2014 Ward’s 10 Best Interiors Quick Hits

Acura MDX ($56,505)

Faux-wood trim a turn-off, but build quality is excellent and third row is reasonably comfortable.

Audi A3 ($43,540)

Probably the nicest of Germany’s new entry-lux cars. Dash-mounted vents resembling jet engines a nice touch.

Audi SQ5 ($61,420) 

Carbon-fiber trim on center console and instrument panel shine as if plugged in. Beautiful high-def nav map, too.

Bentley Flying Spur ($230,665)  

The kind of interior you should bring home to meet your mother.

BMW M235i  ($46,575)

A blast to drive, for sure. But it’s expensive, and interior doesn’t sell the car.

BMW X5 ($88,475)

Fabulous ambient lighting a selling point, but third-row seat should deploy electrically at this price.

Cadillac CTS Vsport ($59,995)

Compelling black-and-blue color scheme, but three backseat occupants need three head restraints.

Cadillac ELR ($82,135)

Handsome instrumentation and carbon-fiber, metallic and suede-like trim, but price is problematic.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ($71,960) 

Clearly the best ’Vette interior yet, and did anyone notice the brow shaped like a stingray atop instrument cluster?

Chevrolet Silverado High Country ($53,470) 

Comfortable, functional, ergonomic and well-appointed, but faux-wood trim could be more convincing.

Chevrolet SS ($45,770)

Really nice work from land Down Under, with sporty feel, lots of room and suede-like instrument panel.

Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, GMC, Hyundai, Infiniti

Chrysler 200C ($31,470)

Thank you, Chrysler, for a truly competitive midsize car interior that is stylish, roomy and clever.

Dodge Durango ($50,965)

Effectively executes black-and-tan color scheme, but a few fit-and-finish concerns cost it points.

Fiat 500L ($25,445)

Two-tone gray cabin feels disjointed with caramel-colored leather accents. And what’s with four A-pillars?

GMC Sierra Denali ($56,685)

Reconfigurable gauges, excellent ergonomics and plugs-aplenty help GMC advance market for premium pickups.

GMC Yukon Denali ($71,780)

Would like more third-row space, but power-folding second and third rows could seal deal.

Hyundai Equus ($68,920)

If luxury-brand honchos weren’t sweating before, they should be now. Money saved can pay for chauffeur.

Hyundai Genesis ($55,700 estimated)

Door trim successfully blends five disparate materials, and Hyundai pulls it off beautifully.

Infiniti Q50S Hybrid ($55,455)

With one display screen atop another, Q50 is a test lab for how much info drivers can handle in center stack.

Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lexus Maserati

Jaguar F-Type ($100,370)

Gorgeous ambient lighting, but overall probably needs more pizzazz. ’Vette better value.

Jeep Cherokee ($37,525)

Bold interior colors and styling should make this Jeep popular at the next Jamboree.

Kia Cadenza ($41,900) 

Another well-done Korean interior, but price creeps too high and middle backseat is laughably cramped.

Kia K900 ($66,400)

Same as above. Also, Mercedes called. They want their door-mounted seat controls back.

Kia Soul ($24,010)

What Kia does really well: edgy styling and lots of content, all at a good price.

Lexus IS 250  ($44,140)

Cool instrument cluster slides mechanically at touch of a button. Red leather with black stitching really pops.

Maserati Ghibli ($94,470)

Flame-red leather pulls you in, but some egregious fit-and-finish issues turn you off.

Maserati Quattroporte ($119,150)

Brown leather is distinctive, but wood trim looks dated and hard-plastic center cupholders scream cheap.

Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Range Rover, Rolls

Mazda3 ($30,415)

Up-level content and sporty personality make this interior a cut above compact rivals.

Mercedes-Benz CLA250 ($38,555) 

Is this the interior Mercedes buyers have been clamoring for all these years?

Mercedes-Benz E350 ($73,275)

Thank you for the lovely matte-finish wood. We’ll take more, please. Jury out on rumble seat.

Mercedes-Benz S550 ($122,895)

So nice to see a production-car interior that retains the flash and sizzle of concept-car glory.

Nissan Rogue ($32,630)

Probably would have presented in a better color than gun-metal, but overall interior feels “costed.”

Nissan Versa Note ($19,280)

Not as fun as it needs to be. And supplier needs to stop cutting headliner fabric with a chainsaw.

Range Rover Sport ($88,585)

From door to door, there’s a seriously solid feel to handles, knobs, switches, levers and the shifter.

Rolls-Royce Wraith ($372,800)

Take issue with our selection if you must, but only after recognizing this interior is built old-school – by hand.

Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

Subaru WRX ($34,490)

Handsome red stitching not enough to compensate for tiny radio controls, cheap headliner.

Toyota Corolla ($22,870)

Seats with tan fabric and black leather trim highlight this otherwise dull interior.

Toyota Highlander ($44,450)

Nice interior with lovely lighted passenger-side storage trough, but why put radio controls out of reach?

Toyota Tundra 1794 Crew ($49,715)

Excellent fit-and-finish and follows Ram Laramie Longhorn with dramatic design. Gotta love snakeskin seat trim.

Volkswagen GTI ($30,695)

Great seats and effective use of metallic accents and bold red stitching. Even middle backseat is comfy.

Volvo V60 ($43,570)

Stylish, functional Scandinavian interior doesn’t advance brand’s styling language.

Volvo XC60 ($53,215)

Same as above, but matte-finish wood is very handsome. And those sleek head restraints still are way cool.

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