that increases comfort and reduces fatigue. These seats have a structure that offers constant support and distributes load based on 14 pressure points, minimizing the weight on the spine and major muscle groups. A dozen Nissan models currently offer Zero Gravity seats, including the Altima, Sentra, Frontier, Rogue, and Pathfinder. Several Infiniti models have them, too.
Worst: Jeep/Dodge
Jeep has never been known for making the most ergonomic vehicles, but the shifter design on the 2014 and 2015 Grand Cherokee, along with the 2012 to 2014 Dodge Charger, took the cake. Its so-called “Monostable” electronic shifter automatically returned to the center position after the driver changed gears. The lack of shifting feedback caused massive confusion, and even worse, safety issues. Since drivers couldn’t tell clearly if the parking brake was on, it was often accidentally left unengaged, leading Stellantis to issue a recall for a software patch.
Best: Volvo
Volvo’s commitment to great seats goes back even further. It was the first company to have lumbar support on vehicle seats, with the 1964 Volvo Amazon getting the honors. The seat was designed in collaboration with Alf Nachemson, who is considered a pioneer in the field of orthopedic spinal surgery. Volvo has continued to work with medical specialists, leading to shoulder and thigh support and even making sports seats more comfortable. In 2022, Volvo was the first automaker whose seats were endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association.
Worst: Toyota Tacoma
Toyota has put out some cozy vehicles, but the third and fourth-generation Tacomas of 2005 through 2024 weren’t among them, offering a mishmash of ergonomic problems. To start with, the seats were low and had a short bottom cushion. Combined with a high floor height and limited headroom, tall people felt like sardines smashed into a can. The trucks also had a low windshield, which limited front visibility and forced drivers to hunch. Finally, the low steering wheel made it hard for some people to get in and out.
Best: Lexus
There’s more to ergonomics than where a person’s bottom goes. Lexus knows this and applied some of the same principles that redefined seating to the steering wheels on LS and ES sedans. The wheel’s shape comes from measuring data on how palm pressure is distributed. Lexus used the information to create a wheel that has a firm, natural, and low-fatigue grip, no matter how or where the driver holds it.
Worst: Mercedes-Benz
As a luxury brand, most Mercedes-Benz vehicles are the pinnacle of comfort and user-friendliness. No one is perfect, though, and the Mercedes-Benz A220 of the early 2020s had a glaring ergonomic issue. Although most Mercedes-Benz models have the parking brake button in the center console, the A220 inexplicably put it to the lower left of the steering wheel. This made it difficult to find, and drivers had to pull the button to release the brake. You try pulling a button! A dishonorable mention goes to the fact that on a luxury sedan, you still had the manually flip the rearview mirror for dimming.
Best: Mazda
Another aspect of modern car ergonomics that deserves consideration is the infotainment system. Beyond just thinking about screen size and using physical buttons vs touch controls, Mazda took user comfort and safety into account. The main infotainment controls are placed so that a driver can operate them while their hand is on the armrest, which is excellent for navigating the system at a stoplight. (Of course, you should have both hands on the wheel while driving.) There is also a multi-function control knob. Once you memorize the inputs, you can operate the screen while keeping your eyes on the road.
Worst: Nissan
Reading dashboard information easily is a must for comfort and safety. Tell that to the designers of the Nissan Quest of the mid-to-late 2000s. As one of the earlier LCD digital instrument clusters, it was notorious for being extremely hard to read because of its low resolution. The display was also known for frequently flickering and other failures, including the odometer conking out. You don’t have to look hard to find an avalanche of rebuild services and replacement guides for fixing these god-awful displays so drivers can keep their eyes on the road.
Best: Polestar
The next generation of EVs is finding ways to take ergonomics beyond the traditional, expanding into the mental as well as the physical. Polestar leads the way with a system that can detect when a driver is stressed or tired by monitoring posture, heart rate, and more. From there, the vehicle can recommend taking a break or finding the nearest place to stop for coffee. Polestar is also developing a proactive version to determine when a driver is about to become stressed, then activate features such as music, ambient lighting, and breathing exercises to improve their mood.
Worst: Ford
Many drivers have pined for the return of physical control buttons, and some automakers even responded in kind. However, the Ford Focus ST (2013 to 2018) was a case of being careful about what you wish for. Older models were criticized for “button overload,” featuring dozens of buttons on the dash and steering wheel, for everything from audio controls to driving modes. With one look, you can see how overwhelming the layout must have been, not to mention that some of the most commonly used controls were some of the hardest to access. Fortunately, Ford listened to complaints and improved the situation on later models.
The Ups and Downs of Driving Comfort
Over the decades, automakers have gotten creative and made some interesting choices to try to perfect vehicle ergonomics. Some choices were smash hits and copied by rivals to some degree. Others deservedly ended up in the automotive graveyard. Poor ergonomics hung around well past its time in at least one situation.
When you’re choosing your next vehicle, pay attention to all aspects of ergonomics, from the seating position to the buttons. In a perfect world, you’ll be driving that vehicle for many years, so it should be something you’re comfortable in. Let me know if there’s a particularly good or bad car ergonomic choice you think I missed. I’m more than willing to revisit the subject someday, whether it’s to continue looking at designs or explore the latest developments.
