Bland Cars and Bland Interiors
Discussion
Looking at another tablet interior in the Volvo ES90 with no/few physical buttons, it might be just me but, the more cars are now all looking the same, the more important having a nice interior is. Once you’re in the car, surely that’s what you see 90% of the time. Unfortunately, now even interiors all look the same.
Can anyone think of a great interior cabin in a car under £80k?
Can anyone think of a great interior cabin in a car under £80k?
Honestly having actually driven cars with older traditional interiors and newer screen/minimalist layouts I’m going new interiors every time.
Not sure if it’s an age thing and being scared of change or what but I always just advise people to actually just test drive newer cars or go sit in one.
What you see 99% of the time should be outside the car when you are driving.
Not sure if it’s an age thing and being scared of change or what but I always just advise people to actually just test drive newer cars or go sit in one.
What you see 99% of the time should be outside the car when you are driving.
CG2020UK said:
Honestly having actually driven cars with older traditional interiors and newer screen/minimalist layouts I’m going new interiors every time.
Not sure if it’s an age thing and being scared of change or what but I always just advise people to actually just test drive newer cars or go sit in one.
What you see 99% of the time should be outside the car when you are driving.
I prefer actual buttons over touchscreen as I find them less distracting to use while driving. You need to look at a touchscreen but can find buttons by touch.Not sure if it’s an age thing and being scared of change or what but I always just advise people to actually just test drive newer cars or go sit in one.
What you see 99% of the time should be outside the car when you are driving.
I’ve been in and driven plenty of cars with a massive tablet screen and I don’t like them. It would certainly put me off buying if other options were available.
Geoff-Griff said:
500Once you’re in the car, surely that’s what you see 90% of the time.
Personally, I spend most of my time in my car looking out of the windows. I can't remember the last time I spent a significant amount of time looking at my dashboard, seats, headlining, etc. Some old (60s or earlier) interiors are works of art, but you don't really notice it while you're driving. IMO a car interior's real job is to make you forget it's there when you're driving.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 5th March 19:49
Speed addicted said:
I prefer actual buttons over touchscreen as I find them less distracting to use while driving. You need to look at a touchscreen but can find buttons by touch.
I’ve been in and driven plenty of cars with a massive tablet screen and I don’t like them. It would certainly put me off buying if other options were available.
I totally get we all have preferences and it’s subjective, I’ve been in and driven plenty of cars with a massive tablet screen and I don’t like them. It would certainly put me off buying if other options were available.
Out of curiosity however what do you actually touch the screen first apart from inputting into the satnav? I basically never used the screen.
Audi TT has the best interior of any mainstream car in recent years, it’s got all the tech you need like car play but without a massive central screen, it’s minimalist and the climate being on the vents is such a good idea and it works so well in mine.
Can’t fault it, can’t think of much else that’s elegant and still looks Morden 10 years since it came out
CG2020UK said:
Speed addicted said:
I prefer actual buttons over touchscreen as I find them less distracting to use while driving. You need to look at a touchscreen but can find buttons by touch.
I’ve been in and driven plenty of cars with a massive tablet screen and I don’t like them. It would certainly put me off buying if other options were available.
I totally get we all have preferences and it’s subjective, I’ve been in and driven plenty of cars with a massive tablet screen and I don’t like them. It would certainly put me off buying if other options were available.
Out of curiosity however what do you actually touch the screen first apart from inputting into the satnav? I basically never used the screen.
A lot of manufacturers have put everything in there, so I’ll want heated seats etc to be separate.
Climate control is usually a set and forget thing for me but demisters and heated seats aren’t.
For most radio functions I use steering wheel controls but if I’m traveling and need to find another station something like an Idrive wheel is far easier to go through multiple stations without needing to look.
My main issues are having to look at a screen to find a control then having to try and hit the right part of the screen when driving on less than perfect roads.
There’s also the problem that you can’t turn some of them off, not an issue in a city but a total pain on dark country roads.
Edited by Speed addicted on Wednesday 5th March 20:34
The most usable car interior I have experienced (by a country mile) is the Gen 2 Prius - everything important can be done without hands leaving the wheel. My CR-Z was very good, my other half's Tesla Model 3 is also excellent once you get used to it and actually learnt how it works rather than just listen to motoring journos who just jump in and immediately slag it off.
All of these are much better than my Mk7 Golf for example.
All of these are much better than my Mk7 Golf for example.
yellowbentines said:
It's all subjective and personal opinion isn't it?
Im picking this interior up in a couple of weeks - I personally think it looks great, and I dont think the two-tone could be considered bland, but Im sure some would hate it!
Agreed that looks good, but it's even better like this...Im picking this interior up in a couple of weeks - I personally think it looks great, and I dont think the two-tone could be considered bland, but Im sure some would hate it!
Speed addicted said:
When the hvac controls are in the screen menus rather than on buttons it’s more of an issue.
A lot of manufacturers have put everything in there, so I’ll want heated seats etc to be separate.
Climate control is usually a set and forget thing for me but demisters and heated seats aren’t.
For most radio functions I use steering wheel controls but if I’m traveling and need to find another station something like an Idrive wheel is far easier to go through multiple stations without needing to look.
My main issues are having to look at a screen to find a control then having to try and hit the right part of the screen when driving on less than perfect roads.
There’s also the problem that you can’t turn some of them off, not an issue in a city but a total pain on dark country roads.
That’s fair. A lot of manufacturers have put everything in there, so I’ll want heated seats etc to be separate.
Climate control is usually a set and forget thing for me but demisters and heated seats aren’t.
For most radio functions I use steering wheel controls but if I’m traveling and need to find another station something like an Idrive wheel is far easier to go through multiple stations without needing to look.
My main issues are having to look at a screen to find a control then having to try and hit the right part of the screen when driving on less than perfect roads.
There’s also the problem that you can’t turn some of them off, not an issue in a city but a total pain on dark country roads.
Edited by Speed addicted on Wednesday 5th March 20:34
I’m actually so use to pre-conditioning my cars and auto heated seats now that I never search these out.
Do think it’s very infotainment system specific as with my Tesla they are all basically one tap away on a massive screen. With IDrive I just used voice commands when I needed to go deeper, it wasn’t as smooth as the Tesla but still very easy.
Admittedly I never turn any screens off even at night or early mornings and do 90% of my driving in the pitch black on country roads.
For a brand new car, I don't think you can do much better than a Mazda. They really are the modern BMW. Fantastic quality, lovely tactile surfaces, real buttons and everything beautifully weighted. The Volvo above is great too - I had an XC90 as a rental whilst my car was in for damage repair and I didn't want to give it back - best seats in the business but the cabin of a range topping Mazda is better.
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