I've owned my 2025 XLT for 2 weeks and I already hate the 12" vertical screen and lack of knobs

[waffleso_0]

I am guessing it is known that there are physical controls below the screen.
For Radio, for climate. As well as buttons on the steering wheel for Radio as well.

A few things I wish had physical controls like the heated steering wheel and heated seats.
I have gotten use to where they are on the screen, so it's not really a big deal.

It's not perfect by any means, but I am not really hating it at all.

Yeah, I love the screen. Android Auto is awesome with it. Does not get much glare and its out of the way. It has many buttons below and the steering wheel. The screen and the tech package were some of the reasons I bought mine.

I think over time you will learn to love it.

Do you use apple car play or android auto? or only the sync menus? Android Auto UI is fast and shows everything I need. If I do not want weather and music tile, i can click the Waze/Gmaps and it makes the nav full screen.

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[Arsenall11]

I had the screen in the last F150 R, love it in the baby too!!

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

One, they don't control ALL of the HVAC functions. Two, they're placed so low on the dash because of the giant screen that you have to take your eyes off the road and look down to use them. And, three, the screen is so crowded and busy it's hard to watch the road and touch in exactly the right places on the screen without staring at it instead of the road.

Guess you fucked up buying the truck. You're not going to find any pity here.

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

I think it's a pretty good placement, but i hate any control in a touch screen, ought to be banned, and I hate to go through menus. It's cumbersome, dangerous and stupid. But, I find the placement acceptable. I run my screen Selected Dark all the time to prevent getting a sunburn from it. The Calm screen in dark is pretty much off, except you get a little clock?
You should see the new Sube Crosstrek. What an abomination. Just one giant screen there in the middle for everything.

 

[purdyd]

And personally with the black background on the large touchscreen and brightness. Turned down the on led on the climate control is th brightest thing

dint there used to be a calm screen setting for the big touch screen?

 

[crawford]

Not trying to be an ass or disrespectful...but why did you buy it if you don't like it? It is not like it is a hidden feature.

I was kind of worried I would miss some buttons but the important ones ( to me anyway... volume, heat) are there. I really like the look of the screen in the ranger as it looks like it is actually part of the dash and not a tablet glued on as it looks in most cars. I am happy with the vertical orientation myself. Give it time, once I got used to the screen I can switch the heated seats on/off and stuff like that and barely take my eyes off the road.

 

[kayakss]

If you hate something even before you buy it, why go any further with the process.

I am the complete opposite in that I hate that IPad mounted on the the tops of dashboards. It may be a little easier to read but it looks cheap as hell. I would not even consider the GM twins for that ugly dashboard and faux chrome trim on it.

I admit I like my buttons and knobs as well, but at least we have some. I wish they had done the volume knob different. Too easy to grab the temp knob by mistake.

 

[cc1999]

Yeah, I love the screen. Android Auto is awesome with it. Does not get much glare and its out of the way. It has many buttons below and the steering wheel. The screen and the tech package were some of the reasons I bought mine.

I think over time you will learn to love it.

Do you use apple car play or android auto? or only the sync menus? Android Auto UI is fast and shows everything I need. If I do not want weather and music tile, i can click the Waze/Gmaps and it makes the nav full screen.

I am running apple car play 95% of the time on mine.
Works great.
The 5% of the time is the occasion changes I need to make to different things.

 

[cc1999]

And personally with the black background on the large touchscreen and brightness. Turned down the on led on the climate control is th brightest thing

dint there used to be a calm screen setting for the big touch screen?

Yea, it’s just an all black background with a small clock displayed in the center.

I agree that’s as close to off as I can find in mine as well.

 

[superj]

The knob placement is similar to anything else with knobs.

My 04 ramger has them in the center down low too. Same as every other vehicle i have ever owned. Mustangs, bmws, jeeps, trucks, everything except my karmann ghia necause its heat controls werr in the middle on each side of the ebrake handle

 

[Sharpix]

Rangers screen is actually pretty good programmed. It needs very few presses for most used stuff.

The AC controls were made to be operated while resting the hand on the gear lever, giving a firm palm resting place to prevent fingers from dancing with vibrations of the car. They work almost perfect. Most used stuff is accesible easily.

Even hated the Hazard lights button placement and it was actually great. As OP said it only needs a physical button for switching vents, but its used very few times.

Having two other recent Hondas, the ohysical buttons are very well placed, and the vertical screen is the less worse option among big Screens.

It just seems OP is a GM spy...

 

[Johnnypedals]

And personally with the black background on the large touchscreen and brightness. Turned down the on led on the climate control is th brightest thing

dint there used to be a calm screen setting for the big touch screen?

How do you get that clock screen on there? Where is it in the menu? Is that only a Latiat thing? I have an XL.

 

[purdyd]

How do you get that clock screen on there? Where is it in the menu? Is that only a Latiat thing? I have an XL.

it’s custom made by me using a free app called clockology

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/sand-lariat-fx4-and-minor-updates.20085/post-332947

 

[John B]

I initially disliked the screen setup and lack of full physical knobs/buttons. But now I'm fine with it, and feel that android auto navigation screen at full size is enough, even tho it doesn't use the full size of the truck's screen. I do wish there was a knob for changing radio/sirius channels, and the touchscreen size for the heated steering wheel is way too small for my 71 yo eyes. But, it's all insignificant in comparison to all the RR positives.

 

[Jason B]

I knew when I test drove the Rangers that I would probably dislike the Infotainment screen set-up. But I didn't think I'd absolutely hate it so soon.

This was just an absolutely asinine design decision by Ford. I can't use it to do anything while driving. It's bad enough to not be able to easily control the stereo, but you can't really quickly control the HVAC either.

Sadly, I won't be surprised if people wind up dying in wrecks because of the damn thing.

Honestly, if I hadn't wanted the dependable V6 so badly I probably would've taken my chances with a GMC Canyon.

Screens that require your attention for phone, navigation, HVAC, and audio.
But whatever you do, DO NOT look at your phone while driving. That's illegal in most states.

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