If Legendary Directors Designed Today’s SUVs: A Head‑to‑Head Design Showdown

On Top SUV News, that’s more than a fun thought experiment. It’s a useful way to compare how different brands approach exterior and interior design, tech integration, and driving character—and how that should shape your next purchase. With automakers like Hyundai–Kia, Toyota–Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes pushing more strongly defined design identities for 2025 and beyond, understanding these “director styles” is becoming critical for buyers.

Below, we break down five key comparison angles—each framed through the lens of a different kind of director—to help you decide which SUV “aesthetic” actually fits your life.

1. Symmetry vs. Chaos: Minimalist Interiors vs. Button‑Heavy Cockpits

The viral home‑office renders based on Wes Anderson’s perfectly ordered frames and David Lynch’s moody, layered spaces mirror one of the hottest debates in SUV interiors right now: ultra‑clean minimalism vs. functional physical controls.

Tesla and Volvo are the closest to “Wes Anderson mode”: clean, flat dashboards, large central screens, and almost no traditional buttons. The Tesla Model Y, for example, funnels nearly all controls through its 15-inch touchscreen—climate, wipers, driving modes, even glovebox access. Volvo’s EX30 and upcoming EX90 follow that same philosophy, with simple forms, slim air vents, and a strong reliance on a central display. Visually, it’s striking, “Instagram-ready,” and feels tech-forward, much like a meticulously composed movie frame.

On the other side, you have brands like BMW, Hyundai, and Toyota pulling back from the extremes of screen-only layouts. The latest BMW X3 and X5 still run the curved dual-display setup (instrument cluster plus central touchscreen) but deliberately keep hard keys for climate and key drive settings. Hyundai’s 2024–2025 refresh of the Santa Fe and Tucson leans into physical dials and toggles for HVAC and audio after customer pushback against screen‑only solutions. Toyota’s new Land Cruiser and Lexus GX keep a robust mix of knobs and buttons, especially for 4×4 functions.

For buyers, this isn’t just an aesthetic choice:

• **Minimalist, screen‑heavy cabins**
• Pros: Clean visuals, fewer breakpoints for creaks/rattles, flexible OTA-update UI.
• Cons: More menu-diving, higher distraction potential, long-term concerns if screen responsiveness degrades.
• **Button‑rich, function‑forward cabins**
• Pros: Eyes‑off‑the‑screen operation, faster muscle-memory access to key features, better in cold-weather glove use and off‑road conditions.
• Cons: Busier appearance, potentially overwhelming at first, more components that can wear or look dated.

If you’re the type who appreciates a Wes Anderson-like visual order and are comfortable with touch-driven workflows, brands like Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo will feel natural. If you’re closer to a “practical cinematographer” worried about functionality under real-world conditions, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, and Lexus are the safer bet.

2. Blockbusters vs. Art‑House: Mainstream Crossovers vs. Niche Enthusiast SUVs

The Budget Direct project created hyper-distinct spaces for each director: a Kubrick room doesn’t resemble a Tarantino room. The SUV market has the same divide between mass-audience blockbusters and quirky, enthusiast‑led “indie films.”

Blockbuster SUVs (Mainstream Crossovers)

Think Toyota RAV4, Honda CR‑V, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage. These are Marvel‑level crowd-pleasers: safe bets, broad appeal, and carefully engineered to offend almost no one.

• Priorities: Fuel economy, interior space efficiency, comfort, and reliability.
• Powertrains: 4‑cylinder gas, with increasing hybrid options (RAV4 Hybrid, CR‑V Hybrid, Sportage Hybrid).
• Ride and handling: Tuned for comfort and predictability, not drama.
• Design: Edgy enough for showroom presence, but conservative enough for lease‑return resale values.

Art‑House SUVs (Enthusiast‑Oriented)

Here you find vehicles like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, Toyota 4Runner, and performance models like the BMW X3 M40i or Porsche Macan.

• Priorities: Character, unique ability (off‑road prowess or high‑performance handling), and emotional appeal.
• Powertrains: Often more powerful engines, low‑range gearing for off‑roaders, sport-tuned suspensions for performance SUVs.
• Trade-offs: Louder, firmer rides; higher fuel consumption; more expensive tires and maintenance.

The key comparison question:

Are you buying your daily driver or your “favorite movie”?

• If this is your only car, and you commute daily: A RAV4/CR‑V‑type crossover is your reliable blockbuster—predictable, digestible, and easy to live with long term.
• If you’re okay with compromises for something memorable: A Bronco, Wrangler, X3 M40i, or Macan is the art‑house thriller that may not fit every situation but makes the right ones unforgettable.

A practical test: If you’re often stuck in traffic, parallel parking in cities, or prioritize operating costs, default to mainstream. If you find yourself planning trips around vehicle capabilities (trails, canyon runs, track days), the art‑house SUV world is where you belong.

3. Practical Sets vs. CGI: Real Materials vs. Screen‑Led Showpieces

The director-inspired office renders emphasized materials—wood tones, color palettes, analog props. The SUV interior race is currently split between tangible quality and perceived digital prestige.

Real Material Focus (Practical Sets)

Brands like Lexus, Genesis, Volvo, and higher-trim Mazdas are trying to stand out through tactility:

• **Lexus NX/RX/GX**: Uses open-pore wood, real metal accents, rich leather, with noticeable improvements in switchgear movement and “click feel.”
• **Genesis GV70/GV80**: Quilted leather, knurled rotary knobs, illuminated metal speaker grilles, and carefully curved dashboards that echo concept-car interiors.
• **Mazda CX‑70/CX‑90**: Discreet screen integration, fabric dash inserts, high-density foam seating, and minimal piano-black plastic.

These cabins age like a well‑built set: even as screen graphics date, the underlying materials still feel premium.

Screen‑Showpiece Focus (CGI‑Heavy)

Tesla, Mercedes (MBUX Hyperscreen models), and some Chinese brands (like BYD and NIO in markets where available) lean hard into display acreage:

• **Tesla Model Y**: One large central display handles almost everything.
• **Mercedes EQE/EQS SUV**: The optional Hyperscreen stretches pillar-to-pillar, turning the cabin into a sci‑fi set.
• **Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Kia EV9**: Twin large displays, configurable themes, and heavy-use ambient lighting to redefine “techy ambiance.”

These interiors look phenomenal in photos and social posts—the digital equivalent of CGI‑heavy blockbusters.

Comparison Takeaways for Buyers:

• If you keep vehicles 7–10+ years: Real materials age better than SI‑heavy UI. You’ll likely be happier with Genesis, Lexus, Volvo, and Mazda-style “practical set” cabins.
• If you frequently change cars or lease: Big screens and ambient lighting maintain showroom and social‑media appeal through your ownership period. Mercedes EQ‑series, Tesla, or EV9‑style showpieces make sense.

Pragmatic tip: When test‑driving, mute the screen visuals for a moment (turn brightness down, switch off flashy themes) and run your hands along the surfaces. If it still feels premium, that’s real quality, not just software gloss.

4. Character‑Driven vs. Plot‑Driven: Driving Feel vs. Feature Lists

Just as some directors are loved for character work while others are known for complex plots, SUVs split between driving character and feature density.

Character‑Driven SUVs (Driving Dynamics First)

BMW, Porsche, Mazda, and some Hyundai N‑line models invest heavily in chassis tuning, steering feel, and powertrain response:

• **BMW X3/X5 (especially M40i/M60i variants)**: Near 50:50 weight balance, well‑weighted steering, adaptive dampers, and smooth turbo inline‑6 engines.
• **Porsche Macan**: Widely regarded as the benchmark for compact SUV handling—rear‑biased AWD, crisp steering, and sports‑car‑like composure.
• **Mazda CX‑50/CX‑70**: Optimized G‑Vectoring Control, more rear‑biased feel, and firm but controlled suspensions to keep the driver engaged.

Owners of these vehicles often talk about how they feel behind the wheel more than how many USB ports they have.

Plot‑Driven SUVs (Feature‑Rich Packages)

Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia, especially in mid‑trims, focus on equipment density:

• Standard or widely available: Adaptive cruise, lane‑centering, 360° cameras, heated seats, panoramic roofs, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto.
• Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento, and Honda Pilot/CR‑V often out-spec “premium” competitors at a lower MSRP.

The driving experience is safe, predictable, and inoffensive, but not particularly memorable. The “plot”—value and feature checklist—is what sells the car.

Which Approach Fits You?

• Choose **driving‑character SUVs** if:
• You notice how a car turns in to corners.
• You occasionally drive just for the fun of it.
• You’re willing to give up a few gadgets for better steering and chassis tuning.
• Choose **feature‑dense SUVs** if:
• Your priority is comfort, safety tech, and convenience for family use.
• You mostly drive in urban/suburban conditions.
• You’d rather have ventilated seats and a high‑end sound system than an extra 0.5g of cornering grip.

On test drives, push beyond the dealership loop. Find a stretch of mixed roads and pay attention to body roll, brake feel, and steering feedback. That’s where the “director’s style” of the engineering team really shows.

5. Franchises vs. Standalone Films: Brand Lineups and Platform Sharing

The director-themed office concept also highlights how a creator’s style can scale across multiple movies. Automakers are doing the same—turning their SUV lineups into cohesive “franchises” built on shared platforms.

Franchise‑Style Lineups (Shared Platforms, Distinct Characters)

The Hyundai–Kia–Genesis group is a prime example:

• **Platform sharing:**
• Hyundai Tucson / Kia Sportage share underlying architecture.
• Hyundai Palisade / Kia Telluride do the same at a larger size.
• Genesis GV70 and GV80 leverage modified versions for premium positioning.
• **Distinct “directorial” flavors:**
• Hyundai: Slightly more conservative styling and value focus.
• Kia: More aggressive design, youth‑oriented trims.
• Genesis: Luxury materials, upscale powertrains, and refined dynamics.

Volkswagen Group (VW Tiguan/Atlas vs. Audi Q3/Q5/Q7 vs. Porsche Macan/Cayenne) follows a similar playbook.

Standalone “Auteur” SUVs

Some vehicles are more like single, carefully crafted films:

• **Toyota Land Cruiser / Lexus GX / 4Runner** (body‑on‑frame, off‑road‑biased designs).
• **Jeep Wrangler / Ford Bronco** (iconic, purpose‑built platforms with massive aftermarket ecosystems).
• **Porsche Macan** (though platform-shared, its tuning and brand positioning make it feel singular).

For buyers, platform sharing isn’t a negative. In fact, it often means:

• Better parts availability and lower long‑term maintenance costs.
• More thoroughly tested underlying architecture.
• Wider engine and tech support across the lineup.

However, it does affect how you compare:

• If you test drive a Hyundai Palisade and like it, you owe yourself a drive in the Kia Telluride—the underlying “script” is similar, but the directing (styling, tuning, interior details) varies notably.
• If you’re comparing a VW Tiguan to an Audi Q3, understand that you’re paying extra primarily for “production values” (materials, noise isolation, dealer experience), not an entirely different chassis story.

Think of platform-shared SUVs as different cuts of the same film—director’s cut, studio cut, extended cut. The core story is the same; the trims, decor, and pacing change with the brand.

Conclusion

The viral project imagining home offices in the style of legendary movie directors is more than a design curiosity—it’s a sharp metaphor for how today’s SUVs are conceived, tuned, and positioned. Each automaker is effectively an auteur, with a recognizable “visual language” and storytelling style, whether that means a minimalist Tesla cabin, a richly tactile Genesis interior, a blockbustery Toyota RAV4, or an art‑house Porsche Macan.

When comparing SUVs in 2025 and beyond, don’t just tally horsepower and cargo volume. Ask:

• Do I want a minimalist or function‑heavy cockpit?
• Am I shopping for a crowd‑pleaser or a passion project?
• Do I care more about real materials or screen drama?
• Do I want my SUV to drive like a character piece or a feature‑packed blockbuster?
• Am I comfortable with a franchise platform, or do I want a more singular automotive “film”?

Answer those questions honestly, and you’ll narrow the field quickly—and choose an SUV whose design language and driving character feel like they were directed specifically for you.