Seems strange VW didn't add 3 cheap LEDs or bulbs in this area, easy to hit radio volume when trying for temperature sliders, apparently it's also a 'feature' on the cheaper Seat Leon, thought Golf sliders would be illuminated. Mind, I tend never to adjust temp or settings once on the move anyhoo....
Yes, the Seat Leon has basically the same set up as the Golf. I think VW’s all electric ID.3 and ID.4 models have the same non-illuminated slider bar too.
Skoda’s and Audi’s equivalent models (Octavia and A3) both seem to have slightly different set-ups to the Golf and Leon. The Octavia definitely had more physical buttons than the Golf below the infotainment screen, but there’s a touch slider bar below the infotainment screen for volume only - I don’t know if it’s backlit or not. It looks as if adjustments to temperature needs to be done via the touchscreen though. The A3 also has a slightly different set-up again. For volume adjustments it has a weird circular touchpad in the centre console in front of the gear selector that you need to make circular movements on with a finger - clockwise to increase volume and anti clockwise to reduce it. That definitely seems like a classic case of form over function and designing a solution to a problem that didn’t exist in the first place! I don’t know if that touch pad is illuminated or not - you’d expect it to be in an Audi. The A3 does have buttons for heating and ventilation though - I don’t know if they’re short cut / ’hot’ keys to climate menus on the infotainment screen or if you can actually set the temperature by just using the buttons.
So whichever brand you choose within VAG, they seem to have placed significant emphasis on form over function and have gone out of their way to make operating simple basic functions in the car’s cabin a more complex process than it needs to be
. Although this strategy might attract a younger customer base who’ve grown up in the smart phone era, there’s a real risk they’ll alienate more mature, loyal existing customers who’ve bought VAG branded vehicles for many years.
VW have just recently announced the facelift version of the Polo. They’ve removed the simple, easy to use (while on the move) rotary heating and ventilation controls with…………..you’ve guessed it; a touchscreen! It is illuminated though, but it’s positioned quite low down so it’ll almost certainly be necessary for the driver to divert their view from the road ahead down to the touchscreen to make cabin temperature adjustments.