Like many other new cars, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner’s internal features are controlled by a touchscreen. However, unlike many others, the 4Runner also has large, easy-to-reach buttons and dials for the most important features. As the 4Runner’s Chief Interior Designer, Benjamin Jimenez led a team that considered what would really matter in the long run—how the new 4Runner would feel to use—rather than just what was shiny and new at the time. When the 4Runner was first shown to the public, Jimenez told Invoice Pricing, “We try to focus on what the user is thinking about and what will work for them.” It’s important to go with the flow and follow a trend sometimes if you want people to think your product is new and creative. He then said, “On the other hand, we know that trends come and go.” “We need to look at the actual application.” We’re always trying to find the right mix between going with the flow and realizing that it’s only temporary. What do people think now that they’ve moved on? How does it work? In fact, the result should be better.” It makes sense that he is talking about the rise of touchscreens. While regulators keep an eye on the car industry, it is slowly pulling away from them, which is a good sign. In the 2010s, they became very popular very quickly because they looked high-tech, even though they were mostly a way to save money at the price of security. As soon as touchscreens made simple chores harder, distractions became a big problem. This makes the problem of distracted driving worse, which leads to many accidents and deaths every year. Sometimes, like when you’re wearing gloves, they’re hard to use. In 2022, two Tesla drivers couldn’t fight at Pikes Peak because of this. You can also see what happens when you cut corners on the screen. “We wear gloves,” he said. “This is mostly because we live in Michigan, and it gets really cold sometimes.” Buttons, on the other hand, work right away. You want to turn on the heat while you’re driving because it’s cold outside. There are no options; it happens right away. In that case, yes, we did keep the buttons. Then there’s the boredom of designing rooms around touchscreens. Doing the same thing as everyone else won’t make you stand out or make an impact that lasts. When we were kids, we all remember how the buttons on the cars we drove felt. A touchscreen can’t make that same effect. Specifically, Jimenez says that their style has a mechanical truth that is very hard for designers to copy. We paid close attention to the numbers’ size and shape. Because of the gloves and off-roading, these dials are bigger than usual. The 2025 4Runner was designed carefully. Jimenez mentioned that we have this unclear emotion that turns into sketching. The process took a long time. In one case, the artist made a sketch that made me say, “Wow, that’s it.” “Then we just keep pushing.” This kind of work creates both sharp and useful spaces. I hope to see more of these in the car space.
