Penton‘s WardsAuto is showing Wards 10 Best Interiors list of 2016 at WardsAuto Interiors Conference today in Detroit’s Cobo Center.
This year’s winners:
- Audi TTS offers functionality, connectivity, fit-and-finish, style and comfort.
- BMW 7-Series has rom rich leather and touch-sensitive controls to second-row executive lounge seating and innovative gesture controls.
- Cadillac XT5 is a sweet combo of wood inlays, combined with microsuede and Maple Sugar leather.
- Chevrolet Camaro has a stunning high-contrast Camaro interior, with crimson ambient lighting.
- Chrysler Pacifica has beautiful colors, iswonderfully trimmed, loaded with safety electronics, active noise control.
- Honda Civic offers excellent seats, great design, with hints of performance and luxury.
- Lexus RX raises bar for Lexus interiors.
- Mercedes-Benz GLC shows slick animation when cycling through digital owner’s manual.
- Nissan Maxima features detail, innovative thinking, bold colors and knurled metallic trim.
- Volvo XC90 has a crystal gear shifter and othr top notch materials.
In years past, as many as three luxury brands have been recognized on the list. This year, one could argue all 10 honored vehicles lean toward the luxury side of the aisle, as the Camaro, Pacifica, Civic and Maxima integrate lots of soft surfaces, upscale materials, warm ambient lighting and the latest connectivity and safety features typically found in premium cars.
Besides, the established luxury brands are flush with new product. Of the 47 vehicles evaluated in this year’s competition, 19 hailed from premium brands. For instance, Audi had five eligible vehicles this year, including the A4, A6, Q7, S7 and TTS, while BMW and Lexus each had three entries.
Eight WardsAuto editors selected the winners after spending February and March evaluating all 47 interiors. To be eligible, an interior must be all-new or significantly redesigned.
Each vehicle is scored based on aesthetics and design harmony, as well as materials, ergonomics, safety, comfort, value and fit-and-finish. Editors also test the user-friendliness of the human-machine interface to see how effectively vehicle information is communicated.