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.