Traditionally, steering wheels have been either round or flat bottomed, which are the most ergonomically sorted designs.
BHPian CentreofGravity recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
In the recent past, OEMs have been playing around with different designs for the steering wheel. Traditionally, steering wheels have been either round or flat bottomed, which are the most ergonomically sorted designs. The only difference was in the number of spokes in the steering wheel. Cars like the Tata Indigo had a four spoke steering, whereas the Maruti 800 came with a two spoke unit; most other cars had three spoke units. In the last decade or so, manufacturers have showcased radical steering wheels in their concept cars, however, they have now started making their way into production cars as well. Tesla received flak for its yoke in the Model S, and Lexus followed suit and launched the RZ with a yoke too. In 2022, BMW filed a patent for a yoke. More recently, Peugeot have decided to make rectangular steering wheels from 2026. All this makes one wonder, what was wrong with the age old design of the steering wheel in the first place? In this thread, let’s discuss the various steering wheel designs and what your preferences are. Let’s keep this discussion limited to just the designs and functionality of the wheel, and not steering technology like HPS, EPS, steer-by-wire, etc.
Two spoke steering wheel
This design is employed by cars like the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Verna, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, MG Comet, all Skoda cars, and erstwhile cars like the Tata Nano, Chevrolet Spark, old Maruti cars and many more. As the name suggests, there are two spokes in this type of steering wheel .
Three spoke steering wheel
This is the most common type of steering wheel and can be seen in most cars like the Volkswagen Virtus, Honda Elevate, Kia Sonet, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if most people vote for this type of steering because it has been the most used type across OEMs for years. Personally, I prefer a good old three spoke unit.
Four spoke steering wheel
In the earlier days, four spoke steering wheels were generally used in larger and more expensive cars like the Tata Safari, OG Honda City, some versions of the Tata Indigo, and present day models like the Hyundai i20, Creta, Venue and Tucson, Tata Safari and Harrier, all Land Rovers, etc. I associate four spoke units with larger cars and find it odd in smaller cars and jacked-up hatchbacks.
Flat bottomed / D-cut steering wheel
Here, the bottom part of the steering wheel is flat. Such steering wheels are generally associated with sporty cars. Steering wheels with two, three or four spokes may have a flat bottom. These can be found in the Skoda Rapid, VW Taigun, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, etc.
Yoke
Yoke of the Tesla Model S
Lexus RZ450e’s yoke
These are unconventional in shape, ditching the round steering for an impractical shape like a rectangle. They do look cool, but they are the perfect example of ‘form over function’. Thanks to the criticism, Tesla decided to offer the yoke as an option in the Tesla Model S and Model X, as opposed to it being standard fitment earlier. It remains to be seen how Peugeot executes its ‘hypersquare’, though I think it won’t be as easy to use as a regular steering wheel. Do note, a yoke may not be as impractical if steer-by-wire tech is implemented with it as the turning range reduces drastically.
As for my preference, I wouldn’t want a yoke or a polygon shaped steering wheel; as long as it’s a round steering wheel and the wheel design appeals to me, I don’t mind the number of spokes. If I had to choose though, I’d go with three spokes.
BHPians, your turn!
Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:
2-spokes is too less, while 4 is too many. My choice is 3-spoke . From Karan’s thread, now this is a steering done right.
Here’s what BHPian lamborghini had to say on the matter:
So a lot of this stems from the cars we were first introduced to with these respective steerings. For instance the 2 spoke is reminiscent of the 800, Alto which the mind perceives as being more budget oriented – of course there are exceptions to the rule (such as the newer Hyundai designs, the good old Zen, etc.) but for most part, it appears as though something is missing.
3 spoke, flat bottom steerings are love and my pick if designed well – sporty, comfortable, and convenient. When driving the flat bottom is convenient for us bigger folk & the feel is much more sportier.
On that note, I have nothing against 4 spokes – but again having seen them on old school Germans such as Mercs & Audis – the vibe is more luxury with a little bulky feel but this is fast changing : again as seen on some recent Hyundais.
Here’s what BHPian MotorDev had to say on the matter:
Great thread .
- I like steering wheels with three spokes.
- They make the dashboard look nice and complete.
- Three-spoke steering wheels are better to hold onto because they provide a good grip.
Here’s what BHPian Sphere had to say on the matter:
Personally I like the 3 and 4 spoke steering wheels. I own a Maruti Ertiga and the 2024 Tata Safari which have 3 and 4 spokes respectively.
2 spoked steering wheels look incomplete. The only 2 spoke wheel I like is the one in the Slavia.
Here’s what BHPian MyLife_MyCar had to say on the matter:
Though I drive a car with a 2-spoke wheel, I’d prefer a 3-spoke wheel any day.
- 2 feels incomplete and hollow.
- 4 feels like someone whose limbs are stretched out and tied to the wheel.
Just the imagination of driving a yoke type makes me feel uncomfortable.
Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.
