I agree the manual controls are 100% more user friendly. You can see with a quick glance if the ac light is on or not. You can switch from defrost to vent or floor or a combination of them by turning a dial. With the auto controls you have to find the mode button then press it repeatedly until you get to what you want, then click one too many times and have to do it all over again while looking at the tiny little icons.
I couldn't be bothered to count how many presses it takes to get between each selection.
I have used the auto feature a few times but prefer to control fan speed myself. That's one thing I hate about the wifes kia's is the stupid temp controls always go to 2/3 fan speed every single time you start them up. Regardless of what position they were in when you shut it off. I complain about it every time I drive it lol.