Anyone else disappointed with progression of Car Interiors?

Clipsey

Clipsey

Clipsey

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Is it just me or are the interiors just a bit hum drum these days?
Obviously the super high end cars are beautiful, but I'm talking about your every day manufacturers. They are all vastly similar and none of them ooze that much style or class?
I used to care more about how a car looked and performed, however now the main attraction is the interior and what it all offers. With technology advancements things have obviously come a long way and makes life super easy. However, I've been looking for a replacement car for maybe early next year and nothing is screaming out to me.

What manufacturers do you guys think produce a classy interior?

Recently rented a BMW 5 series and was not that impressed:
The radio and dash seems so dated and lack of touch screen?
http://2017bmw5series.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2017-BMW-5-Series-Interior-Model-M5.jpg

Switched it out to an E-class half way through the rental:
Little nicer looking and more functional, but after a few days felt boring:
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/wp-co...es-Benz-Vehicles-new-e-class-2016-660x602.jpg

My current car:
Love the big touch screen (especially the ease of use of all the apps), digital display, but again lots of plastic and standard looking on most things.

Test driven
Lexus Rx:
Seriously disappointed with this one:
http://www.bestcrossoversuvs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2017-Lexus-RX-450h-interior.jpg

Chevy Tahoe:
Gorgeous looking car, awful interior! This is a $70k car! I was expecting a lot more!
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLhyELHx...600/2017+Chevrolet+Tahoe+Z71+Release+Date.jpg

Cadillac Escalade:
Probably my favourite so far that I have test drove. Offers absolutely everything when it comes to technology. Not sure I want to spend that much though. Exterior looks identical to Tahoe and Yukon, but quite a lot more money.
http://static.usnews.rankingsandrev...5538/2016_cadillac_escalade_esv_dashboard.jpg

Infiniti QX80:
Massive car, a love or hate type of look. I love the look, interior.....way to dated :( Even looked at the 2017 Nissan Armada as it's the exact same car....the interior was even worse!
http://bestnewsuv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2017-Infiniti-QX60-interior.jpg

Not my style of car, but the Tesla S has something pretty different:
Not sure of the screen would be annoying or awesome: Moving in the right direction though.
https://carsintrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Tesla-Model-3-interior.jpg


Buttons - they should be a thing of the past! Need minimal buttons, volume and a/c maybe.
Guess I'm being particularly picky or just have wishes that can't quite all be filled.
Figured if you're spending a lot of money, you want it all!

Any particular brands that you guys think are leading the way etc?

Just for reference I'll be buying another 4x4.

** Do Not Hotlink Images **
 
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Touch screens in cars are idiotic - at least when there isn't a more tactile means of controlling things. They are nice to have - but useless when you're actually driving without an alternative means of controlling things.

Buttons, especially ones on stalks, are the future.
 
Clipsey said:
Buttons - they should be a thing of the past! Need minimal buttons, volume and a/c maybe.
Click to expand...

Nope buttons are perfectly fine for Cars - rather have some tactile feedback, and physical presence, so that I can change things without having to look exactly at where on a touch screen I need to press.

I also don't need "apps" in my car... I am supposed to be driving, not worrying about the latest social media posts as I am driving along.
 
I think that depends more on the software Uriel and how easy it is to use. Are you concerned more about safety and having to fiddle with a screen?
The Jeep/Chrysler eco system is incredibly easy to use and what I love about my current car. My wife has the cayenne (2012) the screen is a lot harder to use and doesn't function that great.
Most of the things you use are loaded on to the driving wheel these days or can just say a command and it'll happen.
 
Armageus said:
Nope buttons are perfectly fine for Cars - rather have some tactile feedback, and physical presence, so that I can change things without having to look exactly at where on a touch screen I need to press.

I also don't need "apps" in my car... I am supposed to be driving, not worrying about the latest social media posts as I am driving along.
Click to expand...

This leads again to the software and ease of use. I have rarely seen one that is any good so far. However, the ones that are good are incredibly easy to use.

I agree on the silly stuff like social updates, pandora or whatever. I mean more in terms of music, nav, climate, car settings etc.
 
Lexus have been building cars for 27 years but still haven't got the hang of dashboards. Can't think of a single Lexus that doesn't have an offensive dash.
 
A touch screen screen is worse than a control interface like i-Drive. It's alomst impossible to drive and touch the screen in the correct place on UK roads.

On your Mercedes E Class and BMW 5 Series comparison - you're comparing a 7 year old 5 Series design to the latest release from Mercedes; so probably not a fair comparison :)
 
I'd rather have gonorrhoea than touch screen controls in a car! You need nice tactile controls that you can operate without looking. Even better if combined with a heads up display.

The amount of morons that can't pay attention to the road these days - putting a huge iPad on the dash for them to play with is asking for trouble.
 
Minstadave said:
I'd rather have gonorrhoea than touch screen controls in a car! You need nice tactile controls that you can operate without looking. Even better if combined with a heads up display.

The amount of morons that can't pay attention to the road these days - putting a huge iPad on the dash for them to play with is asking for trouble.
Click to expand...

I'd say it depends on the size of the screen or buttons.

I have a touch screen on my gt86 and it works perfectly.

I used it in an XK the buttons were tiny rendering it useless.
 
Heads up display like on the BMW was fantastic - a great advancement. iDrive I personally didn't get along with and the software was not easy to use at all. Way to fiddly.

Probably true about touchscreens and people being distracted, shame as I really like mine at the moment and it's ease of use.

As Kindai mentioned, guess there is only so many ways you can dress up air vents, compartments, buttons etc.
However, I'm not just talking about the buttons (or lack of) it's just everything in general.
Read that people were disappointed with the Jag F-Pace, far to plastic.

I'm probably (definitely) just being way to critical.
 
Clipsey said:
Recently rented a BMW 5 series and was not that impressed:
The radio and dash seems so dated and lack of touch screen?
http://2017bmw5series.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2017-BMW-5-Series-Interior-Model-M5.jpg
Click to expand...

That isn't a 5 Series interior, it's the slightly older 5 Series GT.

The interior of the 5 Series is designed for the 10.2" widescreen not the silly 6 inch one in your photo. With the proper widescreen etc it is IMHO one of the best car interiors around.

It's good that it doesn't have a touch screen - because they are terrible in a car environment.
 
Clipsey said:
I think that depends more on the software Uriel and how easy it is to use. Are you concerned more about safety and having to fiddle with a screen?
Click to expand...

Yes - concerned about safety.

I would basically make it the law that any touch screen within reach of a driver shouldn't be responsive as a means of input when the car is moving.
 
[TW]Fox;30118439 said:
That isn't a 5 Series interior, it's the slightly older 5 Series GT.

The interior of the 5 Series is designed for the 10.2" widescreen not the silly 6 inch one in your photo. With the proper widescreen etc it is IMHO one of the best car interiors around.

It's good that it doesn't have a touch screen - because they are terrible in a car environment.
Click to expand...

That was a stock pic I grabbed from Google, they all looked pretty similar.
Here is from the BMW website under 5 series (even though in the link it states 3 series....?)
http://www.bmwusa.com/content/dam/b..._3Series_Overview-BM4_AdvancedInnovations.jpg

The heads up display on the windscreen is great, however the software they use I feel is terrible. If it were a touch screen it would be shambolic I agree. Trying to navigate, change Xm stations was all so long winded. The interior looks nice, non digital clusters seems very dated to me. Just one of the improvements they should be making.
 
The cluster is half digital, half analogue. If you want a fully digital one, it's available on the options list and has been for 4 years.

One of the things I particularly like about the car is how excellent iDrive is - it doesn't take long to work out how it works and once you have, everything is easy to access. Changing radio stations is not difficult or challenging in any way.

There is a button that says 'Radio'. Press it and you get a list of Radio stations. Select one. What could be easier? Well, I guess, pressing a number on the dash for the radio station you want - which you can also do :p

The trouble with renting a car is you get a snapshot of what that car is like and once you've worked out how everything works, after perhaps a day or two, its time to give it back.

I enjoyed living with the 5 Series so much I bought another one!
 
Clipsey said:
Is it just me or are the interiors just a bit hum drum these days?
Click to expand...
They have been for a while.
All those you posted, with the chrome trim and wood panelling, look as ridiculous to me as my PC with all the LED accents and indicators probably looks to you...

To start with, I would not buy a car where the heating vents either side of the steering wheel are at different heights. Sounds small, but it's a big thing for me.
The chrome edging round the vents and the column and so on just make me think of BMW cheapness, with the wood panelling suggesting 'Old Man driving either a Mercedes or maybe a Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaag'.

I'm more into things like the mkII and mkIII Supra cabins, myself.
Perhaps a bit dated, but full of gagetry and switches and things, without trying to look like something from an Apple store. Modern technology doesn't always mean well-incorporated and people generally find out how good it is/isn't when it needs maintenance or repair.

Actual class, as opposed to flashy pretentiousness... I'd start with some of the Aston Martin interiors, and go from there.
Class does not always mean flashy, fancy or expensive.
 
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