What is with black interiors?

[supton]

So I'm poking around, looking at Dodge Caravans, and noticing that they all seem to be black interior. What is with this trend? I realize it's probably cheaper to stock one color of material, but all black, all the time? is this the reason for road rage--people feel like they are hiding in a cave all the time? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong vehicles (cheap ones).

Since I'm stuck, how bad will dog hair show up on a black interior? And will a DGC with only front AC do ok for cooling the entire interior?

 

[123Saab]

Depends on the dog.

Some interior materials are better than others too, with a dog leather is best for seats, with a washable cover.

They dark grey in our Jeep Liberty shows off dirt much easier then the black leather in my GTI.

 

[Trav]

Black interiors get way too hot for me. Anything but white or black or leather.

 

[RooflessVW]

Only front AC is a no-go for my family. Ridiculous when a modern car, especially an SUV or Minivan, doesn't have vents absolutely everywhere.

As far as all black interior goes... It really depends on the car. I generally prefer grey or very light colors, like Parchment or BMW's Champagne.

 

[JHZR2]

Our odyssey has grey cloth. Perfect.

Having a black on black car, don't think I'd do it again unless it was a garage queen.

Bring back blue and red interiors!!

 

[carviewsonic]

Our Honda has a black interior. My first black interior in 30+ years, and my last. Hot as Hades after sitting in the sun, and it shows every speck of dust. The light tan interiors on our Buicks are so easy to live with in comparison. The Impala is in between, with a mix of black and tan.

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: supton
So I'm poking around, looking at Dodge Caravans, and noticing that they all seem to be black interior. What is with this trend? I realize it's probably cheaper to stock one color of material, but all black, all the time? is this the reason for road rage--people feel like they are hiding in a cave all the time? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong vehicles (cheap ones).

Since I'm stuck, how bad will dog hair show up on a black interior? And will a DGC with only front AC do ok for cooling the entire interior?


My Grand Caravan has the all black interior. All of my windows are tinted including the drivers and passengers door. I opted for front AC only. Reason being I keep vehicles a long time and rear ac units all eventually fail due to the lines rotting, rusting, cracking etc.

The AC is fine for me. I'm never in the back during road trips but my kids have not complained. When you are at highway speed you can't keep the fan on max for long, it will get cool.

I also have the rear door windows that open, when it's really hot I open the rear windows for 1-2 mins to get the hot air out. There are also those rear wing windows and allow the heat to escape while the AC starts to cool the cabin.

 

[supton]

Our beagle likes to shed white hair. If we add a Great Dane I'm not sure what the shedding is like. Am guessing the rear seat would be only for guests, maybe the dog would like it. Glad to hear that front only ac might work fine, appeals to the cheapskate in me.

I've found I really like my gold/brown (not sure what color really) of my '99. Getting tired of the grays in my other Toyotas though. Could just be boredom.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: supton
Our beagle likes to shed white hair. If we add a Great Dane I'm not sure what the shedding is like. Am guessing the rear seat would be only for guests, maybe the dog would like it. Glad to hear that front only ac might work fine, appeals to the cheapskate in me.

I've found I really like my gold/brown (not sure what color really) of my '99. Getting tired of the grays in my other Toyotas though. Could just be boredom.

Seat covers?

And for the back seat the full set dog seat covers including side protectors?

or the cheapo version, a modified moving blanket?

May I suggest looking that particular vehicle on forums with posts of dog owners? People are pretty inventive usually....

also you can get a small fan to direct on the back seat

 

[ZZman]

I think my brother said all the Rav 4's he looked at had black interiors.

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: supton
Our beagle likes to shed white hair. If we add a Great Dane I'm not sure what the shedding is like. Am guessing the rear seat would be only for guests, maybe the dog would like it. Glad to hear that front only ac might work fine, appeals to the cheapskate in me.

I've found I really like my gold/brown (not sure what color really) of my '99. Getting tired of the grays in my other Toyotas though. Could just be boredom.


Do you want the dogs sitting in the rear seats? With the rear stow and go, just fold the rear seat into the floor. Get yourself some Moving Blankets from Harbor freight for the dogs to lay on.

 

[drtyler]

The black interiors don't show stains as much. And they don't have as much glare either.

I still prefer a lighter interior though, but those are the benefits I've seen.

 

[PimTac]

I used to not care for black interiors but my mind has changed. As for cleanliness, use a quality cockpit cleaner that reduces static, leaves a matte finish and provides some uv protection. Sonax and NextZett are a couple of good brands but I’m sure there are plenty of others. Optimum and Griots come to mind.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: JC1
Do you want the dogs sitting in the rear seats? With the rear stow and go, just fold the rear seat into the floor. Get yourself some Moving Blankets from Harbor freight for the dogs to lay on.


The beagle doesn't like to listen, it'll be on the seat. Not sure if I'll spring for stow&go, but moving blanket is an option.

 

[Jeepwm69]

I hate black interiors. Show every spec of dust/dirt and are hot as [censored] in the summer.

Tan is the perfect interior color. Doesn't get hot, and doesn't show dirt.

 

[MCompact]

My 2er has a black interior; I preferred Coral Red, but with a CPO you can't be ultra-picky.

 

[MNgopher]

I've flipped. I purposely bought a truck with a black interior, and to be honest, I love it.

My past vehicles all were grey or tan. And to be blunt, they showed all sorts of dirt and marks on the fabric after any amount of time. The black by comparison, does not. The only thing I've found that stands out more is salt from my shoes in the wintertime, but otherwise I love it. The A/C in my truck is strong enough (and with remote start) the hot interior is tolerable on sunny hot days (and after running for 5 minutes feels like a meat locker). Conversely, in the winter, I love the black interior on sunny days being warm - it gets cold here!

 

[maxdustington]

I've noticed a progression. You used to be able to get different colours during the 90s. GMT400 trucks had red, blue and tan in the 95+ interiors. I think it was blue, red and grey in the old ones. I remember interiors being actual colours on older cars. Black interiors existed, but there were options.

Late 90s they went to more neutral colours: beige, grey. My first car was a VW golf with a tan cloth interior, boy did the interior ever look gross in that car. Neutral colours really show the dirt, and if you touch your interior with greasy hands it is stained. I think this is when two tone interiors with black seats and neutral interior pieces started to become popular, because you cannot keep light coloured cloth seats clean.

Now we have mostly black interiors, because it is cheaper and easier to keep clean. I also think increased societal pressure has caused people to be more orthodox and instead of wanting something unique, they want what the other person has but with a bigger touch screen.

EDIT: Heat is vastly overrated, but I have had black leather seats and they get a little hot but it's only temporary and that's what puts hair on your chest. I think the interior of any car is going to get heat soaked, but my black leather steering wheel has been uncomfortably hot on a few occasions.

 

[supton]

I suppose that is true. I try not to get into my cars while working on them, but it does happen, and then I wind up with some black stream of grime on the seat. Black does hide that, I guess. Just seems so dull and lifeless. Is what it is, I guess. Maybe it is a better color for the long haul.

Back to shopping.

 

[4WD]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
My 2er has a black interior; I preferred Coral Red, but with a CPO you can't be ultra-picky.


My Canyon, Cruze, and Fusion have black leather … only the GMC is black/black … it can cook you at times …
The cars are silver …
Tahoe has a camel color leather … pearl paint … cooler for sure … way forward
All have max legal tint …