Wards Auto announced its 2016 "10 Best" list for automotive interiors Thursday, likely raising a few eyebrows along the way.
The winners were whittled down from 47 eligible vehicles (a car must be all-new or heavily revised for the model year in question in order to qualify). Market segment or cost is irrelevant. Any new interior is potentially eligible.
In the announcement, Wards Content Director Drew Winter said it is "[...] important that the Wards 10 Best Interiors list include mainstream, affordable vehicles," but pointed out that cars, on average, have gotten much more expensive, making it difficult to define those terms.
It's also worth noting that with the rising cost of cars and the decreasing cost of consumer technology, customers' expectations for even inexpensive transportation are constantly on the rise.
So, who won already?
Highlights from the 2016 10 Best list include the Nissan Maxima, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Chrysler Pacificaand the Honda Civic--none of which would have previously turned many heads in the interior design or comfort departments.
Let's move on from the most surprising winners to the least. Audi's new TTS made the list, as the all-conquering new Volvo XC90. At the top of the range, the BMW 7-Seriesjoined them, along with the less wallet-intensive Mercedes-Benz GLC, Cadillac XT5 and Lexus RX.
What got them there?
Wards says the nominees are judged based on "aesthetics and design harmony, as well as materials, ergonomics, safety, comfort, value and fit-and-finish," with additional consideration given to ergonomics and the overall user experience.
The new Camaro is pictured above. If you're curious about any of the others, click the links above to view them in our Buyer's Guide. Think Wards got it wrong? Let us know in the comments.
Photo by Drew Johnson.
Here at Leftlane, we believe the contributions of the community are just as valuable as those of our staff. The Web, at its core, is a medium for information sharing and communication. We strive to provide good information, but without you—the community member—there is no communication. Read More>>