5 ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITH A TRULY MINIMALIST INTERIOR

As the electromobility era becomes more normalized and popular, automotive interior designers are starting to adopt more minimalist interior design approaches. There are several reasons for this. Minimalism aesthetics have become more trendy in recent years as many people aim to lessen the amount of clutter in their space to create a cleaner and more free-flowing environment. Considering how much time some of us spend in our cars, it makes sense for interior automotive designers to adopt this aesthetic.

Another reason for going minimalist is the increased focus on digital displays. This is met with a lot of controversy, as some drivers prefer physical controls and don't appreciate the constant distractions created by having all of a car's controls on one interface. Regardless of preferences, most manufacturers are doubling down on using touchscreen infotainment systems to create a cleaner dashboard design. The five EVs on this list are currently available as new cars in the U.S. and offer some of the most basic and minimalist interior experiences you can enjoy if you appreciate this kind of lifestyle.

Tesla Model 3

Designer: Franz von Holzhausen

Tesla is an industry leader when it comes to crafting minimalist interior designs. The Model 3 features the most basic interior design, incorporating a single 15.4-inch landscape touchscreen infotainment system at the center of the clean dashboard. This unit also acts as the instrument cluster and gear selector, which garners some criticism from reviewers.

You can use the multifunction steering wheel to control some vehicle settings, but this is a very simple approach compared to other steering wheel designs. For the 2024 model year, Tesla improved acoustics by installing additional insulation and better acoustic glass, resulting in a silent cabin experience that complements the subdued design.

Best Interior Features Of The Tesla Model 3

• Front 15.4-inch and rear eight-inch infotainment displays
• 17-speaker premium audio system
• Heated, ventilated, and electrically adjustable front seats
• Two wireless smartphone chargers
• Acoustic glass roof
• Multifunction steering wheel

Tesla fits all Model 3 derivatives with the same features. This includes a pair of heated and ventilated electrically adjustable front seats with memory functions, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient lighting. Tesla upholsters the cabin in black sustainable leather, but you can get the black and white combination at an additional cost. The acoustic glass roof is a popular feature that opens the cabin space up.

Additional digital features include a new 8.0-inch screen, providing rear passengers the ability to manage some comfort and entertainment functions. Tesla connects the system to a 17-speaker audio system with two subwoofers and amplifiers, and fits two wireless smartphone chargers beneath the front infotainment screen.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Designer: Lee Ji-hyeon

Compared to some other cars on this list, the Hyundai Ioniq 5's interior may appear cluttered, but this is truly a form-over-function design that incorporates a combination of digital displays and physical controls. Reviewers applaud the layout for taking a simple approach and creating a very social and open atmosphere.

The focus of the interior's attention is the driver's seat, which features a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, controlling most of the vehicle's functions and readings. Accompanying this is a unique flat bottom two-spoke steering wheel with some physical and touch-sensitive buttons. Beneath the infotainment system is a collection of protruding physical controls, managing the dual-zone climate control functions.

Best Interior Features Of The Hyundai Ioniq 5

• Huge all-digital dashboard
• Head-up display with augmented reality
• Reclining front seats with footrests
• Spacious and comfortable
• Eco-friendly materials

Standard fitments across all trims include an electrically adjustable driver's seat, front seat heating, and stain-resistant cloth upholstery. Hyundai fits the more prestigious trims with an electrically adjustable passenger seat, front seat ventilation, and H-Tex synthetic leather upholstery. Both cloth and H-Tex colors include two-tone gray and black.

Additional digital features consist of a plethora of USB charging ports, LED overhead lighting, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a rearview monitor. Higher trims feature a wireless smartphone charger, Hyundai's premium head-up display with augmented reality, 64-color ambient lighting, and a digital rearview mirror.

Polestar 2

Designer: Thomas Ingenlath

The Polestar 2 adopts a chic Swedish-focused design consisting of a portrait 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 11.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with gloss black multifunction controls. Despite its simple approach, some reviewers have noted that the layout can be frustrating, particularly due to the awkward vertical screen.

The Polestar 2 adopts a lot of familiar interior design cues, like a conventional gear selector and a cowl for the instrument cluster, but for the most part, the design maintains a clean look throughout the dashboard. Standard features include partially electrically adjustable front seats with lumbar support and heating, ambient lighting, electronic dual-zone climate control with an air quality system, and CleanZone air filtration.

Best Interior Features Of The Polestar 2

• Electrically adjustable and heated front seats
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Dual-zone climate control
• Sustainable upholstery options
• Ambient lighting
• Wireless smartphone charger

Standard upholstery consists of vegan WeaveTech and embossed textiles, which you can have in Charcoal or Zinc shades. Animal welfare Nappa leather upholstery is a $4,000 optional extra, available in Zinc and Light Ash.

The $2,200 Plus pack adds a panoramic glass roof to open up the interior space, some Black Ash deco inlays for the WeaveTech seats, upgraded ambient lighting, fully electric front seats, and a heated steering wheel. As standard, you get a 250-Watt eight-speaker audio system, but the Plus package upgrades this to a 600-Watt 13-speaker Harman Kardon Premium audio system.

Porsche Taycan

Designer: Ivo van Hulten

The Porsche Taycan focused heavily on digital displays, which you can have stretched across the dashboard. Besides this, the four-door EV GT's interior adopts a simple design approach that lines up with the brand's driver-focused ethos. The thin-rimmed multifunction steering wheel complements the 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, and optional passenger display unit, not to mention the haptic-touch center console, which controls the dual-zone climate control system and certain vehicle functions.

All Porsche Taycan models feature an auto-dimming mirror with HomeLink, eight-way power-adjustable seats with heating and memory, ambient lighting, and dual-zone climate control. You can choose from a multitude of optional interior trimmings and materials, if you want a more upmarket cabin that caters to your specific tastes.

Best Interior Features Of The Porsche Taycan

• Dual-zone climate control
• Ambient lighting
• Eight-way power-adjustable seats with heating and memory
• 10.9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation
• 10-speaker 150-Watt Bose audio system
• Multifunction leather steering wheel

The GTS trim's interior design is a bit more complex, as it includes the 18-way electrically adjustable adaptive front sport seats, individual rear sport seats, the Chrono package, and A Race-Tex upholstered heated steering wheel. The aforementioned Chrono package adds the iconic dash-mounted clock, which is the only analog display found in the Taycan. Porsche fits Turbo trims with 14-way electrically adjustable comfort front seats and rear seat heating.

Optional interior features include a more comprehensive ambient lighting package, four-zone climate control, and a fixed panoramic glass roof. If you want to minimize the sun's access to the cabin, you can specify variable light control for the roof. All cars come standard with a wireless smartphone charger, a 10-speaker 105-Watt Bose premium audio system, and two USB-C charging ports for the front row. Porsche's head-up display, a USB port next to the rearview mirror for dashcams, and the 1,455-Watt 21-speaker Burmester audio system are all optional extras.

BMW iX

Designer: Matthias Junghanns

The BMW iX is the epitome of the Bavarian brand's luxury EV experience, but it does so with a very minimalist approach in mind. The dashboard's focus is the sleek 4.9-inch touchscreen infotainment and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster combination, powered by the iDrive 8.0 operating system. Reviewers note the clean design to be enjoyable, while the crystal and copper touches create a modern and luxurious aesthetic without cluttering the layout.

A flat-bottom two-spoke multifunction steering wheel rounds off the driver's point of touch, together with a comprehensive center console, featuring touch-sensitive physical controls and a wireless smartphone charger. Comfort remains a priority, as all trims feature front heated seats and four-zone climate control.

Best Interior Features Of The BMW iX

• 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12-speaker premium speaker system and 205-Watt amplifier
• Multi-color ambient lighting
• Four-zone climate control
• Heated multifunction steering wheel
• Front seat heating

Those wanting more options have to specify BMW's package configurations. The Convenience package includes a head-up display with augmented navigation displays and electric drivetrain sounds developed in part by Hans Zimmer, pumped through an 18-speaker Harmon Kardon premium surround sound system. The Premium package includes an interior camera, multi-function electrically adjustable seats, a 5G SIM card, and all the features from the Convenience Package.

The 30-speaker Bowers and Wilkins Diamond surround sound system is a standalone option. You can also specify front seat ventilation and the radiant heating package. As for interior colors, you can select from perforated Oyster, Mocha, and Black. Stonegray microfiber and wool or the premium perforated Amido or Castanea Chestnut leather seats.

2024-04-19T08:13:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd