Ward's 10 Best Interiors released, Asian automakers take 7 of 10 spots

Mon, 15 Apr 2013

Step inside just about any new car these days and you'll quickly see that vehicle interiors have become a pretty nice place to spend some time in. For the third consecutive year, WardsAuto sat in each and every new vehicle that had received redesigned or updated interiors, and it has now named its 10 Best Interiors.

Judges look at everything from design and fit-and-finish to comfort, safety and technology. Some of the standout selections include budget cars like the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Forte all the way up to more expensive sedans like the $60,000+ Cadillac XTS and Lexus GS450h. An interesting note here is that WardsAuto praises Cadillac for its CUE infotainment system while Consumer Reports generally lambasts the system. Asian automakers definitely won the contest for nicest interiors as the list is comprised of five Japanese automakers and two South Korean, with Toyota and General Motors in a dead heat with the most number of cars on the list with two each.

Scroll down for the full list (in alphabetical order) and press release from WardsAuto for its 10 Best Interiors of 2013.

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WardsAuto Announces 10 Best Interiors Of 2013

Penton's leading automotive brand unveils annual list of best car interiors; to be celebrated at upcoming WardsAuto Interiors Conference

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2013 "Ward's 10 Best Interiors" list was announced today, and it features a wide range of automobile types and sticker prices, including several models that prove a buyer doesn't have to break the bank to drive in luxury and style.

WardsAuto editors selected the top passenger compartments after spending February and March evaluating 46 vehicles that were all-new or sported interiors that have been significantly upgraded. The winners will be recognized during a special ceremony at the WardsAuto Interiors Conference being held May 22 at The Henry hotel in Dearborn, MI.

This year's winners:

Acura RDX (Honda Motor Co. Ltd.)
Cadillac XTS (General Motors Co.)

Chevrolet Spark (General Motors Co.)
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.)
Kia Forte (Kia Motors Corp.)
Lexus GS 450h (Toyota Motor Corp.)
Mazda6 (Mazda Motor Corp.)
Nissan Pathfinder (Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.)
Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn (Chrysler Group LLC)
Toyota Avalon (Toyota Motor Corp.)

To determine the winners, editors drive the vehicles during their routine commutes and submit score sheets ranking each auto interior based on several criteria, including materials, ergonomics, comfort, safety, value, fit-and-finish and overall design. Scores also are applied based on the user-friendliness of the human-machine interface and the ability to link mobile phones and access vehicle information. Video reviews and photo galleries of evaluated vehicles may be found at http://wardsauto.com, and full write-ups on each winner will post on April 29.

"This year's batch of winners really drives home the point that auto interiors are vital in the battle for consumers' hearts and minds," says WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief, Drew Winter. "It wasn't uncommon all that long ago for auto makers to view interiors as the best place to take cost out of a vehicle program. They eventually figured out that's a big mistake because people spend a lot more time looking at the inside of their car than the outside."

In addition to the awards being presented in a ceremony during the WardsAuto Interiors Conference, Ward's expects to have all ten winning vehicles on display at the event for attendees to experience and judge the interiors for themselves. The ceremony will include a live video review inside each vehicle, highlighting the key features that earned each interior its honor. Registration information for the conference is at http://autointeriors.com.

About Ward's Automotive Group
Ward's Automotive Group is a world-leading provider of auto industry news, data, and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for more than 80 years. WardsAuto World is a monthly magazine serving automotive professionals. WardsAuto.com is an online subscription service delivering virtually all the industry news, data, and analysis compiled by WardsAuto. Ward's also manages the annual WardsAuto Interiors Conference, to be held May 22, 2013 in Dearborn, MI. WardsAuto is a Penton business.

About Penton
For millions of business owners and decision-makers, Penton makes the difference every day. We engage our professional users by providing actionable ideas and insights, data and workflow tools, community and networking, both in person and virtually, all with deep relevance to their specific industries. We then activate this engagement by connecting users with tens of thousands of targeted providers of products and services to help drive business growth. Learn more about our company at www.penton.com.

Penton is a privately held company owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP.

By Jeffrey N. Ross