GM Interiors- Before and After

[MyerShift]

Last night, I was over looking around at the Cadillac/Chevrolet dealership in Coldwater, and there was a used Seville SLS next to a used STS V6. It is just unbelieveable how far GM's interiors have come in just one generation of its products. Those who haven't compared the then and nows obviously need to take this little factor into consideration. However, I would prefer real aluminum trim in the top level STS's over the real would. The metal looks more modern (to me, at least). Might have done a poll, but don't know how yet, or didn't notice. So, what do you think?

Seville Interior

STS Interior

[sciguy_0504]

Call me crazy but I think the Seville's interior is at least on par with the STS. GM definately botched that interior.

[Flybrian]

The '98 Seville's interior was fantastic. I've been in several and the materials, colors, and most importantly layout was fine.

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm not sure how GM "botched" the STS. It's just understated and conservative. There isn't anything wrong with it, it's just not as flashy as an Audi.

I only drove a Seville STS as a loaner while the CTS was in for service. My biggest gripe is with that throw pillow they call an airbag.

[Croc]

IMO, GM interior design has improved drastically, but a lot of the materials leave a bit to be desired. GM has been putting more hard plastic on dashes and less of the squishy foamy material.

[CSpec]

How on earth are Audi interiors "flashy"?

I don't think the STS is the best example of the new GM interiors. I think these are better:

[Drew Dowdell]

How on earth are Audi interiors "flashy"?

When I sit behind the wheel of this:

I feel like I'm sitting at the helm of the starship Enterprise.

[HarleyEarl]

I also had the opportunity to directly compare the two interiors in the same showroom...the previous Seville is much nicer and more refined than the STS.

[NOS2006]

Dayum!

Edited January 14, 2006 by NOS2006

[razoredge]

I do appreaciate how your posting this has shown all this interior buzz is subject to speculative opinion only. I can draw back to the 80's for ones I appreaciate as well. I can only finish my post by saying

"ah ! look at all the nice variations of interior possibilities, I like them all.......because they do not look the same"

[bobo]

Cadillac interiors beginning with the '92 Seville actually have been pretty decent. The newer ones don't come across as being significantly better to me. They're just more square.

[MyerShift]

Sorry. I just would prefer a more attractive design over more squoshy materials. I mean, it's sort of like having an ugly person that is beautiful within versus a more attractive face with less of a personality. For something costing as much as an automobile, I would prefer a pretty face with a decent personality over a marvelous personality combined with ugliness.

[MyerShift]

I do appreaciate how your posting this has shown all this interior buzz is subject to speculative opinion only.  I can draw back to the 80's for ones I appreaciate as well. I can only finish my post by saying

"ah ! look at all the nice variations of interior possibilities, I like them all.......because they do not look the same"

How true!

[Nick]

When I sit behind the wheel of this:

I feel like I'm sitting at the helm of the starship Enterprise.

I wouldn't say flashy...I'd say cluttered, but that's just me. I've always foudn Audi interiors too be a little too mechanical/console-ish. BMW interiors are probably on the more clean side, but the newer interiors, dash and center console anyways don't do it that much for me. I don't care for MB interiors. Though I love the Audi A8 interior and the Lexus SC interior as well. Oh and the XLR interior is nice too.

[sciguy_0504]

XLR is hot. I love how it looks in black with the metal and wood, very modern.

[C.H.U.D.]

When I sit behind the wheel of this:

I feel like I'm sitting at the helm of the starship Enterprise.

More like, Oldsmobile Achieva.

[pow]

LeSabre V. Lucerne

Door panels:

Rear seats:

Instruments:

Stereo:

Dash:

Switches:

I think this says a lot...

Edited January 14, 2006 by empowah

[razoredge]

LeSabre V. Lucerne

I think this says a lot...

Their different ?

[Enzora]

I don't think black's the best color to show off interior improvements. Everything just gets lost in a sea of darkness.

[Imaj]

now if this went into production would put Cadillac into shame

[bobo]

The LeSabre had a very plasticky interior. It's hard not to improve upon that. Almost all the interiors introduced since the Uplander came out have been fairly decent.

[Croc]

...decent-looking. In person, all the GM interiors with the exception of the new GMT-900s, SAAB Epsilons, Cadillac XLR and maybe one other vehicle/program all suffer from the same shortcoming: hard, poorly-grained plastic all over the dash. Even the Lucerne has this (yes, O.C. you were indeed right; my apologies).

The brands with the best interiors across the board were: Acura, AUDI, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Mazda (excluding all custom and super-luxury marques).

Honorable mentions to specific vehicles/programs NOT included in these brands:

Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan/Lincoln Zephyr

Ford Five Hundred

Mercury Montego

Cadillac XLR

Subaru B9 Tribeca

VW Tourag

VW Phaeton

The above list is the result of hands-on impressions at LAIAS and the Indianapolis auto shows.

[Cory Wolfe]

When I sit behind the wheel of this:

I feel like I'm sitting at the helm of the starship Enterprise.

Um... okay?

Anyways, I'm also one that doesn't quite get how GM's interiors have drastically improved, design wise. As far as I'm concerned, most all look so goddamn similar that it's depressing. I think they all have the same layout. How is that improvement? I'm sorry, but other than materials/fit/finish/etc, GM's interiors have downgraded, IMO. I'd much rather have distintive and interesting interiors than similar and bland ones... So shoot me.

[ocnblu]

GM interior design has been similar for decades, across the divisions. If you look at a '72 Cadillac DeVille dash, it looks pretty similar to a '72 Impala dash, and so on. I like this new GM phase.

[Cory Wolfe]

Let's just put it this way... GM interior design is alot more similar than it was just in 2000.

[Flybrian]

Let's just put it this way... GM interior design is alot more similar than it was just in 2000.

Such is sort of true. Compare amongst the G-bodies of the late-90s/2000 and the only ones similar would be the Seville/DeVille and Park Avenue/LeSabre.

[turbo200]

Their different ?

The improvements are drastic. Everything in the Lucerne is a million times more fluid and modern than that clunky Lesabre. That said, the Lucerne has some ways to go before being really accepted in the 30k crowd. The Avalon I sat in at LAIAS had superior materials and a more interesting design. The rest of the 30k crowd has superior materials and superior design quality to the Lucerne's GM copyrighted dash.

[turbo200]

When I sit behind the wheel of this:

I feel like I'm sitting at the helm of the starship Enterprise.

When I sit behind this, I think "this is one of the most interesting and appealing designs in the mid-size lux arena".

[regfootball]

the Lucerne's plastic is still not that good (yes I've sat in it) and even the new tahoe's (upon visual inspection) is not top drawer yet. The Tahoe is a HUGE upgrade, but the upgrade has been overstated in the press a bit. The Lucerne's is not special at all. They still could stand to improve the Lucerne's plastic.

[Croc]

When I sit behind this, I think "this is one of the most interesting and appealing designs in the mid-size lux arena".

To which I replied, "Yea...but they could use some wood here...and here...aaaaaand...HERE!"

It's a good design, just too monochromatic.*

*Razoredge should click here for a definition of the Big Word.

Edited January 15, 2006 by Croc

[turbo200]

the Lucerne's plastic is still not that good (yes I've sat in it) and even the new tahoe's (upon visual inspection) is not top drawer yet.  The Tahoe is a HUGE upgrade, but the upgrade has been overstated in the press a bit.  The Lucerne's is not special at all.  They still could stand to improve the Lucerne's plastic.

Agreed. I think the Tahoe is among the closest GM has gotten (can't remember which was the GM car that felt the best, except maybe the Sport Combi over at Saab, maybe Croc can help me on that one). The Lucerne's plastic is pretty inexcusable for it's class. There were many many cars that disappointed me however, and some that really impressed me, like Ford's Fusion and 500. Those dash plastics have actually gotten to a really good place over at Ford. For Lucerne and Tahoe to have harder dash's than a midline Ford is not so good. That said, the Tahoe is an incredibly sweet car in every other respect, that engine would be the kill that would draw me in.

[Croc]

The best GM interior was the SportCombi, without a doubt. While the 9-3 is almost the same, there were some special touches on the SportCombi that really made it stand out, like the way the cargo area houses the spare tire and jack. The setup was very impressive.

Turbo, read my post up top on my overall impressions on interiors for the industry.

[turbo200]

To which I replied, "Yea...but they could use some wood here...and here...aaaaaand...HERE!"

It's a good design, just too monochromatic.*

*Razoredge should click here for a definition of the Big Word.

yes. you liked the A8 better; I think that's one gorgeous. I don't have a problem with monochromatic design one bit. I think it's great in it's class.

[Cory Wolfe]

Meh... I feel like posting pics of one of the few GM interiors that doesn't look like one from another GM brand nor have the same layout.

[Cadillacfan]

now if this went into production would put Cadillac into shame

If this went into production, I'd say that Cadillac's future is looking brighter then ever. Just imagine what GM's top of the line luxury interiors would look like if the Enclave production interior looked like that.

I agree with people who think the Seville's interior was pretty good. The only problem with it is that it had some cheaper materials and huge gaps.. I would know since I've sat in dozens of Seville interiors.

The STS interior.. although cool and full of electronic goodies.. just doesn't feel as luxurious as it should be. I sat in one about a month ago and it just doesn't feel right in some places. It belongs in a cheaper car.

Hopefully when the refresh of the STS comes around, GM will Lutzify it's interior a little more to make it more of a competitor.

[turbo200]

the new 9-5 with it's corporate switchgear has lost presence and quality, imo. Again, GM strikes with thier cost-cutting efforts, without realizing the $15 they save per car really really hurt the image of these sporting Euro cars. They don't even have the same quality as those in the 9-3 range, they actually feel cheaper. WTH, GM? Will you ever learn? Stop killing the distinctive qualities of your brands.

[Croc]

Worst part is the door handles aren't even flush in the 9-5, yet they are in the 9-3.

[ToniCipriani]

More like, Oldsmobile Achieva.

Interestingly, the Achieva was designed with an Audi on mind.

[Cory Wolfe]

Looking at that Achieva... I can't believe how much more modern my Grand Am's interior looks than it. Very surprising considering they were designed at the same time have alot of simularities.

Anyways, yes, what was done to the 9-5's interior is bash-GM worthy.

[ShadowDog]

I look at what was the GM interior that still found a home through to 2000. They had a rather bulbous finish with panels that came together with an inseam...taking a look at a dash at what it would appear like from a profile:

.)

..) - Dash pad

.)

|

| - Control panel

|

.)

..) - Lower dash region

.)

Still, I don't think GM could have managed to get away with using the interiors designed today the same way ten years ago.

The SAAB interiors looked like the early Star Trek control panels with matte-black slab-faced mounting panels. I half expected to see metal-post toggle switches and a hazard flip-guard for fire extinguishers.

Edited January 15, 2006 by ShadowDog

[MyerShift]

I guess it's just the modernity of GM's newer interiors (on most models) that attracts me.

I liked the dash from my Buick Skyhawk. Everything was laid out in a logical manner, and, amazingly, the dash top was padded! In the 1980's, I feel that the Skyhawk had the best J-body interior. Then again, it could just be a bias .

Edited January 16, 2006 by MyerShift

[Robert Hall]

yes. you liked the A8 better; I think that's one gorgeous. I don't have a problem with monochromatic design one bit. I think it's great in it's class.

I've sat in A6s with wood trim and two tone (tan seats, black dash)...much nicer than the black one in that photo, IMHO...the A8 has the best Audi interior currently, IMHO, but it should be, being the top-of-the-line model..

[razoredge]

monochromatic - boring drab lacking character contrast and vision

also found in personalities

big word - if you say so

[HarleyEarl]

...and especially grey monochromatic...Like being in an overcast sky. To me, the worst stylistic infraction, committed by almost every auto manufacturer. I literally feel emotionally down when in one of these cars.

[Croc]

monochromatic - boring drab lacking character contrast and vision

also found in personalities

big word - if you say so

No, that's not what monochromatic means at all. Click the link.

[Croc]

...and especially grey monochromatic...Like being in an overcast sky.  To me, the worst stylistic infraction, committed by almost every auto manufacturer.  I literally feel emotionally down when in one of these cars.

Agreed. I too feel drab after being in one of those things.

[Drew Dowdell]

When I sit behind this, I think "this is one of the most interesting and appealing designs in the mid-size lux arena".

.... but where do I configure the Warp Drive? There are so many buttons and little flashy things....

[razoredge]

No, that's not what monochromatic means at all.  Click the link.

No, you go read the defination of monochromatic then come back to my post

its just so mind boggling isnt it ?

[Croc]

I did click the link, and it said nothing like your post.

Even if you only go by the Latin-Greek stems you can figure out the meaning has everything to do with one color...mono=one/singular, chom=color and atic is just how English forms adjectives.

[Matt276]

IMO, GM interior design has improved drastically, but a lot of the materials leave a bit to be desired.  GM has been putting more hard plastic on dashes and less of the squishy foamy material.

So true, not easy to attract new buyers when they touch the interior material of the Cobalt. It is cheap. I don't know why they did that, why they can't use same material as ToyoHonda's interiors.