2025 FORD BRONCO SPORT WILL GET LARGE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN

[FBSBB]

Not sure if this was already posted. From Ford Authority:

2025-ford-bronco-sport-will-get-large-infotainment-screen-pictures

There goes the buttons.

In a poll on Ford Authority asking about losing physical climate control buttons most prefer buttons.

poll-what-do-you-think-about-ford-phasing-out-physical-climate-controls

Per the article some manufacturers are adding back some buttons.

Had a loaner Ford Escape last week. Not a fan, at all. I suppose, like anything, it takes getting used to.

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[Ecom911]

Unfamiliarity is part of the issue in this instance. This is not YOUR car; if it were you would be more familiar with the location of different controls.

I was involved in a large-scale study (data collection and interpretation) of the relative safety between different aircraft makes/models--some claimed that a specific make of aircraft was more "dangerous" than others. We looked very hard at the data and it became clear that the majority--more than 50%--of accidents with that particular aircraft occurred during the pilot's first 50 hours flying one, with the number approaching 60% if you extend to the first 100 hours. I thought that was a curious anomaly with that particular aircraft until I looked at the wider general aviation fleet. Turns out that's a common statistic across ALL aircraft models.

Many professional aviation training organizations maintain a fleet of what they call "part-task trainers." These are nothing more than mock-ups of the flight deck--sometimes little more than photographs of the various instrument panels arranged appropriately--that allow a pilot new to the aircraft to familiarize themselves with the location of various controls.

I've flown a number of different aircraft types, and my personal technique is to spend an hour or two just sitting in the pilot seat and memorizing the controls.

Fully understand that Mark and as a systems trainer, I appreciate the input and not going to minimize the infromation presented.

My observation is from the point of the fact that there is no "touch reference" on a flat screen as opposed to manual controls and having to "tab" between multiple screens in order to reach the desired input screen is problematic.

I appreacite the reference to aircraft opearation (an afficianado), I did spend quite some time on famil prior to departing. The event I metnioned was after 3 days of operation.

 

[Mark S.]

My observation is from the point of the fact that there is no "touch reference" on a flat screen as opposed to manual controls and having to "tab" between multiple screens in order to reach the desired input screen is problematic.

I thought all the HVAC controls were dedicated buttons along the bottom edge of the screen on SYNC 4. Is that not the case?

 

[Ecom911]

I thought all the HVAC controls were dedicated buttons along the bottom edge of the screen on SYNC 4. Is that not the case?

Not on the vehicle that I had, it was in a "tab" format. I'm dropping by my dealer next Wednesday and I'm going to have a peak at the new units.

 

[Bronclahoma]

Unfamiliarity is part of the issue in this instance. This is not YOUR car; if it were you would be more familiar with the location of different controls.

I was involved in a large-scale study (data collection and interpretation) of the relative safety between different aircraft makes/models--some claimed that a specific make of aircraft was more "dangerous" than others. We looked very hard at the data and it became clear that the majority--more than 50%--of accidents with that particular aircraft occurred during the pilot's first 50 hours flying one, with the number approaching 60% if you extend to the first 100 hours. I thought that was a curious anomaly with that particular aircraft until I looked at the wider general aviation fleet. Turns out that's a common statistic across ALL aircraft models.

Many professional aviation training organizations maintain a fleet of what they call "part-task trainers." These are nothing more than mock-ups of the flight deck--sometimes little more than photographs of the various instrument panels arranged appropriately--that allow a pilot new to the aircraft to familiarize themselves with the location of various controls.

I've flown a number of different aircraft types, and my personal technique is to spend an hour or two just sitting in the pilot seat and memorizing the controls.

I could tell you a similar story involving heavy duty trucks, but it's off topic and I won't. Aircraft manufacturers build redundancy into their craft, but like you said. If you put all your controls with one commonality and you lose that, you lose everything. And then we get into the issure of poor Ford service and lack of loaners and parts. Your vehicle may sit for weeks. Ford should get rid of Farley and bring in an outsider that can objectively look at their processes from beginning to end, and that includes dealer service and CSI.

 

[coopny]

There's a thread on the overall refresh elsewhere here. I gave my opinion of the on-screen climate controls. Rather than re-iterate the whole conversation, I'll state I'm strongly against them. I disagree people who say you get used to them or that they're a minimal driving distraction, to the point where I replaced an FCIM (radio/climate faceplate) in a 2015 Fusion with touch sensitive capacitive "buttons" (no feedback like a touchscreen) with one from a 2016 that had real tactile buttons.

I hope the European NCAP standards for 2026 reinforce the need for key controls to be physical before we end up in complete touchscreen hell based on the screen being cheaper to program/move buttons on. These standards do impact vehicle design because platforms and vehicles are sold between markets. The reason why you still have a blank button on your HVAC panel in a BS if it's fully equipped with heated seats/steering wheel is because that's the resistive electric defrost in a Kuga sold in Europe. Cheaper to make the common part around it and then swap the buttons in between for market/features.

But swapping what buttons appear by features is cheaper than defining the entire dashboard part to fit the touchscreen and then relevant FCIM/other physical modules.

 

[Ecom911]

I could tell you a similar story involving heavy duty trucks, but it's off topic and I won't. Aircraft manufacturers build redundancy into their craft, but like you said. If you put all your controls with one commonality and you lose that, you lose everything. And then we get into the issure of poor Ford service and lack of loaners and parts. Your vehicle may sit for weeks. Ford should get rid of Farley and bring in an outsider that can objectively look at their processes from beginning to end, and that includes dealer service and CSI.

Yeah...., I'm still trying to wrap my head around the number of service complaints I've seen on here.

I can't say enough about my dealer, diamond winner for 5+ years and I still take my '06 F150 there for service because frankly, I don't trust anyone else. Purchased 3 vehicles from them, been a customer for 15+ years and never had any issues.

Never hurts to reassess and look for improvements!

 

[Fuzzbear]

I'd normally be in the camp of eh, I guess I'd get used to it, but two things make me think otherwise. One, when I had to replace my 2021 with a 2022, I never got over the loss of the temperature readout on the actual dial. Two, I suffered a major shoulder injury earlier this year and reaching over to the touchscreen is not easy now. While I expect to recover further and render that a non-issue, it does concern me that they're requiring someone to have a good amount of extension in their right arm to operate these pretty important controls.

 

[Mark S.]

Two, I suffered a major shoulder injury earlier this year and reaching over to the touchscreen is not easy now. While I expect to recover further and render that a non-issue, it does concern me that they're requiring someone to have a good amount of extension in their right arm to operate these pretty important controls.

Is it easier to reach the physical HVAC controls? They seem equidistant from the driver to me.

 

[Fuzzbear]

Is it easier to reach the physical HVAC controls? They seem equidistant from the driver to me.

Yes, much easier. They’re lower, for one.

 

[Sojourner]

Not a fan. Looks like Ford dropped a tablet into a slot.

So why not just do that? Do a deal with Samsung or Apple or Microsoft so that you could drop in an iPad or Tab Sx or a Surface? Load it with a Ford app that activates when docked.

So if you're gonna add something that looks out of place make so that it can be used in some other place. Right?

And you could do all your Sync updates via that tablet on your home network, etc. and bring it back to the vehicle all updated.

 

[wireman]

Although we're very happy with our current Bronco Sport with its 8-inch unit, it is nice to see an upgraded unit with Ford's latest software. It won't be enough to consider trading it in but it's nice that they're finally phasing out the dated and glitchy Sync 3. It takes seconds to load certain pages and looks like it's five years behind.

However, the climate controls moving to the screen will take some getting used to. I have no problem with the rotaries on the bottom. They're very easy to identify by touch so you don't have to take your eyes off the road. Going by the screen will be more of a guessing game where you have no choice but to take your eyes off the road to make sure you're hitting the right "button."

As long as the climate controls are automatically set to the very bottom no matter what menu you're in, I don't see it as too much of a problem. Overtime someone can get used to it but I know the manufacturers aren't doing this to better the experience, it's all in an effort to cut costs since designing physical climate controls is more expensive than integrating it into a screen that costs very little and can be updated with software.

Not sure it's cutting costs rather than making a change for change sake.

The existing climate control "module", has been around since 2013 and has been tweaked over the years to it's present configuration. I've owned 2- 2013 Escapes and a 2018,

They have built probably a million + of these HVAC modules for various models of cars.

The engineering costs have long been paid for. Keep the 13" screen and add the existing controls below it. No need to worry about screen issues shutting HVAC down.

The horse is out of the barn now and there's no going back with the current trend of touchscreen controls.

 

[Mark S.]

The horse is out of the barn now and there's no going back with the current trend of touchscreen controls.

Putting HVAC controls on the screen makes it easy to add and/or subtract features in different/future models. There's no question in my mind Ford's decision was strongly influenced by financial concerns.

 

[wireman]

I guess we can agree to disagree on this change.

 

[Caliope]

On my 2019 Ranger Lariat Screw cab, the HVAC controls are on the screen. There are some buttons down low to adjust the temp, and control the fan, but neither the screen nor the buttons are very easy to use without taking your eyes off the road. My '22 OBX at least has the knows that are at a good level to easily find and use without taking your eyes off the road.

A couple of years ago, I had a Mustang Mach-e for a loaner. It had the large info screen. It made me feel claustrophobic because of how much dash space it occupied.

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