Why are car interiors so drab?

[Geoff_W]

Yesterday while my Crosstar was being serviced, I had a look round the dealership at the new cars on show. Looking at the HR-V I was struck by the horribly black interior. After the light, airiness of my Crosstar it seemed positively funereal. According to the sales person, a light interior is only available on certain 2-tone exterior colour schemes (at enormous cost, of course). This seems ridiculous to me and would be an absolute no-no when choosing a car. I remember many years ago looking at a Nissan Juke at immediately dismissing it for that very reason.

Are all of Honda's cars like this now?

[Pine]

The first thing I noticed about my daughters Yaris Cross was that the entire interior was black.  Black dash, black seats, black headlining, black carpets, black door linings.  It's so depressing.

[RuthieB]

Totally agree that drab monochrome interiors detract massively from a positive purchasing decision. We have a 21 plate EX with black charcoal trim and it was only the exterior sunburst white that swayed us to buy. In contrast we also have a 20 plate CR-V EX with Ivory REAL leather trim and crystal red exterior….beautiful car but as rare as “Hens’ Teeth” wrt interior trim colour.

[5thcivic]

Honestly I was put off by the light interior of my Jazz on the test drive just because not used to it after years of dark seats etc. But chose it for the exterior shining grey metallic. Now I love it and don't like dark interiors because the interior light grey does make the car seem airier and more pleasant, and would not want to go back. Maybe not suitable after a rugby match or for small children but that doesn't apply to my use.

[Synchrotron]

I dream of the lush, colourful interiors of 1970s-1990s cars. The 80s/90s blue Civic interiors are definite favourites.

[Kremmen]

I'm the odd one out

 

[Nicksey]

I have the light grey interior, which is why I opted for the midnight blue beam. I think it was a bit annoying at the time that I couldn't pick the exterior colour and an interior colour seperately. It was dark cars get light interiors, light cars got dark interiors... and the dark interiors in my view are drab.
Still, the light grey interior is far from drab, and I am still glad I picked it 4 years later.

[Downsizer]

I expect it’s a way of encouraging people to choose a more expensive model. I go along with it for external paint colour, but upholstery doesn’t bother me as you’re sitting on it and watching the road for 99% of the time. I wouldn’t want something that shows the dirt.

[Kensop]

When I first saw a picture of the Jazz Mk4 interior, it looked like the attached photo.
Sadly, that interior never made it to these shores….possibly Japanese market only.
I settled for the light grey interior and I’m very happy with it.
Previous CRV was metallic brown with ivory leather interior - and I too cannot stand dark, black interiors!

[Kremmen]

I saw that brown interior on NZ Jazz sites

I may have gone for that but I've had light colours before and go shabby quite quickly in my experience

[Nicksey]

I saw that brown interior on NZ Jazz sites

I may have gone for that but I've had light colours before and go shabby quite quickly in my experience

The secret is Scotchguard,

I had a friend who worked at Hartford motors in the 80s. He told me that with all light interiors it is best to get a can of Scotchguard and give all the seats a liberal blast with it. He was right too. Every car that I have had with anything other than charcoal/black has had the treatment. My Jazz interior still looks as fresh as it did when I picked it up 4 years ago.

[csp]

My 2027 model Jazz Elegance in Sea Bed Blue came with grey upholstery which makes a nice change from the very dark upholstery in my previous 2020 Jazz SR