Z wins best interior!

Pushing_Tin

Ward’s Names Interior of Year Winners

By Tom Murphy
WardsAuto.com, Apr 6, 2009 9:04 AM

SOUTHFIELD, MI – The 11 winners of the 2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year awards have two key elements in common: great looks and great value.

Ward’s editors evaluated a field of 35 vehicles that are either all-new or have significantly upgraded interiors for the ’09 or ’10 model years.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There are certain aspects we look at closely in the Interior of the Year competition, and value is just as important to us as fit-and-finish, styling, comfort and safety,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.

“An interior doesn’t have to be expensive to be good,” Winter says. “But it does have to convey a sense of high-quality craftsmanship and have pleasing textures and low-gloss surfaces. Electronic systems have to be intuitive and easy to use and not just focus on offering a high number of features and functions. Consumers are becoming a lot savvier about what they want inside their vehicles.”

This year’s winners:


Honda Fit Sport (Economy-priced car)
Volkswagen CC (Popular-priced car)
Kia Soul (Grooviest Interior)
Acura TL (Premium-priced car)
Nissan 370Z Touring (Sports car)
Dodge Ram (Popular-priced truck)
Ford Flex (Premium-priced truck)
Audi A4 (Best Redesign)
Ford Fusion Hybrid (Best Graphic Display)
Lexus RX 450h (Design Harmony)
Cadillac CTS-V (Best Brand Expression)

All 35 vehicles were divided into six car and truck segments based on price. One winner is named for each of the six categories, plus special-achievement honorees are selected in five other areas. The 11 awards carry equal weight.

Having both types of awards allows vehicles to compete with others in their segment, as well as with the entire field, regardless of price.