The "logic" behind the steering wheel stereo controls...

Taking an informal poll on a silly issue just for kicks. Wondering if it's only me who thinks the logic is backwards when it comes to the stereo controls on the steering wheel.

Me: Don't people turn the volume up and down?
Toyota: No, they turn it left or right

Me: If you're going to force people to change the volume left to right instead of up and down, don't you think the up button should select the next highest number in the station preset?
Toyota: No, you have to press down in order to go up in station presets

Whadya all think?

 

I will have to admit it has taken me awhile to adjust.

 

You nailed it!

I guess they focusing so hard on making everything reliable that they miss the sense here and there. Sure it’s not a big deal in this case and the guys at Mercedes do it the opposite way which sucks even more, at least when you don’t wanna buy a new one every few years but man would that be nice to get a combination of that!

 

If I could change anything about my steering wheel arrangement it would be to move the cruise control to the left side, and use some format other than the flipper. Audio controls would take a back seat.

 

The presets are that way to match the way they're displayed on the radio. It's like a list. Your number 1 station is probably your favorite. Therefore, it's the top of the list.

The volume control has been the same in other Toyotas, so I'm used to it. Up and down would make more sense to me, though.

 

This is another thing I've gotten used to. It becomes second nature after awhile.

 

While it wouldn't be my first choice, I can buy the logic of left to right volume control as a metaphor for the volume knob on a radio. You turn that more or less left to right. But the "logic" behind the station control is tortured at very best. If you're supposed to think of changing stations as going "up and down the dial" or "up and down the presets" then up should be up. Down shouldn't be up. LOL

 

When you write a list, don't you start at the top?

 

Yeah, and that would be Toyota's best shot at a logical rationale. But the attempt fails because that's not how the presets are displayed on the radio. They aren't in a top down list like:

1. 88
2. 93
3. 107.5
4. 108
5. 109
etc.

They are displayed as:

1. 88 2. 93. 3 107.5
4. 108 5. 109 etc.
(with 4, 5 and 6 on the bottom only because the screen runs out of room)

The steering wheels controls are intended as a remote control to do what you would otherwise do on the radio itself. So logic dictates that they function consistently with the device they operate.

Further, the standard metaphor for stations has always been left to right with the numbers increasing as you go right. Same with presets. This has been the case for decades, going back to when presets were hard buttons that physically moved the needle to a new station on a left-to-right / side-to-side basis.

All this adds up to the most logical choices being: up for up volume, down for down volume, left for lower numbered stations / presets and right for higher numbered stations / presets.

But, hey, it's picking nits LOL

 

I sincerely apologize for bringing it to your attention. I hope you can now forget all about it.

 

I agree that the way you mentioned makes more sense in general. The radio in mine displays them top to bottom on the left side of the screen, so it makes sense.

Definitely nitpicking, though. It's like me complaining that I have to turn the key the wrong way to unlock my Chevy.

This goes to show how amazing these vehicles are, if this is all we have to complain about.

 

I would have liked it like you described because the presets scroll from left to right. On my wife’s Forester, the presets go up to down. Her controls have the volume up and down and presets left and right. I’d like to switch the arrangement on both.

 

I wonder if this can be changed. I'm pretty sure it can be with an aftermarket radio. But, I wonder if you can have it changed with the stock head unit.

 

I could never get used to steering controls. I still reach for the radio.

 

Once you get used to them, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. It's awesome being able to change the station or volume without having to take your hands off the wheel.

 

I think the steering wheel controls are way over rated....JMHO

 

Will never happen. I've been through how many vehicles and never used um.

Reaching over isn't a big deal I normally don't touch anything to being with.

 

To each his own. I owned about 7 vehicles without before I had them. I would never go without again, unless it was for an older sports car or something.

The best thing about steering wheel controls is that you don't have to use them if you don't want to.

 

This has bugged me since I got my 2021 taco.

Next track should be right.
Previous track should be left.
Volume up should be up.
Volume down should be down.

I wonder if it’d be possible to rotate the selector 90 degrees. Anyone what the service manual says about those steering wheel audio control buttons?

 

Not sure if it a square. If it is; couldn't you reclock it so that is possible? No clue if the Taco & 4R are the same wheel...
Ryan.

 

I never noticed when we had GM products the steering wheel controls for the radio are on the right side, so when we got our Toyota Tacoma, I thought "why are the controls on the left side?" Think about this for a second or 2. Why would you want the steering wheel controls on the same side as the radio? Within inches of reach of the actual radio, maybe so you can keep your eyes on the road, what ever the reason it seems redundant to have them so close to the radio itself, so we are used to them the way they are and it makes sense to us.

 

I flip through presets so it works straight forward for me up is up, down is down. I have an up and down volume also so not sure what the issue is really? I agree about having the cruise on the steering wheel also I like it there better like my Honda.

 

The circuit board underneath will prevent you from flipping them.

 

FCA puts an up/down rocker switch on the back of the right side of the steering wheel to control volume. It's perfect.

 

Agreed. Totally backwards and the infotainment system (I have a 2020 with CarPlay) is the worst I've ever had on any vehicle. But then again, while the "other" manufacturers have gotten the infotainment system right, the best of the vehicle reliability sucks (not mentioning names, but been there!). Basically, Toyota needs to fire their infotainment UX team and hire new, because they just don't get it

 

I thought there was something wrong with my system. Glad I'm not the only one.

 

Haven’t owned my 4R a week and just commented to the wife about this very thing with the controls.

 

Toyota has now successfully brainwashed me on this. Volume control is left to right..... cause on the stereo you'd be rotating the volume knob to the left or right.

Presets are up and down .... cause of course everyone always writes their favorite stations down in a list on a piece of paper, with the lowest numbered station at the top of their list, and so this is how everyone remembers their stations....

Uh, nvmd.... That's stupid. Turns out I'm not brainwashed after all.

 

Am I losing my marbles? I just went to double-check, my steering wheel volume rocker is up/down....

 

Whaaaa???? No way! Not fair! They fixed it after I bought mine?!