Audi Listened: 2026 Interior Update Kills Off Touch-Sensitive Controls

Audi is gearing up for a pretty big refresh in 2026, touching a whole lineup of familiar names—A5, A6, Q5, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron. Instead of the usual “software update and call it a day,” Audi says these changes are about making the cars nicer to drive and less frustrating to use.

The one thing they aren’t saying yet is whether any of this is headed to the U.S. For now, American models remain in wait-and-see territory.

The biggest improvement is something Audi owners have been begging for. Touch-sensitive steering-wheel buttons? Gone. Audi finally ditched them. Every updated model gets a redesigned wheel with proper physical controls and two scroll wheels you can actually feel. A small victory, but a very satisfying one.

Sporty models get something extra, too. The S5 and S6 e-tron will pick up a new Dynamic Plus mode that loosens things just enough to let the car slide a bit on purpose. Controlled oversteer in an Audi EV—that’s not something you hear every day.

Electric models built on the PPE platform also get better one-pedal driving. Lift off the accelerator, and the car will slow all the way to zero smoothly without needing the brake pedal—something EV owners tend to love once they try it.

Tech-wise, Audi is adding an upgraded driver-assist system across PPE and PPC models. Tap the turn signal, and the car can execute a lane change on its own. There’s also a clever new parking feature that lets the car autonomously retrace a route of up to 200 meters on private property—basically a memory function for tricky driveways or narrow garages.

Lighting tech gets a bump too. The next A6 will offer digital matrix headlights and digital OLED taillights with customizable patterns, because even brake lights are becoming signatures now.

A few smaller but thoughtful features are coming as well. Some models will get a built-in 4K dashcam mounted under the mirror, recording both driving and parking footage. Inside the cabin, Audi is adding new preset “mood” scenes that adjust lighting, audio, climate, and even the massage seats to match. And for anyone who games while charging, you can now pair controllers over Bluetooth.

It’s not a complete reinvention of the lineup, but it is Audi fixing long-standing annoyances and adding features people will actually use—the kind of updates that quietly make everyday driving better.