While I absolutely love the reliability and the feeling of the drive in Toyota sedans, I can't help but wonder about one thing. Every Toyota I've tested new and used has cheap plastics galore. I'm not looking for luxury or nothing but soft touch, but it just sometimes feels like they love to put the cheap plastic bits on the parts that people touch. For example, in my 2010 Camry, I can literally squeeze the dials for the heat and A/C almost into an oval shape 🤣 and in the 2017 I could literally pop the A pillars out and snap them back into place. I love the feeling of the car, but I also just wonder what the reasoning is behind this. When it comes to the cabin they just seem to cheap out a bit. I can have beautiful drive and beautiful reliability, but why not a beautiful interior as well?
I totally agree. Toyota does not provide the best interior in the class and I think it is because the people buy their products as is, mainly because of the longevity and reliability. One of the reasons that the other manufacturers take advantage of it and can sell their cars despite the fact that they are not even close to Toyota reliability.
These days everbody seems to have cheap plastic interiors! They don't make them like they used to.
Agreed. On my 08 Camry, the upper dash turned to gum in the Texas heat (replaced as part of a class action agreement) the lower dash cracked as well as the armrest to the center console (mixed and matched with replacement salvage yard parts), the sun visors had to be replaced twice (they would flap down on their own in traffic) and the external clear coat has problems.
As for external plastics, my air box cracked and started to turn into plastic dust in eight years. I was so pissed about that . . . I replaced it with a short air intake, five years ago.
So, when it comes to plastics, Toyota gets D grade, at best.
Agreed. While long lasting, it doesn’t feel long lasting or premium.
I don't see the history of plastics in my vehicle as long-lasting, at all. These materials were substandard.
You guys ever spend time in a Dodge Durango? A company vehicle I used to drive a lot. Same thing.
They seem to have a knack for making cheap parts last somehow.. In my 04 Corolla the sliding interior cover for the sunroof feels almost like a cheap piece of cardboard yet it has never had an issue
edit- I could very well be wrong here re: what Kerem said
Back in the late 2000s they cheapened out, just like everyone else.
Go into a Mazda. The interior feels more thought out with more attention paid to detail and materials. This isn’t necessarily a knock on Toyota, it’s just that they are being outdone by Mazda and others.
No surprise, given what we all know about FCA.