What "Regular" Car Company Makes The Best Interiors?

"noise" (noise) 04/22/2014 at 12:17 • Filed to: Interiors, what's best, question

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Hey guys, it's tuesday, and it's raining. SO instead of walking down to my greenhouse complex to do lame fucking PhD stuff I'm lurking oppo. So here's a question for you guys:

What "Regular" Car Company Has The Best Interiors?

I'm not talking about Morgan or fucking Spyker or some shit, I mean cars most of us can buy. I'm on the prowl for a new (used) car and after running the gamut of interiors in past cars (I think my favorite was my 01 VW... or maybe that Dodge M-37 I drove once for the forest service with wooden seats... mmm solid wood) Interior has been a big thing for me. My current fleet-spec mid 2000s Ford focus has an appalling interior, and to be honest every ford from that era seems to have pretty shit interiors. I've been told new fords are nice inside but after driving a great many older ones (The Mrs' Taurus is pretty nice inside though) my overall opinion is that ford cant make interiors for shit. I know there are exceptions for models, but brand image is a big deal, and if you don't care enough to make a door handle that doesnt feel like a plastic party favor what else didn't you care enough to do (maybe ignition switches?).

So what do you think, if average Joe wants to go out and get some wheels, what corporate grill should he be looking for to ensure his ass rides in comfort and style?

For Sweden > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:19

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Does Volvo count as regular?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:19

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I agree with VW, I like the interior in the MKIV Jetta ('04) Simple and straight forward.

Audi-os, amigos > For Sweden 04/22/2014 at 12:21

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No.

noise > For Sweden 04/22/2014 at 12:21

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yes and yes

plus: anti whiplash headrests!

because new volvos are expensive, but volvos are like the terminator or herpes and never ever go away, so used volvos are about as approachable as a car can get.

Brian Silvestro > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:22

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The Mazda3 interior is beautiful for the price

willkinton247 > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:23

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Volkswagen. It's pretty much from the same people who do Audi's, so it's pretty great.

Zohaibman72 > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:25

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The 2014 Jetta. My cousin in NY who I visited this weekend bought a fully loaded one for his first car. I found the interior to very roomy and nice, especially for a compact sedan.

jariten1781 > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:25

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Lincolns interiors are pretty good. Hyundai does well with the Genesis sedan and Kia with he Cadenza. I imagine the Equus and Robot Dog will also be good, but I haven't sat in them yet.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Brian Silvestro 04/22/2014 at 12:26

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I really want one of these. And I really don't get all the crap people give Mazda for the infotainment screen. Personally I think it's a really clean and nice-feeling interior, and I'd much rather have the screen up there than lower down int he dash requiring all the other buttons to be laid out around /under it.

anonsagainstanonymous > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:26

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I nominate not Chevrolet.

Alfa Romeo has some pretty good looking seats, but I don't think their dashboards are all that. Saab made some really nice interiours, but that's just my taste. Volvo's look pretty nice and they're kinda different, which is cool.

I'm gonna go with pre-Bangle BMW, though. Just because I feel so much at home in them.

Brian Silvestro > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 04/22/2014 at 12:27

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I love it also, I just can't wait til the 'speed3 comes out. It's gonna be a really good car.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:29

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I've always thought Honda does good interiors for a "regular" car company (admittedly they've fallen a bit short lately.

I loved the interior on the s2000- and at least to me it felt very solid and well put-together too (I miss that with my current Subaru rattles).

Vicente Esteve > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:42

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I also agree with VW. For some, they may be "Boring" but in a few months it grows into you and it will look clean and well designed as the years go by.

I wouldn't see this as old or dated. Honestly, I like it even more than the new one.

TJDMAX > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:44

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I am a huge fan of Audi's. My S4 has an awesome interior. For me I like the feel and look of lots of buttons and knobs etc. The Same style interior is found on most Audi's I believe.

RMudkips > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:47

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Saabs are pretty nice, except the maintenance would be a pain.

I agree with For Sweden on Volvo as well. VW is nice too.

I find the interior of my dad's CR-V to be simple and fine (Euro-spec shown).

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > noise 04/22/2014 at 12:52

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While not exactly regular, older Jag X-Types are getting pretty damn affordable (under $6k) and I think their interior is fantastic.

Stupidru > noise 04/22/2014 at 13:01

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What about newer Volvos? Are they as bombproof as the old ones?

Kookanoodles > noise 04/22/2014 at 13:01

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When they take their time, Citroën. This is the DS5's interior, and no, it's not a concept car.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > noise 04/22/2014 at 13:14

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Call me weird, but I really liked the direction that Chrysler was taking with their interiors before the Daimler merger, with those smooth, blended binnacles and the low center console.

Pictures are (in descending order): 300M, Eagle Vision, Stratus, Neon, LHS

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 04/22/2014 at 13:21

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Mmmmmmmm, yes! Full width instrument panel!

m2m, apex detective > noise 04/22/2014 at 13:32

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Kia, Hyundai.

This estimate is brought to you by the year 2016. :D

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > noise 04/22/2014 at 13:51

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Chevy Malibu. Very nice for the price point.

noise > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/22/2014 at 14:18

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You know what, my current department vehicle is a early 2000s malibu, and I have to say:

It looks dated, it looks cheap, but man oh man is it comfy as hell. And there is absolutely something to say about comfy as hell.

Also, that interior looks nice, though im not sure how i feel about everything swooping in to accentuate the center console... I'm not a huge fan of center consoles

noise > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 04/22/2014 at 14:21

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I'll add to that: chrysler really knew how to make a bench seat

But i agree with you, i drove an eagle ONCE about five years ago... and you know what I still remember the interior. I was surprised, i was fully expecting straight up 1997 geo but thats not what i got. Which I think says alot because i can't for the life of me remember the interior of my work car from the time, a saturn wagon of some kind

noise > Kookanoodles 04/22/2014 at 14:22

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As a freedomlandian i grieve at the fact that i'll pobably never own a citroen

noise > Brian Silvestro 04/22/2014 at 14:23

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I test drove a 3 back before i moved out to NY and before i bought my focus. That car was amazing, it felt... right. It felt like a cockpit. I was in no financial means but man... i wish

noise > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 04/22/2014 at 14:24

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I drove a CRV for a while. and a civic all weekend. And neither car left me with the impression of cheap. I wont stand here and tell you either were great, but there were not rattles, everything clunked appropriately. I feel you on this one.

noise > willkinton247 04/22/2014 at 14:25

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I agree completely. Soft touch everything, and my 01 didnt even look dated when I killed it in 2010

noise > Vicente Esteve 04/22/2014 at 14:26

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agree completely with trhe holding up to the test of time. As I said above, I felt like my 01 still looked comprable to modern cars until the day i smashed it in 2010. It was a wonderful interior, everything held up great and felt solid and well thought out

noise > RMudkips 04/22/2014 at 14:27

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I drove a CRV for a while... it was OK, not great but ok. and i've got a real thing for saabs so i would have to agree with you ha

willkinton247 > noise 04/22/2014 at 14:28

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My 2010 Jetta was a Sub-20k car. It has very convincing leatherette heated seats, soft touch everywhere, Leather steering wheel and shifter, and it all looks very sophisticated.

noise > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 04/22/2014 at 14:29

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nice comfy interior to wait for the AAA truck in your broken down jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag

but no really i agree, i ride in a 02 jag once and its still one of the nicest cars i've had the pleasure of driving in

noise > TJDMAX 04/22/2014 at 14:29

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never been an audi guy but a good friend of mine swears by them. I also appreciate the knobby bits

noise > jariten1781 04/22/2014 at 14:32

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i've not seen the inside of a new lincoln. I have no idea what its like at all to be honest

Mercedes Streeter > noise 04/22/2014 at 14:34

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Ah, the first generation KIA Rio. I liked that car's interior. It didn't try to be anything it wasn't. It was all business and ergonomics.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 04/22/2014 at 14:36

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Yes. The ergonomics of old Hondas and Acuras were fantastic (not sure if still applies).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TJDMAX 04/22/2014 at 14:37

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Great, but not "regular" enough, methinks.

Mercedes Streeter > noise 04/22/2014 at 14:49

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smart

Regardless of how you feel about the car's performance, the updates smart made to the interior in 2011 are simply astonishing. It's a very nice place to be inside. Feels more expensive than $14,000.

There's a vast array of colours to choose from for the standard cloth interior, and if you have the money, they'll make the interior out of just about any material you can think of. The one pictured here is decked out in a mix of leather and a wool-like cloth.

The design of the interior is also simplistic and completely "no bullshit". Everything is easy to reach, operate, read, and observe. You're not inundated with buttons and gauges aren't flooded with anything that's unnecessary. There's absolutely nothing to confuse the driver.

The icing on the cake? You can get ambient lighting, a transparent roof (or convertible, if you like), and a full feature touchscreen navigation (size is just shy of an iPad Mini) with 8 channel surround sound (which in any other car is nothing impressive, but in this car, is like having the artist right there in front of you).

TJDMAX > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/22/2014 at 14:56

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I mean an S4 isn't "regular", but you can get a base model A4 or A3 and they still have very similar interiors and I would consider those as "regular"...or more regular at least.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TJDMAX 04/22/2014 at 15:13

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Yeah, base Audis are probably regular enough. I was thinking he was wondering more about sub-luxury brands, but he mentions bespoke makers.

I sat in an S7 at the auto show. Damn. It even smelled fantastic.

noise > Mercedes Streeter 04/22/2014 at 15:16

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never would have guessed

Kookanoodles > noise 04/22/2014 at 15:27

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You could buy an old one ! Shouldn't cost a thing to keep it running.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > noise 04/22/2014 at 17:45

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Aesthetically? Modern VW interiors. They are so clean and straightforward! I love it!
Actually good at doing it's job? Volvo, hands down.

RMudkips > noise 04/22/2014 at 22:38

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It feels like it's about to roll when it corners sometimes. Mom's 2nd gen Odyssey is more stable, but not that good interior (well for modern standards).

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > For Sweden 04/27/2014 at 01:40

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Seconded

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/27/2014 at 02:13

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Seemed like the quietest mid size. Also the fit and finish seemed to show the trickled down of the Buick underpinnings.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 04/27/2014 at 02:14

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I just love the double-arched dash Chevy is doing in their cars now.

pollenstein > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 04/28/2014 at 07:31

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your grandad is in complete agreement

pollenstein > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 04/28/2014 at 07:36

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its terrifying to imagine the degree of crappy carness that north America must have been subjected to in order that these grey, blandfests that seem to have been assembled using the same plastic as a kids playhouse could be nominated for this list...

Oh the horror!

Grindintosecond > noise 10/24/2014 at 15:05

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Volvo has always been about the seats. Since the late sixties the comfort baby...the comfort. Still are. For so,etching affordable the mazdas of late have been quite nice. I really like the 3 I have.

RT > noise 06/02/2016 at 11:45

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Alfa Romeo has their ups and and downs.

But when it comes to aesthetics… :)