billmayer

Why did they remove the cruise control stalk in the 2020 ES300h? The cruise control buttons on the steering wheel have no differentiating feel. You can't activate or deactivate without looking at the steering wheel so dangerous. The prior cruise control stalk lever was easy to use, easy to activate/deactivate and you never had to look at it. Newer is not better!

LeeSoFL

Control is on the right side of the wheel on my '19. Was there a stalk on different models back in 2019?

CJS57

You are so right! Stalk cruise was great! Button cruise sucks...........

toyotaman7

+1

TechNut

I agree. The stalk was used for so many years on various Toyotas and Lexus vehicles, it was just second nature and I didn't have to think about it. Oddly enough, my 2021 RX uses the familiar stalk. Yay!

I can see how the design team likely thought moving it to the steering wheel made for a cleaner implementation and I am slowly getting used to it. I do wish they would give the on/off a different/brighter color or something so it only takes a quick glance rather than a concerted "study" while driving. Then perhaps the +Res could have a bump and the -Set could have a dimple. The radar distance setting could have indented lines perhaps, to represent distance from the car in front. The bottom line is make it easer to launch with a glance and then manipulate by feel. Anyway, so much for my fantasy re-design...

mikemu30

We have both with my wife's RX and my ES. They both work just fine.

lesz

It appears that Lexus and Toyota have moved to putting the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel for all/most of their models. My 2017 ES has the old cruise control stalk, and my 2021 RAV4 Hybrid has the controls on the steering wheel.

I found that I very quickly got used to having those controls on the steering wheel of the RAV4, and I actually like it better that way. For me, it is easier to see what I'm doing with only a quick glance.

E46CT

it's cause not only does it make the car overall less expensive and easier to operate (in terms of everything in one place), it allows for a more upscale feel and look vs. a traditional Camry from 1988 that uses a plastic lever that juts out.

so a win/win/win/win/win. except for the few that prefer the old style.

i agree the new system takes more attention to use but so does the radio compared to said 1988 Camry.

CJS57

With the stalk system a driver could develop a sort of muscle memory or touch feel memory so that one did not have to look down and take eyes off the road. I could actually use it to drive in light traffic by going on and off the + and - functions. I am thinking of attaching small raised buttons to improve the tactile feel of the on the wheel system.

mcomer

New for 2021 ES's...• The OK and CANCEL buttons on the steering wheel-mounted controls have been slightly raised for improved tactile recognition.

bc6152

I rarely use cruise and after reading this post I was out in the car today and tried using the buttons for the various actions. I found that I couldn't do it without looking at the buttons.
The first time I used the cruise control about two years ago when the car was brand new, I inadvertently turned on the radar cruise. The car was accelerating and slowing down by itself and I thought something was wrong with the car. The raised buttons are a good idea by Lexus...

RX469

iTrader: (1)

I soooo agree with the cruise control stalk.

Where will you be getting the 'small raised buttons' to attach?

mickbrown

If you want to use “regular” cruise control, press the main cruise control button and hold for ~ 1.5 seconds. Pressing it for < 1.5 seconds turns on the radar cruise control.

CJS57

Attach raised tiny buttons using: Round "new dress shirt" pin heads attached to the middle of the + and - buttons by micro drilling a shallow hole and then epoxy the pin head with a short shank into the hole. Or heat the pin head red hot and let it melt into the button. Have not done this yet, but plan to.

grp52

For a non-destructive trial run, you might want to try some version of tactile overlay stickers that are available for the visually impaired or blind to add on to various buttons/controls so they can feel with their fingers location, orientation, and/or function. Some are simple bumps; some are simple shapes; and some are simple braille character.

I'm not certain as to the size of each sticker but the HALOS Tactile Stickers for microwave, washer, or oven looks promising.