Even expensive models do not always do well when evaluating the interior.
Munich Many car manufacturers save on materials and processing. Even expensive cars are sometimes not particularly high quality, as the ADAC determined in a quality check on 580 car models. On the other hand, there are also cheap cars that look expensive.
Basically, expensive cars are better processed and lined with higher quality than cheap models. But even premium brands are not without blame. For example, the testers clearly criticized the new Mercedes C-Class: “Whereas the predecessor still met the highest standards, the dashboard, center tunnel and door panels of the new model are only covered with foamed plastic in the upper area.”
And while the door compartments of the predecessor were still made of soft plastic, small items slide loudly back and forth in the hard shelves of the new edition.
The testers also attest that the Audi A3 no longer lives up to the premium claim in terms of material quality. Criticism must also listen to its slightly less refined technology brother VW Golf.
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The high cost pressure on manufacturers in the small, price-sensitive classes is even more noticeable. As an example, the club cites the new micro crossover Aygo X, which has a lot of painted sheet metal and scratch-sensitive plastic on the inside. No progress can be seen compared to the cheaper predecessor model.
Cars that were primarily developed for the less demanding US market generally stand out with a manageable interior quality. For example Honda CR-V, Ford Mustang or Tesla Model 3. According to the ADAC, Mazda shows that there is another way; the Japanese manufacturer offers good material quality despite comparatively low prices.
Fiat 500 has gotten better, the Mercedes C-Class worse
In addition, there are other convincing models in all classes. In the small segments According to the ADAC, these include the BMW i3, Mini Cooper 5-door, Honda e, Skoda Kamiq and VW Polo.
In the compact class Volvo XC40, BMW 1 Series, Audi Q3, Mazda CX-5 and Mercedes EQA make up the top 5 in which middle class Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Porsche Macan, Mercedes EQC/GLC and Volvo V60.
Business and upper class lead the Porsche Panamera/Taycan, BMW 5/7 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90.
The club also examined how the quality changes when there is a model change. According to this, the BMW 3 Series, Fiat 500, Skoda Fabia, Toyota Yaris and Nissan Leaf in the current generation are processed much better than their respective predecessors. However, the level has fallen for the Audi A3, Hyundai i20, VW Golf, Hyundai i10 and Mercedes CLA.
In terms of material quality, the winners are the Renault Zoe, Mazda3, Nissan Leaf, BMW 3 Series and VW T-Roc. The relegated include Mercedes C-Class, Audi A3, Hyundai i20, Opel Mokka and Peugeot 308.
The test does not allow any conclusions to be drawn as to whether the overall quality of new cars in Germany is getting better or worse. According to ADAC, material and processing quality are often exposed to wave movements. If the customers complain a lot, an improvement can often be seen in the new generation. The next time the model is changed, the frugal controllers often collect this again with a red pen.
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