During a weekend, we were able to chain the kilometers aboard a Tesla Model S Plaid. The opportunity to try the famous Yoke steering wheel, which is now an option on the premium sedan.
The Yoke steering wheel of the Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X has already caused so much talk, since the first images of the interior of the two vehicles (both refreshed in early 2021). Is the manufacturer going too far in audacity? Why this design, basically? More pragmatically: was it going to be approved in France? The answer to this question is yes, since it is indeed possible to order a Model S or a Model X with a classic steering wheel or this Yoke version (which was first imposed as standard).
The Yoke steering wheel is intriguing, because it supposes a new adaptation to a device that has always been circular in the collective mind. In driving school, you learn to drive with a circular steering wheel. In conventional dealerships, you only find cars with a circular steering wheel. In short, the Yoke steering wheel requires putting an end to habits that have sometimes been ingrained for decades. Still, it took me maybe 10 minutes to get used to it, during a multi-day trial of a Model S Plaid.
90-95% of the time the Yoke steering wheel is perfect
Why this design, basically? The Yoke steering wheel is bound to leave you wondering, and many will probably say that Tesla doesn’t need to be so transgressive to sell cars. In reality, it’s hard not to see the Yoke steering wheel as something other than a frantic race to purify the cabin – in which the multinational already has a considerable lead. A rectangular design eliminates visual pollution: the upper half-circle can spoil the view of the on-board screen, or even the road. The other players in the automotive market have tried different approaches, in the wake of the flat parts in the latest Peugeot steering wheels, or the head-up display.
We find ourselves forgetting our habits very quickly.
The philosophy behind the Yoke is therefore to go even further: we remove the superfluous, as we have already removed the physical buttons to concentrate everything on a huge screen. Tesla even went so far as to remove the switches, which are generally used to indicate its direction and operate the windshield wipers. These functionalities are transferred to tactile surfaces with haptic feedback – neither too light nor too intrusive (i.e. well dosed). To replace the right commodo normally dedicated to driving modes on other Tesla cars, you have to go through the left part of the screen. It displays a small car that you slide up (forward) or down (backward). Removing your belt will automatically engage Parking mode, while there is an option for the car itself to suggest which mode to activate (example: if you are facing a wall, it will go into reverse).
Yes, you have to press “buttons” to signal that you are going right or left with a Yoke steering wheel in your hands. We press up for right, down for left, knowing that there is a small bar to separate the two areas. This was the point that scared me the most with this Yoke steering wheel. Finally, everything falls surprisingly well under the thumb. Do we just have phantom gestures (by instinct) and do we feel lost when the steering wheel is turned more than 90 degrees and we have to indicate our direction (example: when we take the third lane in a circle -point). We then apprehend these situations, even if they remain rare when we are driving. Also, the first tight turns may seem scary, the time to understand how the Yoke steering wheel works.
Obviously, we sometimes look for his gestures when maneuvering with the Yoke steering wheel. Instinctively, our arms tend to flick upwards, searching for that semi-circle to cling to. The Yoke steering wheel requires a little relearning: instead of multiplying the movements that pull to the right or to the left, you will have to push from the bottom of the steering wheel. You have to make firmer and more precise gestures, where there is a greater margin of error on a classic steering wheel (since you make more small gestures). In any case, during our 1,500 km aboard the Model S Plaid, we never put ourselves in danger because of the Yoke, nor did we miss any maneuvers. On this subject, it is necessary to note an essential point: the turning radius of the Model S Plaid is incredibly small, which makes it very maneuverable despite its 5 meters long.
In a straight line, the Yoke steering wheel delivers all its benefits. You put your palms on each side, and you feel like a driver (as a reminder, F1 steering wheels are rectangular). It’s exhilarating, and we understand why Tesla opted for this form, frightening at first glance, but very relevant in use. We are surprised to forget habits very quickly, which very naturally disappear behind new ones.
During the test, I left the Yoke steering wheel to Thomas Ancelle, videographer for Numerama, who accompanied me. His impressions are also positive: In a straight line, the Yoke steering wheel is very pleasant, the ‘handle’ aspect provides a firm and comfortable grip, in addition to the aesthetic pleasure of having the sensation of driving a racing car. It took me a while to lose my old reflexes, my muscle memory constantly seeking the controls. Despite a little mental exercise when performing a slot, I think I could get used to this Yoke wheel very quickly. In any case, I have already taken a liking to it. »
