The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe’s advanced and highly-functional interior was acknowledged by the editors of the USA’s ‘WardsAuto’, on this year’s Ward’s 10 Best Interiors list.
“The latest model Hyundai Santa Fe is the essence of a midsize family SUV: well-crafted, tastefully appointed, and affordable, despite a decidedly upscale look and feel,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor, WardsAuto. “Hyundai is consistently delivering excellent interiors that reinforce the brand’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design language.”
WardsAuto editors have been evaluating vehicle interiors since February 2013, choosing the 10 winners from a field of 46 vehicles. The selection process mimics that of the Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition, in which editors rate vehicles based on their daily commutes in and around metro Detroit, USA. Unlike the 10 Best Engines listing, the interior competition has no price cap and rates all eligible entrants across the industry.
“The instrument panel is defined by its sculptural centre vents from which the flowing form develops,” said Christopher Zarlenga, design manager of Santa Fe’s interior. “Colour is also an important differentiator for the interior, emphasising the wing-shape outward from the centre stack through the doors.”
During the selection process editors pay close attention to fit-and-finish, climbing in and out of all vehicles closely inspecting overall comfort, head and leg room levels for all passengers - including rear and third rows occupants in the larger SUVs models. Driver information has become increasingly more important with Bluetooth® phone technology now commonplace, thus editors actively check linking and voice-activation systems.
The 2013 interior winners will be honoured during the WardsAuto Interiors Conference on May 22 at The Henry hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. An extensive package profiling the winners is available on WardsAuto.com and in the May issue of WardsAuto World magazine.
