Wards Announces Top 10 Ten Interiors For 2012 - Is Your Favorite On The List?

Penton Media's WardsAuto Magazine has released its annual Ward's 10 Best Interiors list, and the selection for 2012 show great variety: four luxury vehicles, three compact cars priced below 22,000, a functional cross/utility vehicle and a fresh take on a German icon.

The WardsAuto editorial staff spent nearly two months evaluating a field of 40 vehicles with new or significantly improved interiors, finding that auto makers are devoting more attention than ever to interior styling, innovative materials and the overall driver experience.

The Ward's 10 Best Interiors of 2012 (alphabetically by manufacturer):

• Audi A7 (Audi AG)
• Chrysler 300 Luxury (Chrysler Group LLC)
• Dodge Dart (Chrysler Group LLC)
• Chevrolet Sonic (General Motors Co.)
• Hyundai Accent (Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Hyundai Azera (Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Mazda CX-5 (Mazda Motor Corp.)
• Infiniti JX35 (Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Range Rover Evoque (Tata Motors Ltd.)
• Volkswagen Beetle (Volkswagen AG)

"We saw a tremendously diverse group of interiors this year, and it's obvious to us that auto makers are pushing their design staffs harder than ever for interiors that are beautifully appointed, well equipped and extremely comfortable," said WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

"There are too many great interiors in the market for any auto maker to think it can stand pat with its current interior offerings and remain successful," explained Winter.  "Based on some of the vehicles we have seen at recent auto shows, we can tell the competition among interiors will be fierce in the next few years."

Ward's editors scored and then ranked nominated vehicles based on ergonomics, safety, material selection, overall value and aesthetics.  Additionally, judges rated each interior's human-machine interface in determining how effectively vehicle information is communicated to the driver.  There was no price cap on entries.

The 2012 interior winners will be honored in a ceremony at this year's WardsAuto Interiors Conference, to be held May 17 at The Henry Hotel in Dearborn, MI.

An extensive package profiling the winners will appear April 30 on WardsAuto.com and in the May issue of WardsAuto World magazine.

 

bigheadmazda - 4/16/2012 3:16:09 PM

+2 Boost

I don't believe you should rate the interior of an Audi A7 on the same scale with a Dodge Dart. Please. The top 10's should've been broken into increments based on price with a top 10 for each price range increment.

280SE - 4/16/2012 4:01:49 PM

0 Boost

Lexus GS interior should be on there. I think most objective people would agree. Infotainment system controls are original, entire layout is original, and driving position is surprisingly very ergonomic. I would bump the Infiniti JX from the list. What inside a JX (design, materials) that I haven't seen in a QX? How is this an example of not "standing pat?"

aboodesta - 4/16/2012 7:02:02 PM

0 Boost

Well, I wouldn't pick the GS's interior because it was inspired by the Toyota FJ. It looks extremely unappealing. The quality is obviously fantastic, from the a design standpoint, the interior doesn't look good at all, and barely even fits the rest of the car.

Willis - 4/16/2012 9:40:07 PM

+3 Boost

There should be criteria.

Best Luxury SEDAN Interior
Best Luxury SUV Interior
Best Luxury MINIVAN Interior

Best Mainstream SEDAN Interior

...and so forth.

And at the end of the day interior design and quality is subjective. It's idiotic to see to people arguing about which cars have better interiors. It's stupid.

85bmw745i - 4/16/2012 10:58:04 PM

0 Boost

This list is flawed. the Passat should be on the list, and why is the sonic up there? These people obviously know nothing about interior quality, they must be judging by appearance only, as in photos.

chewy - 4/17/2012 12:09:19 AM

0 Boost

I think the focus is really on cheaper interiors this year.