Embarrassingly bad interior

[AudiMan9000]

Have to get this off my chest. I checked out an Audi Q4 e-tron at a dealership yesterday. Got in. The interior was frankly appalling quality, for any modern car, let alone an Audi. The seats were all cheap cloth. Even the arm rest was cheap cloth. There was really cheap looking plastic everywhere. The ‘virtual cockpit’ was a downgraded smaller screened low-res version. Sitting in it, it didn’t feel like an Audi, or an SUV.

The car costs no less than £42,575, so it’s not like we’re talking about an entry level A1. How can they seriously expect to be seen as a premium brand when they’re presenting something so markedly poor? Audi are supposed to be famed for their nice interiors. What went wrong?

Anyone agree/disagree of have similar stories re other brands?

[kambites]

Curiously the nicest interior of any of the MEB based cars seems to be the Skoda Enyaq.

[Tall_Blk]

An electric Audi SUV for that price? Something has to give!

[JonChalk]

If you want the nice stuff in any Audi/BMW/Mercedes, you'll need to tick a few boxes.

Unlike a dealer to only have the base spec of anything on show, so guessing they're suffering supply issues too - perhaps they sold the specced up showroom version for a nice markup to someone not prepared to wait.

[Geffg]

Cheap looking and cloth inside to make you feel like your saving the planet more. Appeals to vegans and environmentalists. That’s my take on some of these types of cars. I’ve looked in a few at shows and most seem the same. Like throwbacks to the 70’s or 80’s some of them, apart from the obvious screen instead of clocks.

[whp1983]

I blame Tesla! People are quite happy with low quality and a giant iPad….. others seem to be following, most disappointing.

Still as someone else said an EV for £43k….. what else did you hope for? Battery and related items cost a load.

[ClaphamGT3]

The issue is revealed in your OP - you've fallen for the marketing hype that Audi is a 'premium brand'.

It isnt; 'Audi' is what VW call a range of their products that they want gullible saps to pay more for than they would if they had a VW badge.

[pti]

Tall_Blk said:

An electric Audi SUV for that price? Something has to give!

Yup. Electric cars aren't cheap to make.

[anonymous-user]

VAG really seem to have knocked even the obviously visible quality out of their cars the last few years, I suppose squaring the circle of maintaining profits, investing very heavily in EVs, and covering the pretty large costs of the emissions scandal requires something to give.

People keep buying them though, so why should they stop?

[Chubbyross]

whp1983 said:

I blame Tesla! People are quite happy with low quality and a giant iPad….. others seem to be following, most disappointing.

This. As long as the great unwashed get their electronic gadgets then they’re happy.

[Cobracc]

Reminds me of the current Volvo radio ad....'zero percent leather'

Good fking god...!

[AudiMan9000]

Geffg said:

Cheap looking and cloth inside to make you feel like your saving the planet more. Appeals to vegans and environmentalists. That’s my take on some of these types of cars. I’ve looked in a few at shows and most seem the same. Like throwbacks to the 70’s or 80’s some of them, apart from the obvious screen instead of clocks.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

[GroundEffect]

Cloth sofas are superior to leather, the same with car interiors.

[wong]

GroundEffect said:

Cloth sofas are superior to leather, the same with car interiors.

The Toyota Century (only V12 car Japan makes at the moment I think) uses wool seats instead of leather. Fit for an emperor.

[Llew]

The worst I've seen in a new car are those white Tesla Model 3 seats which are pleather but almost like a foamy material... Horrendous.

[ChocolateFrog]

wong said:

GroundEffect said:

Cloth sofas are superior to leather, the same with car interiors.

The Toyota Century (only V12 car Japan makes at the moment I think) uses wool seats instead of leather. Fit for an emperor.

Both maybe true but we all know full well that's not why Audi have done it.

[anonymous-user]

JonChalk said:

If you want the nice stuff in any Audi/BMW/Mercedes, you'll need to tick a few boxes.

Unlike a dealer to only have the base spec of anything on show, so guessing they're suffering supply issues too - perhaps they sold the specced up showroom version for a nice markup to someone not prepared to wait.

This, they want you to have that reaction and then head to the options list to furnish your car. If they could get away with not putting an interior in at all and increase the options list they would.

You can the see the conversation going..

OP: I would like to buy the Q4 e-tron
Drone: Yes Sir, please select if you would you like to have seats or standing room only.

[AudiMan9000]

Looking at the configuration, if you splash extra cash to get better seats, you just have nicer seats in a horrible car. Like diamonds in the rough.

[lrdisco]

Honestly it’s what the market demands. If diamond encrusted steering wheels where wanted by the market, that’s what would be fitted.

[James_33]

I've not massively looked into the price of new EVs, simply for the fact i couldn't afford one anyway, but of the few i have seen just looking through autotrader (as you do) then that seems cheap compared to what there is out there.

Isn't it the best part of £40k for an entry level Tesla model 3?