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Smart tech and plush materials earn Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Spark nominations for Ward’s “10 Best Interiors”

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Ward's 10 Best Interiors
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From luxury to mini cars, General Motors earned nine nominations for Ward’s “10 Best Interiors” for 2013 with the Cadillac XTS and 2013 Chevrolet Spark named among the top 10.

Picked from a field of 46 new or refreshed nominees, Ward’s “10 Best Interiors” are selected based on a vehicle’s fit-and-finish, material selection, comfort, ergonomics, value, user-friendliness, connectivity of the human-machine interface and safety.

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In addition to the Cadillac XTS and Chevy Spark, GM also received “Best Interior” nominations for the  Cadillac ATS and SRX; Chevrolet Impala and Traverse; Buick Enclave and Encore, and GMC Acadia − more nominations than any other carmaker.

The XTS, which made its sales debut last Spring, is the largest vehicle in Cadillac’s line-up with 40 inches (1,016 mm) of rear legroom, which is about four more inches than the BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and about two more inches than the Audi A6, according to Cadillac.

The XTS, which carries a starting sticker price of $60,000 for the AWD Platinum model, also features the luxury carmaker’s CUE user-interface technology, standard on all Cadillac models, which features several industry firsts, including the capacitive-touch control, which is the same kind of technology featured on smartphones and tablets. 

Cadillac’s XTS is also equipped with an exclusive 12.3-inch (312 mm) reconfigurable instrument cluster that features vibrant graphic displays with four driver-selectable themes that provide driver and vehicle information.

Chevrolet Spark-interiorThe mini Chevy Spark, which cost around $12,000,  features a motorcycle-inspired column-mounted instrument cluster with two large, full-color LCD screens and that provides digital feedback to the driver in a design intended to be bold, fun and easy to view.

Interior details include decorative inserts in the front door and instrument panel and ice blue ambient lighting and faceplates across the door pockets and dash.   Technology features include Chevrolet MyLink, which come with an app for Pandora internet radio and one for Stitcher Smart Radio.

Other vehicles to make Ward’s “10 Best Interior” list include the Acura RDX, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, Kia Forte, Lexus GS450h, Mazda6, Nissan Pathfinder, Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn and Toyota Avalon.  

In addition to the Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Spark being named among Ward’s ’10 Best Interiors,” GM earned seven other nominations on the list, more than any other carmaker.  Overachievers? It looks that way.

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Marcus Amick
Marcus Amick
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…
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