I’ve noticed that many car reviewers spend a good amount of time pointing out whether or not they like the texture/feel of materials on the interior of the car. Does the average person actually care about this aspect of their car, or is it just a point of interest for some niche group of car enthusiasts? I’ve driven shitboxes and I’ve driven luxury cars, and I have never cared about or even noticed the feel or quality of the material on the dash and the steering wheel. I guess maybe the steering wheel material could make some people uncomfortable depending on what it’s made of, but come on, the dashboard? Who ever strokes their hand against their dashboard just to feel what the texture is like?
Me - I can tell shitty plastics from soft touch from leather wrapped and alcantara, etc. Not that I can’t stand cheap interiors - the GE8 Honda Fit I had once is probably the lowest grade interior of any car I’ve bought new. But it had a leather wrapped steering wheel, which is the single biggest factor a driver will notice as you’re always in contact with that. Miles of cheap plastic beyond that.
Drove a loaner Porsche Macan low spec the other day and the difference is night and day to a well specced Porsche interior with leather/race-tex/deviated stitching, etc. And believe me they’ve mastered the art of nickel and diming customers into a long list of options.
One thing I actually prefer is leatherette/vinyl seats - they’re far easier to maintain vs. leather.