mine actually seems "fairly" bright (not that I have any objective measure - but it is as bright as the 2010, I'd say). In fact, I'd prefer it a bit less bright, as any light within the car works against the goal of enhanced vision of the light outside of the car...
The light when I hold my hand up to it seems fairly bright, but as I lower my hand toward the shifter it loses brightness fast.
You wouldn't want it much brighter - this is on all the time, after all (I imagine it comes on with the instrument panel lights), and you certainly wouldn't want something that affected night vision. If I block the light, it does make the shift lever harder to pick out, so I guess it does its job. Interestingly, it seems to faintly light the whole center console, making the white material a lot easier to understand. Now that I've finally noticed this, it's kinda useful - I no longer envy the Two's flat black center console.
Yes, it would be nice if the shifter handle lit up... and also the radio knobs. (just for "looks") I wouldn't want that little spot light any brighter. It would be distracting, to me. I wonder if it was actually meant for the "phone well", and not the shift knob? Anywho, mine lights up the shifter console, the phone charger pad, and the first cup holder too.
You turn on the light by turning on your headlights!!! It will light up the Park "P" from within and the gear shift from above.
You can increase the brightness from above the shifter by increasing the brightness with the dimmer switch on the left side of dash. Even at max brightness, it’s not very bright.
