Inside the Windy City

The tearup of the passenger compartment of the Nissan Quest minivan clearly was the biggest interior story at this year's Chicago auto show.

But it wasn't the only story, as every auto maker focuses attention on crafting cabins that are quiet, roomy, stylish, comfortable and cost-efficient.

The other new minivan sharing the Chicago spotlight was Hyundai's first entry in the segment, the '07 Entourage.

The 7-passenger people hauler rides on a unibody minivan platform that it shares with Kia Motors America's Sedona. Inside and out, the South Korean-built Entourage and Sedona are similar, although Hyundai says the Entourage body from the A-pillar forward is unique.

The Entourage also gets unique electroluminescent instrument clusters, as well as distinctive metallic or wood-grain trim for the center stack on certain models. Like many vehicles in the segment, its third-row seats fold in the floor, configured in a 60/40 split.

Pickups played a prominent role in this year's Chicago show.

The '07 Chevrolet Avalanche pickup arrives in showrooms in the second quarter, its trademark versatility a product of the unique midgate that allows the vehicle to function both as an SUV and as a pickup.

With the rear seats folded flat, the Avalanche can carry full sheets of plywood with the tailgate closed. The interior is pleasing, with snug seams throughout and effective use of wood trim and faux brushed aluminum on vents above the center stack.

However, the entire instrument panel consists of grained hard plastic, and high-gloss black plastic is pervasive in the center console, most visibly in the cupholder. Otherwise, materials appear to be of high grade, especially the headliner, which is a woven fabric.

The '07 Toyota Tundra debuted in Chicago, its first truly fullsize pickup, which reaches showrooms in early 2007.

Inside, the Tundra is larger in every dimension than the previous-generation truck. There are a variety of comfort and convenience features, including Bluetooth connectivity for personal electronic devices and an optional navigation system.

A vast center console can accommodate a laptop computer and, for the worksite manager on the go, hanging files. Toyota says it purposely designed knobs to be chunky enough to handle easily by gloved hands.

On the concept front, the Chrysler Group got some buzz out of its Rampage, a cross between a pickup and SUV. Inside, an impressively executed “floating” center stack is reminiscent of that seen in the Volvo S40/V50 but is much more visually impressive.

The Rampage shows, for the first time, an adaptation of Chrysler's popular Stow 'n Go seating innovated in its long-wheelbase minivans. The front passenger seat and 60/40 split rear seats can be folded flat into the floor.

Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln division unveiled its new '07 Navigator SUV, which goes on sale this summer. The interior features genuine dark Ebony or Anigre wood trim on the console and upper door panels, with grains precisely aligned.

Noise elimination and premium materials were a priority, including satin-nickel accents on the center stack, binnacle inserts and door trim and chrome accents on cupholder rings and the steering wheel.

Volkswagen AG, known for top-notch interiors, unveiled the new Golf, which arrives this summer after being on sale in Europe for more than two years. Materials appear to be of high quality, with low-gloss surfaces throughout and a fair amount of soft-touch components, particularly on the instrument panel and door trim.