Walk into a modern car showroom and one feature is almost impossible to miss: the screen. From wide central displays to digital instrument clusters and passenger screens, car screens have become a major part of the modern driving experience. But bigger does not automatically mean better. The real question is what these larger displays actually add to a car.
Automakers are increasingly treating the dashboard as a digital interface rather than simply a collection of physical controls. In 2025, the total display area used in automotive centre information displays grew by 19% year over year, according to Counterpoint Research. Displays measuring more than 20 inches also recorded particularly strong growth.
Car Screens Are Becoming the Centre of the Cabin
The traditional dashboard was built around physical switches, analogue gauges and a relatively small infotainment screen. Modern interiors are moving in a very different direction.
Large displays can combine navigation, media, vehicle settings, climate controls and connectivity into a single interface. Some systems can also personalise what appears on screen depending on the driver and situation.
Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX Hyperscreen is one example. Its system combines three displays beneath a single glass surface, including a digital instrument cluster, central display and passenger screen.
This creates a cleaner-looking dashboard while giving the vehicle significantly more digital functionality.
More Space for Navigation and Information
One of the simplest benefits of a larger screen is visibility.
A bigger display can show more information without making every element extremely small. Navigation maps can provide a wider view of the surrounding roads, while split-screen layouts can show directions alongside music or vehicle information.
This becomes particularly useful when driving in unfamiliar areas. Instead of repeatedly switching between menus, drivers can potentially keep several useful pieces of information visible at the same time.
However, good software design remains important. A huge screen filled with complicated menus can be less useful than a smaller display that presents information clearly.
Bigger Does Not Mean More Buttons
One reason manufacturers are moving towards larger displays is the flexibility they provide.
A physical button can perform one or a few specific functions. Software can change what a screen displays depending on the situation and can potentially gain new functions through software updates.
Mercedes-Benz, for example, uses its “Zero Layer” concept to place frequently needed functions at the top level of the interface instead of requiring users to move through multiple menus.
This approach is important because the value of a large screen depends heavily on how easily drivers can access information.
Passenger Screens Are Adding a New Dimension
Another change is the growing separation between driver and passenger experiences.
Instead of having one central screen that everyone uses, some premium vehicles give the front passenger a dedicated display. This can provide access to entertainment, navigation information or other features without taking over the driver’s interface.
Mercedes-Benz’s Hyperscreen, for example, includes a dedicated passenger display alongside the driver’s instrument cluster and central infotainment screen.
This turns the dashboard into a shared digital space rather than something designed exclusively around the driver.
The Screen Can Also Become a Safety Tool
Large displays are not only about entertainment.
Digital interfaces can present information from cameras, parking systems and driver-assistance features. A larger display can make camera views easier to interpret and provide additional visual information around the vehicle.
Head-up displays are another direction in which automotive technology is developing. Instead of requiring the driver to look down at a central screen, important information can be projected closer to the driver’s natural line of sight.
The goal should be to reduce unnecessary attention shifts rather than simply adding more information.
Software Is Becoming as Important as Screen Size
Perhaps the biggest change is that the screen itself is no longer the main attraction. Software is becoming increasingly important.
A large display with slow menus, confusing layouts or excessive touch controls can quickly become frustrating. By contrast, a well-designed system can make a relatively complex vehicle feel simple to operate.
Modern systems are also becoming more connected to the rest of the car. Mercedes-Benz says its newer MB.OS architecture connects infotainment, comfort, driving functions and charging while supporting over-the-air software updates.
That means the screen can effectively become the visible interface for a much larger digital vehicle system.
Are Bigger Screens Always Better?
Not necessarily.
A very large touchscreen can look impressive in a showroom but may not be ideal for every driving situation. Touch controls require visual attention, and some functions can be easier to operate through physical controls or voice commands.
This is becoming an important consideration as automakers balance digital technology with usability. Automotive technology company HARMAN has also highlighted the need for clarity rather than simply adding more screens, emphasising that additional displays do not automatically create a better driving experience.
The best interiors may therefore be the ones that use screens selectively rather than simply making them as large as possible.
What Will the Next Generation Look Like?
The future of automotive displays is likely to involve more than bigger rectangular touchscreens.
Curved panels, OLED and MiniLED technology, augmented-reality displays, AI-powered interfaces and improved voice controls are already changing how drivers interact with vehicles. Industry research shows that OLED and MiniLED are gaining ground alongside continued growth in display size.
The next step could be a more intelligent cabin where information appears when it is needed and disappears when it is not.
Ultimately, the value of a car screen should not be measured in inches. A well-designed display should make navigation easier, improve connectivity, support safety and simplify access to vehicle functions without distracting the driver.
The biggest change may therefore not be the size of the screen at all. It is the transformation of the dashboard from a collection of controls into the digital interface of the entire vehicle.
