What’s More Important: A Car’s Exterior Look or the Interior Feel?

If you had to describe your car to someone, you’d probably start with how the exterior looks, from the color of your vehicle to the trim, wheels, or even imperfections that give it character. After all, it’s the first impression you make when you pull up to your destination and maybe even a piece of your identity that your friends and family associate with you arriving on the scene. However, your car’s interior tends to be a more intimate space that adds depth to the story your vehicle tells. 

A car’s interior caters to the senses, blending form and function in a way that reflects the manufacturer’s aesthetic. When you’re inside your vehicle, you probably feel safe, secure, and even comfortable. Enhance your experience behind the wheel with a luxury Drift car vent air freshener expertly designed to elevate any drive, regardless of the destination.

What Factors Influence a Car’s Exterior Looks?

Automotive manufacturers invest a significant amount of time, effort, and resources into designing a vehicle's exterior, as it is the first thing customers see and what could ultimately make or break their purchase. Yet, your car’s exterior does more than just look nice; it’s a protective shell that keeps the cabin separate from external elements and provides structure in the event of an accident. Below, explore the various features that influence how a car’s exterior appears, regardless of the make and model. 

Aesthetics

One of the most noticeable aspects of a car’s exterior is its aesthetic appeal. How do the different-colored components interact with one another, and which features draw your eye? Most, if not all, of the materials the manufacturer selects contribute to safety, durability, and longevity, in addition to style. 

For example, the interaction between painted, rubber, plastic, and chromed surfaces on the front fascia typically evokes interest. Rubber trim around the headlights can help ensure the hood doesn’t rattle, and the chrome can give the front bumper a polished surface that is also reflective. Painted and plastic components often house sensors or wiring to protect them from the elements and road debris. 

Safety

A vehicle’s exterior is also specifically designed to keep drivers and any passengers safe. The body panels house airbags and sensors that are set to activate should the necessary circumstances arise. Under normal operating conditions, vehicles also act as shelter from inclement weather. 

Beyond the safety systems embedded in the vehicle’s frame, the physical structure lends itself to improving the chances of survival in the event of a serious accident. For example, SUVs tend to have a higher seating position to elevate drivers and passengers, attempting to prevent them from being trapped or crushed inside the vehicle. 

Design

If aesthetics describes the colors and materials used on a vehicle’s exterior, the design elements can be found in the lines, curves, and shapes used throughout. Design characterizes the difference between the well-known form of the current model and the futuristic look of the next generation. Each design component aligns with the aesthetic goals of safety, durability, and longevity, effortlessly integrating the external form with the interior’s functionality. 

Design influences one automotive manufacturer to swoop body lines across the swell of a car’s wheel wells and another to integrate the fuel door with the break in body panels for a seamless transition. Aerodynamic design can improve fuel efficiency. Sometimes manufacturers get it right, and sometimes their design choices fall flat on loyal customers.

What’s Most Important About a Car’s Interior Feel?

Where a car’s exterior achieves a sleek and stylish profile, the interior hosts numerous features designed to enhance comfort and convenience. After all, you spend the majority of your time interacting with your vehicle while you’re inside it, adjusting the music volume, switching the climate control settings, and twisting knobs to signal, work the windshield wipers, or put the car into drive. In short, each element of your car’s interior speaks to comfort, convenience, control, or style. 

Comfort

Regardless of the specific function of an element within your car’s interior, most are designed with comfort in mind. Manufacturers recognize that drivers engage with their vehicles through the majority of their senses, from the tactile sensation of the steering wheel and audible feedback to the interior’s appearance and scent. Each material is carefully selected to enhance the experiences of both the driver and the passenger. 

For example, ergonomics plays a significant role in how interior features look and feel. The air vents may incorporate a textured toggle, while the armrests and the center console top feature creamy, soft leather. The dashboard may be dark until the vehicle turns on, initiating a digital sequence that welcomes the driver and familiarizes them with the vehicle’s current operating condition. 

Convenience

Creating a comfortable interior can help ease the stress of your drive, but it’s the convenience factor that makes switching radio stations, adjusting the climate control, or moving your mirrors an almost-subconscious action. For example, memory recall for various seating positions and driver settings is convenient. Automatic high beams, oversized cup holders, and remote start also add to a car’s convenience factor. 

Control

The controls of your vehicle are located within the interior, from the gear shifter and steering wheel to the various settings modern cars come equipped with from the factory. Most of your adjustments will be made using a touchscreen infotainment center on newer models or a central hub featuring raised buttons like those found on older vehicles. By adjusting the controls to your personal preferences, you can create an interior that feels as comfortable as it is convenient. 

Style

A vehicle’s interior is one of the largest stages for its style to play out across multiple surfaces and materials. The most memorable interior styles contrast and yet complement the exterior, drawing subtle parallels between external stylistic elements and those found within the cabin. Some car interiors privilege sustainable materials, while others infuse every aspect with a sense of luxury and refinement. 

Enhance Your Vehicle’s Interior With a Car Vent Air Freshener 

Cars are meant to be enjoyed, inside and out. Settle the debate between the importance of a car’s exterior and interior with a Drift premium car freshener that effortlessly blends in with any interior styling, regardless of vehicle make or model. Maintain your vehicle’s interior scentscape with a Scent of the Month subscription, and sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates regarding limited-edition products and new releases.