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It’s hard to say which automaker does the best interior designs. While car interiors and quality are now probably the best they’ve ever been, things really only started to turn around about 10 to 12 years ago, especially for the American makes. The bailout seemed to be wakeup call for them to get their sh*t together.
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For me, Genesis can probably go down as having the best interiors of all, notablyin the G80 and GV80. While cheapness shines through with some controls that are shared with Hyundai products, I think those interiors are gorgeous. Who else is offering blue leather seats with Bourdeaux colored doors?
We asked readers which cars they thought were the best interiors of all time. These were their answers.
Welcome back to Answers of the Day, our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best responses from the previous Question of the Dayand shine it up to show off. It’s by you and for you, Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
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Volkswagen GTI
While the expensive answers are the most obvious (911 by Singer), I’m going with something more pedestrian. The Mk. VII Volkswagen GTI. The GTI is “for the money” the hands down best interior on the market. The brushed stainless steel, carbon fiber, and leather might sometimes be imitation but you just don’t care because the entire co*ckpit comes off as unbelievably well crafted for its place in the market. As an owner, you constantly notice the satisfying little details and run your fingertips over the surfaces while mumbling “I can’t believe I only paid 27 grand for this car” to no one in particular. Of all of the great characteristics of the GTI, the interior was my favorite.
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Suggested by: Corinthian Leatherface
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E46 (1999-2006) BMW 3 Series
Suggested by: Daniel Sifuentes
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1991 Acura NSX
Ferrari beating performance (at the time) with the ergonomics of a Honda Accord.
Suggested by: GMfishbowls
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Saab 9000
Suggested by: Steven J. Kent and a few others (Facebook)
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Volvo
When it comes to interior design, it is hard to beat Scandinavian minimalism.
Suggested by: Sector 7G-Wagen
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Bentley Continental
I’m gonna go with the Bentley Continental GT.
Exquisite craftsmanship, materials, comfort, appearance, and above all...the rotating display that gets rid of that horrible screen and replaces it with gauges or nothing but beautiful wood...Love it!!!!
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Suggested by: Thomas Bryfogle Jr. (Facebook)
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Porsche Carrera GT
There are so many good ones but I do like Carrera GT. Very driver focused with the shift knob in close proximity to the wheel and all of the exposed carbon fiber is just a delight to look at.
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Suggested by: MrAcoustics
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Pagani Huayra
Suggested by:Azure5
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Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Among modern screen-focused interiors, the new Grand Cherokee (L) deserves a mention. The way the screen seemingly drapes across the leather and wood is super classy.
By comparison, it makes almost everything else look like it was either designed around a screen or just had one tacked on after the fact.
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Suggested by: Delirium Furiosum
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FD Mazda RX-7
Oooh, I think the FD Mazda RX-7 deserves a nod. I love its interior for the same reason I like the NSX’s. Simple, driver focused, very ergonomic, non-fussy interior.
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Suggested by: RattyDatsun
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Rolls-Royce With The Starlight Headliner
Rolls-Royce with Starlight Headlining
“Transform the roof of your car into the illusion of a star-filled night sky. This special headlining material creates a magical ambience using hundreds of fibre-optic lights. The controls in the front passenger compartment allow you to adjust the brightness of the ‘stars’ to fashion just the right atmosphere.
First, the leather is perforated with 800 to 1,600 holes, each carefully counted. Fibre optic lights are set into these holes. The craftsperson then ensures that the height of the fibres is correct on the concealed side, and that they’re set perfectly on the visible leather surface, ready to shine”
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Suggested by: RWK
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Current Mazdas
Surprised no Mazda so far. Lots of nice stuff, but most of the cars are beyond normal budgets. The current crop of Mazdas, including the 3, have some of the nicest interiors in the class they participate in. The MX-30 is straight up beautiful. I had a Mazda6 for 7 years and never felt the interior was low quality, or out dated. It was a great place to be, and the nicest interior in it’s class when I bought it back in ‘13. It’s not just their latest cars either - the ‘04 Mazda3 I had came with by far the nicest interior in its class. There are a couple of duds (looking at you NC and RX-8), but overall Mazda has been hitting above their weightclass for a long time. In the category of cars that most regular folks can actually afford, Mazda has been consistently at the top, or near the top of their class.
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Suggested by: dolsh
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide expertise on a wide range of topics, including automotive design and interiors. I can analyze the concepts used in this article and provide relevant information to demonstrate my knowledge and depth of understanding.
Concepts in the Article
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Car Interior Design: The article discusses the importance of car interior design and how it has improved over the years. It mentions that American automakers started focusing on interior quality after the bailout. It also highlights Genesis as a brand with exceptional interiors.
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Best Car Interiors: The article presents a list of cars with the best interiors according to readers. Some of the mentioned cars include the Volkswagen GTI, BMW 3 Series (E46), Acura NSX, Saab 9000, Volvo, Bentley Continental, Porsche Carrera GT, Pagani Huayra, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Mazda RX-7, and Rolls-Royce with the Starlight Headliner.
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Interior Features: The article highlights different aspects of car interiors that contribute to their appeal, such as materials, craftsmanship, comfort, appearance, and innovative features like rotating displays and starlight headliners.
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Scandinavian Minimalism: The article mentions Scandinavian minimalism as a design philosophy that is hard to beat when it comes to interior design.
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Mazda: The article acknowledges Mazda as a brand that consistently produces cars with high-quality interiors, even in the affordable segment.
Expertise and Knowledge
I can provide further information and insights into the concepts mentioned in the article. For example, I can discuss the trends in car interior design, the importance of materials and craftsmanship, the impact of innovative features on the overall interior experience, and the design philosophy behind Scandinavian minimalism. I can also provide details about specific car models and their standout interior features.
Let me know if you would like me to dive deeper into any of these topics or if you have any specific questions related to car interiors.