Interior of the Year Award Winners Announced But Are These The Best Of The Best?

Ward's Auto Interior of the Year Awards, North America's only honors for excellence in automotive interiors, have been announced for 2010.  The list features winners in pricing and vehicle type categories, as well as special award winners for design, versatility and brand expression.

The 2010 Ward's Auto Interior of the Year winners are:

• Subaru Outback (Popular-priced car under $29,999)      
• Infiniti M56 (Premium-priced car)
• Lexus HS 250h (Hybrid car)
• Chevrolet Camaro (Sports car)
• Chevrolet Equinox (Popular-priced truck under $39,999)
• Volvo XC60 (Premium-priced truck)
• Acura ZDX  (Design Breakthrough)
• Mazdaspeed3 (Brand Expression)
• BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo (Design Versatility)
• Porsche Panamera (Inspired Design)

"For years, the focus on safety and functionality has given us drab, uninspired vehicle interiors," said Ward's AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. "This year's winners show style and original design is becoming as important inside the vehicle as it already is to the sheet metal outside."

A team of eight Ward's editors evaluated 40 vehicles that have either all-new or significantly upgraded interiors this year.  The vehicles – both car and truck – were divided into segments, with one winner named in each category.  In addition, Ward's bestowed special awards for outstanding achievements in key areas. Having both designations allowed judges to rank vehicles against the entire field, regardless of segment and price.  Judging criteria included aesthetics and design harmony, comfort, driver information, ergonomics, fit and finish, materials, safety and overall value.

The awards will be presented during a ceremony held as part of the Ward's Auto Interiors Conference on May 19 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dearborn, MI.  Registration details can be found online at www.autointeriors.com. 





2010 New York Auto Show Photo Gallery

2011 Ford Mustang Photo Gallery

Geneva Motor Show Photo Gallery

MSP6 - 4/12/2010 11:51:18 AM

+7 Boost

WTF are these categories ??

Creating a category for every car isn't a way to get relevant results.

Wonder what car won in the unattractive design category.. Nissan Cube ?

uaw_lax - 4/12/2010 6:48:59 PM

+4 Boost

lol.... True but a 50k car luxuary car would not have the same interior as a 25k sports car. It would be like a heavy weight fighting a feather wieght in boxing.

_43LE - 4/12/2010 2:43:52 PM

-2 Boost

Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?

Joe_Limon - 4/12/2010 12:07:59 PM

+8 Boost

uhmm... seriously? the camaro beat out all other sports cars?

MSP6 - 4/12/2010 12:34:23 PM

+12 Boost

I sat in a "base" camaro at my local auto show and it was probaly the worst fit and finish I saw in years. Cheap grey plastics, bad seats, odd driving position and atrocious visibility.

bfghemicuda - 4/12/2010 1:14:39 PM

+5 Boost

I was ok until I saw the Camaro. I judst can't warm up to the two shoeboxes with gauge packs.

uaw_lax - 4/12/2010 6:50:41 PM

+4 Boost

ditto... I love the exterior and performance but my love stops right there.

Agent00R - 4/12/2010 12:13:23 PM

+6 Boost

"Judging criteria included aesthetics and design harmony, comfort, driver information, ergonomics, fit and finish, materials, safety and overall value."

Based on that criteria, some of those interiors should NOT be up there.

Deutschland - 4/12/2010 12:16:52 PM

+5 Boost

Lexus HS 250h
Acura ZDX

Went in both of these cars at the Chicago auto show and thought both interiors had very cheap materials and poor build quality...The toggle on the HS for the navi was very cheap.

Agent00R - 4/12/2010 12:32:38 PM

-2 Boost

I disagree with you on both accounts.

The ZDX has a nice interior that made HUGE strides for Acura/Honda. But to say it is the best while being based on criteria that includes comfort and value -- where the ZDX's backseat fails big time -- is ridiculous.

The HS does have a nice interior, solid fit and finish and uses above average materials.

Although you do have to remember it is a hybrid, which means there are some parts in it built with lightness in mind. From my standpoint it is not a nice piece of design but it is certainly solid.

IMHO, the Prius should have won for hybrid interiors.

BigShow50 - 4/12/2010 5:42:29 PM

-6 Boost

You meant cheap like your mom....lol!!!....wow u are quite the idiot.

M53R - 4/12/2010 12:38:58 PM

+5 Boost

BMW 760Li Individual.

I think it kills the porsche panamera.

JRobUSC - 4/12/2010 1:08:09 PM

+3 Boost

Agreed. Platinum Full Individual Leather with Dark Red Sycamore Wood is freaking beautiful. There was a 750Lxi in the showroom at my local dealer that had that combo waiting for the owner to pick it up. Stunning.

david999 - 4/12/2010 8:20:33 PM

+3 Boost

I agree also. Just a beautiful interior in the BMW.

280SE - 4/12/2010 1:33:27 PM

+3 Boost

I would like to know where that photo of the ZDX interior came from. That picture looks great and all, but no production cars are actually build with the light-color leather trim on the armrest and mid-dash board. In reality, most of the dash is all black regardless of the interior color chosen. Maybe if the actual interior had the contrasting tones shown above I'd like the interior better.

On a separate note, the fact that there is no wood trim in this car is dissappointing given the price. The dash has a lot of plastic and many of the seams did not line up well in the car I sat in. Acura showed with the RL and MDX that the dash can have plenty of wood and still look modern.

mikeydred20 - 4/17/2010 7:48:40 PM

+1 Boost

You my friend do not know what you are talking about, although the ZDX shown appears to be concept all production models have matching leather dashes umber interiors have umber/black leather dashesand it is hand stiched and selected leather, do not hate if you do not know.

Agent001 - 4/12/2010 2:54:03 PM

+8 Boost

Camaro? LOLOL!!!!

001

BondMI6 - 4/12/2010 3:54:12 PM

-3 Boost

Are they referring to the old Infiniti M56 interior or the brand new one that just came out?

_43LE - 4/12/2010 4:32:35 PM

+5 Boost

Has to be the new M56. The last generation M top model was the M45.

investor27 - 4/12/2010 4:46:55 PM

+3 Boost

What? No Audis? What are they smoking? The R8's interior exudes elegance and pampered luxury. It's well crafted, refined and beautiful. The R8 should at least be on that list.

tattedtwice - 4/12/2010 5:59:25 PM

0 Boost

The absence of any of those horribly overrated and equally boring audi interiors is the only thing that makes the list credible. Good to see a publication not following the undeserved hype.

tattedtwice - 4/12/2010 5:59:25 PM

0 Boost

The absence of any of those horribly overrated and equally boring audi interiors is the only thing that makes the list credible. Good to see a publication not following the undeserved hype.

LuvMyLexus - 4/12/2010 9:03:15 PM

+5 Boost

I can't think of an American car I would say the interior is nice.

Not one of them.

pushrod27 - 4/12/2010 9:39:12 PM

-1 Boost

then i'll bet that there are also LOTS of other things that you can't think of. A testament to the limits of your intelligence, not the quality of American car interiors.

M53R - 4/13/2010 3:50:53 AM

-2 Boost

CTS has a fine interior considering the price range.

pennfootball - 4/13/2010 11:10:55 AM

+2 Boost

This is why crackbabies should not give automobile awards.
Audi has the best interiors in premium cars that are under 100k

The Maserati Quatroporte Has the nicest interior for luxury sedan over 100k and under 150k

The Bentley continental has the nicest interior from 150k-250k

The Rolls Royce Phantom and Ghost have the nicest interiors on cars over 250k

The sports car with the nicest interior is Ferrari 599 Daytona