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Spectacular wood trim extends to secondrow armrest of Infiniti QX80
<p><strong>Spectacular wood trim extends to second-row armrest of Infiniti QX80.</strong></p>

2015 Ward’s 10 Best Interiors Quick Hits

A concise summation of all 42 interiors evaluated as part of the 2015 competition. Many of these comments are taken directly from score sheets submitted by WardsAuto editors. Prices listed are sticker.

Acura ILX ($32,810)
It’s hard taking a compact car (Honda Civic) that’s lost its luster over the years and dress it up for a luxury showroom.

Acura TLX ($35,920)
Two display screens in the center stack are visually overwhelming. Time for a new vision, Acura.

Alfa Romeo 4C ($64,445)
This is a track car that’s fun to drive. But as interiors go, it’s no Italian supermodel. And it’s really loud inside.

BMW i3 ($52,550)
Suicide doors can be awkward, but BMW shows they are worth doing. Hail to the hatchback!

BMW i8 ($141,650)
Inside and out, lush, sensuous and an absolute head-turner. Love the Bavarian blue seatbelts.

Cadillac Escalade ($94,565)
Power folding seats are cool, but a large SUV approaching six figures needs a third row usable by adults.

Chevrolet Colorado ($36,710)
Seats, dash and carpet all look and feel durable. But 50 shades of gray make for a monotone work-truck feel.

Chevrolet Trax ($23,815)
Good package for the money, but much of this interior was seen two years ago in award-winning Spark.

Chrysler 300C ($51,175)
Expensive, but excellent value. Thanks for all the info, but do I really need to know transmission fluid temp?

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat ($65,870)
Powertrain aside, if interior quality could be measured in horsepower, the reading would be 707.

Dodge Charger ($37,470)
A well-equipped bargain with distinctive styling, spectacular seats. Love the double shelf in glovebox.

Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia

Ford Edge ($45,980)
A black interior that rises well above drab, thanks to metallic and carbon-fiber-like trim, aluminum pedals.

Ford Mustang ($34,865)
Successful homage to iconic marque, with lots of goodies for the money. Sync keeps getting better. Toggle switches cool.

Ford F-150 King Ranch ($60,675)
Hard to take your eyes off the gorgeous Khaya wood trim. How long will buyers gobble up $60k trucks?

GMC Canyon ($40,465)
GMC creates sophisticated, attractive, well-equipped interior that does not pander to macho pickup ethos.

Honda CR-V ($33,600)
Tasteful, low-gloss materials make CR-V look and feel like near-luxury CUV inside. Thanks for easy-fold second row.

Honda Fit ($21,590)
Impressively simple and uncluttered. Cozy seats with firm bolsters set the right mood. Excellent fit-and-finish.

Hyundai Sonata ($34,460)
We used to like the Sonata when it was edgy, but the tastiest entry in the segment has gone vanilla.

Infiniti QX80 ($89,845)
A forest of elegant wood makes this interior unforgettable. Could have been in the running if priced at $75,000.

Burnt orange metallic trim part of Renegade’s bold color scheme.

Jeep Renegade ($33,205)
Engaging overall with excellent use of color. Jeep heritage honored throughout this innovative interior.

Kia Sedona ($43,295)
Comes with bells, whistles and second-row lounge chairs. A stylish minivan for the buyer who despises minivans.

Kia Sorento ($45,095)
Merlot Nappa leather is unique, but $45k for a 5-passenger Kia CUV with 4-cyl. power seems awfully high.

Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes

Land Rover Discovery Sport ($51,750)
Outstanding interface, but touchscreen seems small. Ho-hum material selection leaves this CUV light on “wow” factor.

Lexus RC 350 ($54,720)
Successfully combines sport with luxury. Quality leather cleanly stitched, and carbon-fiber inserts are convincing.

Lexus NX 300h ($52,013)
Nicely done, but interface is frustrating. Touch panel is too sensitive and at other times unresponsive.

Lincoln MKC Black Label ($57,115)
Microsuede headliner and saddle brown leather certainly take donor Ford Escape upscale. But $57k?

Lincoln MKZ Black Label ($58,165)
Sweeping bridge-like center console is stunning, but fit-and-finish problems from standard MKZ persist.

Lincoln Navigator ($75,065)
Once leading this segment, Navigator, even refreshed, shows its age. And no heated steering wheel? The barbarians!

Ho-hum materials leave Land Rover Discovery Sport light on “wow” factor.

Mazda6 ($33,395)
You get a lot for $33k, including some of the best seats in the competition. Mazda’s onto something with HMI.

Mercedes C400 ($65,000)
Some fine interiors this year from Mercedes, but this C-Class is most deserving. Liked the head-up display.

Mercedes CLS400 ($86,280)
Familiar interior design, but at least one generation behind groundbreaking S-Class. Massaging seats a plus.

Mercedes GLA250 ($41,950)
Warm and inviting. Thankfully upgraded over platform mate CLA sedan, but not a great interior by any means.

Mercedes S550 Coupe ($149,575)
A soothing, bespoke interior, but hard to raise the bar beyond what S-Class sedan achieved last year.

Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ram, Subaru, Toyota, VW

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ($30,495)
Too much cheap, black plastic, disappointing leather and a headliner that feels like cardboard.

Nissan Murano ($41,905)
Upscale, dramatic approach to mainstream segment. Only concern is how cream-colored interior looks after a year.

Ram ProMaster city van ($26,365)
Fits the bill as a really nice cargo van or down-market minivan. Lots of headroom, but not much legroom.

Subaru Legacy ($25,984)
Tremendous value, with loads of content. Some styling flourishes may have put this interior on the list.

Subaru Outback ($36,385)
Great new display screen and HMI (same as on Legacy), and EyeSight camera system enhances safety. Functionally sound.

Subaru WRX ($29,639)
Black interior needs color splashes from hot red exterior. Next-generation WRX should get new HMI.

Toyota taking design chances with America’s best-selling sedan, Camry.

Toyota Camry ($35,768)
Great to see Toyota taking interior design chances with America’s best-selling sedan, but it lags behind Mazda6.

Toyota Sienna ($44,953)
Comfortable and utilitarian, but cheap wood trim and dull gray upholstery signal need for new minivan interior strategy.

VW Touareg ($60,080)
Scored well with top-notch materials, outstanding ergonomics. But can VW compete with BMW, Mercedes?

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