Hey everyone, I thought it would be fun to have a discussion about interior quality and layouts from new vehicles and manufacturers. In just the past 8 years or so I would say vehicle's interior quality and attention to detail made huge progress, especially with domestics and Korean manufacturers.
Competition is always a good thing, so it's nice to see pretty much all manufacturers stepping up their game in this department. Chime in however you'd like. Here's a list of newer manufacturer vehicles (2013+) I've been in long enough to form an opinion.
Ford: I am not crazy about Ford's interiors and layouts in their new models, but my opinions vary a bit compared to the model. Everything LOOKS good, with nice layouts and pretty easy to navigate controls but quality parts and materials don't seem consistent with all areas of the interiors. Nice fitting and high quality plastics feel interrupted by cheap, hard, plastic bits that seem to carry creaks and rattles overtime. Air vent covers, dial knobs, little things like this feel cheap and cost cutting in some of the models I've driven.
Chevy: a bit uninspiring, but overall much better than before. I remember the 98-04 years of cavaliers, cobalts, impalas, and camaros, and boy have things changed for the better. Compared to ford I feel the new Chevy interiors will keep themselves together longer overtime. Like a said, styling to me is a little bland but parts feel solid and well made. Never liked base model seats in a lot of the Chevys I drove, but that's nitpicking.
Chrysler/Dodge: the best of the big 3 in my opinion. The Fiat merger definitely had a great deal to do with this. I drove/sat in a new 200, 2015 challenger and charger, and we own a very base model 2015 grand caravan. Best layouts, Uconnect offers the best infotainment experience, and overall best parts and materials. Fabrics are good, everything fits exceptionally well and is very tight. Every knob and dial has enough stiffness to make you feel like they will stay in good shape for a long time. Of course the verdict is still out as to whether or not that's the case.
Heading into work now but would also like to hear opinions on other brands, especially Hyundai and Kia which has been impressing me way more than I expected.
Toyota seems to be playing a long game of catch-up, or they just don't really need to care. I haven't been in any new toyotas 2014+ but a fair amount of 2011-2012 vehicles and was never impressed. Functional but everything felt fairly brittle and only average as far as materials go.
New Hondas and Subarus?
Volkswagen has always set benchmarks for their interiors and I believe even the Americanized Jetta and Passat finally received better interiors they were missing from before. Not 100% though, haven't been in one.
I'd like to hear any comments from the members here. Happy Friday!
Competition is always a good thing, so it's nice to see pretty much all manufacturers stepping up their game in this department. Chime in however you'd like. Here's a list of newer manufacturer vehicles (2013+) I've been in long enough to form an opinion.
Ford: I am not crazy about Ford's interiors and layouts in their new models, but my opinions vary a bit compared to the model. Everything LOOKS good, with nice layouts and pretty easy to navigate controls but quality parts and materials don't seem consistent with all areas of the interiors. Nice fitting and high quality plastics feel interrupted by cheap, hard, plastic bits that seem to carry creaks and rattles overtime. Air vent covers, dial knobs, little things like this feel cheap and cost cutting in some of the models I've driven.
Chevy: a bit uninspiring, but overall much better than before. I remember the 98-04 years of cavaliers, cobalts, impalas, and camaros, and boy have things changed for the better. Compared to ford I feel the new Chevy interiors will keep themselves together longer overtime. Like a said, styling to me is a little bland but parts feel solid and well made. Never liked base model seats in a lot of the Chevys I drove, but that's nitpicking.
Chrysler/Dodge: the best of the big 3 in my opinion. The Fiat merger definitely had a great deal to do with this. I drove/sat in a new 200, 2015 challenger and charger, and we own a very base model 2015 grand caravan. Best layouts, Uconnect offers the best infotainment experience, and overall best parts and materials. Fabrics are good, everything fits exceptionally well and is very tight. Every knob and dial has enough stiffness to make you feel like they will stay in good shape for a long time. Of course the verdict is still out as to whether or not that's the case.
Heading into work now but would also like to hear opinions on other brands, especially Hyundai and Kia which has been impressing me way more than I expected.
Toyota seems to be playing a long game of catch-up, or they just don't really need to care. I haven't been in any new toyotas 2014+ but a fair amount of 2011-2012 vehicles and was never impressed. Functional but everything felt fairly brittle and only average as far as materials go.
New Hondas and Subarus?
Volkswagen has always set benchmarks for their interiors and I believe even the Americanized Jetta and Passat finally received better interiors they were missing from before. Not 100% though, haven't been in one.
I'd like to hear any comments from the members here. Happy Friday!
