Did Your Favorite Car Take The Top Spot In The 2008 Interior Of The Year Awards?

Defining a spectacular vehicle interior is subjective business. Different people like different things.

Some buyers think high-sheen piano black adds a unique touch of class, while others see a magnifying glass for annoying fingerprints. Some consumers can’t tolerate fuzzy rat-fur headliners, while others never look up. Some folks can’t survive without something to clutch their Red Bull, while driving enthusiasts view cupholders as frivolous.
 

As difficult as it is to identify the specific components that make up a world-class interior, there are many givens: Seams must be flush, seats must be comfortable, materials must be durable, information must be accessible, noise must be minimized, space must be ample and styling must make a statement.

The winners of the 2008 Ward’s Interior of the Year Awards check all of these boxes and more.

Ward’s editors served as judges for the competition, evaluating 36 vehicles in March and April. The pool consisted of completely new vehicles or existing models that received significant interior redesigns for ’08.
 

Ward’s Interior of the Year Awards

Peyton18 - 6/5/2008 5:05:55 PM

+1 Boost

This does not make sense at all...why is the C300 a finalist? Why is the Jetta (which ranked #1 in interior quality earlier this year not in this at all? I'm sorry...

Mazda 5 best in the truck category? Town and country ?

next...

Bill - 6/5/2008 7:30:40 PM

+2 Boost

My wife has the new '08 C350 Sport and the interior is actually very good. I personally award it high marks for build quality and materials. It simply looks a bit boring styling wise, but other than that it is a fine interior.

tattedtwice - 6/5/2008 8:34:57 PM

-3 Boost

Im guessing the c300 is only a finalist because it's new. That ugly, boring ass interior wouldnt get a second glance, otherwise.

Agent63 - 6/6/2008 2:36:45 AM

+3 Boost

The C300 has good interior. Just because you don't like Mercedes don't mean you have to put it down.

JUGNU - 6/5/2008 5:24:58 PM

-3 Boost

to me Jaguar XF and Lexus LX570 got the best inteiors in their respective classes.

JUGNU

ubercool - 6/6/2008 1:25:29 AM

+1 Boost

The Jaguar XF interior is out of this world, top quality and stylish...

S4cabriofoxone - 6/5/2008 6:15:50 PM

+4 Boost

This is what Edmunds says about their long-term Dodge Caravan's interior (which is the same as the T&C's that won this award):

"The interior quality of our long term 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is so disappointing, it's difficult for me to put it into words. But I'm going to give it a shot.

This van feels like it was designed and assembled by apes. Apes that were pounded mercilesly by bean counters to get more cost out of the poor resulting van's interior."

http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/!discloc=.eea7d42&nopopup=1

S4cabriofoxone - 6/5/2008 6:16:31 PM

+3 Boost

Another key quote:

"And remember, I haven't once complained about the Caravan's nonexistent brakes, or its apparently missing rear suspension, or its 4.0-liter V6 which feels and sounds like it's full of rocks. No, I'm only talking about its interior, which is seemingly without a soft surface, a properly aligned panel or a single switchgear that delivers a pleasing tactile sensation. Hey, what do you want for $40K? Quality?"

DieselRules - 6/5/2008 8:32:00 PM

+1 Boost

Maybe they had the NEW T&C van ... the one designed by VW & MB?
It even has the VW folding table and reversed-middle-row seats.
Its amazing how European the design looks too, but of course, it is a European design.
The old Chrysler-designed vans followed the motto: "build it cheap and sell it cheap!"

S4cabriofoxone - 6/6/2008 8:00:24 PM

+2 Boost

What are you talking about? I was making a point. I have never seen you post once on this site before. I have been here for years.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/8/2008 1:58:17 AM

+2 Boost

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??? Have you been watching my postings for the past 5 years??? Ban please!

answer - 6/5/2008 6:50:24 PM

+5 Boost

Town and Country has far too many cheap bits (poor quality plastics, crap armrests, manual side mirror adj., etc.) to warrant it being anywhere near a list like this.

Jag's placement, however, is of course well-deserved.

VISO - 6/5/2008 7:06:29 PM

+6 Boost

I do not know why everyone is pumping up Jaguar. They haven't done anything innovative or progressive in over 30 years and suddenly they bring out one model which is ok, and everyone screams as if it the next best thing to sliced bread. Seriously! Jaguar is so uncompetitive to its main competition of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus that as a company cannot be considered anywhere near Tier 1.

tattedtwice - 6/5/2008 8:37:05 PM

-1 Boost

Amen and +1.

Other than that ridiculous 'shifter' there's nothing ground-breaking or attractive about the xf's interior. The CTS should have won in this category, since it looks, oh I dont know, WORLDS better than the jag's.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/5/2008 10:10:49 PM

+2 Boost

"there's nothing ground-breaking or attractive about the xf's interior."

You must be joking if you don't think it's attractive.

As for ground-breaking? Let me give it a shot: it embodies beautiful simplicity. Instead of relying on a silly iDrive-like feature or a merciless amount of buttons, Jaguar's designers pulled off a seamlessly elegant design with a minimum of buttons, all of which are swathed in metal, and are very easy to use. That enough?

LexusKindaGuy12 - 6/5/2008 7:23:33 PM

-1 Boost

over 30,000 leaves quite of big of room there. i mean...they should have a category of 60K and over. and then 100K and over.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/5/2008 10:11:12 PM

+1 Boost

I agree, there should definitely be more classes.

VISO - 6/5/2008 10:56:44 PM

-1 Boost

First of all, as a clarification, I am not taking anything away from the XF. However, the interior is derived from Ford's parts bin the XF is based of the previous generation S-Type. Jaguar did not have the funds to make a completely new vehicle. So, yes the design is new to Jaguar most agreed and is ground breaking in that sense, but the overall design has much to thank Lexus for. Not a bad thing, but do not consider the Jaguar brand as a competitor the German uber trio plus one from Japan. Jaguar has to find its way back to be considered in the same tier group. Global sales are a pittance compared to Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz and Jag is not a ultra luxury brand where low volume is acceptable. But, with Tata maybe they can return. My father still has a 1976 XJ12L and that was one amazing car in its day. Today's Jaguar is not.

bestofallcad - 6/6/2008 4:52:16 AM

+3 Boost

YEA GM IN EVERY CATAGORY AND WOW NOT ONE LEXUS!!!!!

DieselRules - 6/5/2008 8:50:09 PM

+4 Boost

I get it.
This isn't a comparison of ALL cars.
The article clearly states that it includes NEW models, and completely revised models.
Hence, the A4, A6, Golf, etc. didn't make it in (they would have taken their classes) along with many other cars from Germany and Japan that should have been on the list.

So, if you're not looking at all cars, what's the point?

GermanNut - 6/5/2008 8:50:18 PM

0 Boost

Look at Audi with the winner TT and the finalist A5 3.2 S-line.

The fact that no BMW made it to the final, let alone did not win is not surprising....proof that spartan interiors are not the interior formula.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/5/2008 10:12:10 PM

0 Boost

We know Audi makes fantastic interiors but this list is a joke. The only ones that deserve to win are the TT and XF, perhaps the Malibu.

JRobUSC - 6/6/2008 1:36:12 PM

+3 Boost

Hello, reading comprehension. This was only for new models, and the 135i was a finalist in the class the TT Coupe won in.

Now wipe your mouth and get off Audi's nuts already. You're getting just as bad as the blind Lexus and BMW idiots on here.

Matthew1 - 6/5/2008 8:52:00 PM

+4 Boost

How did they get everything so wrong?

WRX? That's the cars biggest LOW point.

Focus? IF that's the US Focus then that seals the deal, this list is 'bogus'.

Matthew1 - 6/6/2008 6:32:35 PM

+1 Boost

Here comes Mr GM bias!

Seriously, take off the rose-tinted glasses. It's an acreage of cheap silver plastic.

ubercool - 6/6/2008 1:27:12 AM

-2 Boost

Most of my family and friends work for Bentley & Rolls Royce and they all agree that the Jag XF interior is the best in the business.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/6/2008 1:30:02 AM

-2 Boost

I wouldn't go that far.

Hyundai - 6/6/2008 10:08:08 AM

+3 Boost

Right now? Yes. 2-3 years ago? Hell no.

DieselRules - 6/14/2008 3:00:34 AM

+1 Boost

The Malibu shares the platform with Opel (yes, its a German design).
But the Malibu is definitely built here in North America.
That's a good combo (German Design, North American Production) such as Chrysler 300, VW Jetta/Beetle (Mexico, but officially domestic), 2009 Chrysler Vans, Saturn Aura, etc.

Hyundai - 6/6/2008 10:08:37 AM

+4 Boost

Oh, and the Mazda5 is one helluva truck! not..

henbmw - 6/6/2008 1:51:06 PM

+2 Boost

Chrysler Town & Country??? Are you kidding me??

CTBjoe - 6/6/2008 7:22:21 PM

+1 Boost

That's a good one american dreamer!
Someday this will come true.....SOMEDAY~~~~~~!!
However, there is a REALITY version of list and they are just afraid of showing it.

MunichRob - 6/7/2008 8:33:07 AM

0 Boost

I agree with basically everyone here that the list sucks! My two biggest changes to the list would be the Accord for "Popular Priced Car," & the Touareg for "Premium Priced Truck."

bocabimmer - 6/11/2008 3:16:37 AM

+1 Boost

this is total bullshit, no Audi on the list,are you kidding me, the A6 in Europe wins every interior award...the A3,4,5,6,8 Q7 are all masterpieces and are benchmarks for interiors period....