This may just be the most debated question when it comes to automotive interiors.
On the one hand, very few “mainstream” drivers occupants actually care about whether their dashboard is hard or soft to the touch… and even fewer touch it to even know the difference. On the other hand, a soft dash is the epitome of interior quality and refinement.
So, do you care that a dash is hard or soft? Does it depend on the vehicle, the brand, its positioning, and the price? The comments are wide ajar — and ready for your input!
Comments
I think there’s a difference between a “hard” dash and one that just feels cheap and
“plastic-y”. Personally I do prefer a car’s interior to feel solid and if it’s done correctly I don’t care if it’s hard or soft.
Hard plastic should be used for cheap cars, not expensive ones though.
To the average car owner, the interior is just a place to store crumbs, odd paperwork, food wrappers and coffee stains.
Soft textures are nice but if it comes down to money. Unless the dash buzzes, rattles or blinds me from shinyness, I can think of far better places on a vehicle to spend it. And if GM’s designers cave to the spoiled critics, then be efficient and just focus on the things that people actually touch.
To be honest, even as an enthusist, I’ve never really cared. I remember my 1981 Buick Skylark having a soft dash. I don’t know, soft dashes to me scream “sun damage.” There are a lot of cra thatbutilize hard plastics. Even my 2005 MINI Cooper S used hard plastics. Just the top of the dash was soft. And this was supposed to be a “Premium” car. I guess it’s just up to the owner. In reality, hard plastics are associated with cheap cars. Even if it’s true or not.
For GM car interiors are just now living up to the standard set by other manufacturers decades ago, In some cases interiors are dramatically improved. This must be sustained if GM is to truly compete.
When talking about modern cars (as opposed to those glorious chrome and steel safety hazards from the past), soft-touch and textured plastics are much preferable to the cheap, hard, dull plastics. You have to stare at and touch it every time you drive your car. For example the acres of cheap plastic on the Gen II Prius were really horrible. The Gen III Prius still has lots of plastic, but it is softer to the touch with subtle texture. It probably doesn’t cost much more, but it makes the cabin a much more inviting place to spend time.
I’ve had a problem with the cheap plastics on the Camaro since it first debuted. I hated the cheap plastic interior with no navigation screen. However, the surface plastics on the new Buick Verano are much nicer for an entry level car. So we know that the plastics can be better without it coming with a $50k price tag.
I like the soft dash my 2010 buick lacrosse is soft dash, and i love it my regal and 2006 lacrosse had cheap dashes thank you for the better dash gm