This Year’s Best Interiors: Quality at Any Price

What do a Hyundai Venue and Nissan Sentra (both of which sticker for less than $25,000) have in common with BMW’s $130,000-plus BMW X6 M performance crossover and the ultra-luxury Bentley Flying Spur sedan?

Bentley Flying Spur

On the surface, probably not much. But if you’re sitting inside any of them, chances are you’ll enjoy the ride.

All of four of those models made the cut this year for Wards 10 Best Interior list. They were joined by the Audi e-tron, Chevrolet Corvette, Kia Telluride, Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz GLB and Toyota Highlander.

Winning Formulas

Eight Wards editors selected the winners from 32 nominated vehicles, all of which are sold in the U.S. Judges scored vehicles on design aesthetic, comfort, ergonomics, materials, fit-and-finish and the user-friendliness of displays and controls.

To qualify, vehicles must have an all-new or significantly improved interior. No brand placed more than one vehicle in the top 10.

This year’s winners (with price as tested) are the:

• Audi e-tron ($85,800)
• Bentley Flying Spur ($283,270)
• BMW X6 M ($130,000)
• Chevrolet Corvette ($78,800)
• Hyundai Venue ($23,300)
• Kia Telluride ($47,260)
• Lincoln Aviator ($80,700)
• Mercedes-Benz GLB ($57,470)
• Nissan Sentra ($24,800)
• Toyota Highlander ($51,650)

Here are some of the judges’ impressions:

Audi e-tron

The midsize crossover proves that EV interiors can be as comfortable, alluring and user-friendly as their internal-combustion-engine counterparts, the judges note.

Audi e-tron

They especially liked the e-tron’s airy spaciousness, unique seating stitch pattern, brushed metallic switchgear, micro-suede door trim inserts and what the judges describe as “flawless” fit-and-finish.

The editors also enjoyed the $7,000 Prestige package in the tested vehicle. Optional goodies included integrated massaging seats, air ionizer, privacy sunshades for rear windows, ambient lighting, dual-pane acoustic glass and a host of driver-assistance technologies.

Bentley Flying Spur

The Flying Spur’s interior is likened to a piece of art.

                                                        Bentley Flying Spur

“One detail draws your attention, then your eye falls on another, then another,” gushes one judge. “Soon an hour has passed and you’re still sitting in the driveway, as if wandering a museum.”

Highlights include chrome-plated seat tracks and the car’s artistically designed B-pillars. The latter gets the same meticulous quality and attention to detail as the instrument panel or steering wheel, with top-grade leather diamond-shaped 3D-faceted quilting, Wards notes.

BMW X6

The X6’s driver-focused cockpit features customizable driving mode selectors along the steering wheel, form-fitting seats with a bold racing stripe down the center and digital instrumentation.

                                                                   BMW X6 M

The seventh-generation iDrive HMI is hailed as the best man-machine interface on the planet. It’s paired with a 12.3-in. configurable display screen that can be controlled in multiple ways, including hand gestures, steering-wheel buttons, direct touch or the console-mounted rotary dial.

Front seats include full massage features, and there’s extra lumbar support for the driver. Four of the five seating positions are heated, and a four-zone climate-control system ensures each occupant’s comfort.

Chevrolet Corvette

The legendary sports car’s first-ever mid-engine layout allowed engineers to reimagine the C8 ‘Vette’s interior.

Chevrolet Corvette

The results are described as a “monumental leap in styling, quality and materials.” Highlights include tastefully applied carbon-fiber trim and a space-saving push-button gear shifter.

The iconic 2-seater also gets steeply sloped center console HVAC control system. Wards says the design envelops the driver in what feels like a high-performance cocoon.

Hyundai Venue

Tested at $23,300, the Venue is the lowest-priced model on this year’s top 10 list. But the small crossover doesn’t scrimp on content.

Among the highlights are a full-color navigation screen, keyless ignition, heated front seats, automatic climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

The editors also were enamored with the Venue’s Denim Edition package, which has a special color palette with subtle blue tint touching nearly every surface—from the seat covers and leather steering wheel trim to the center console dials and switches . Wards likens the effect to that of a comfortable pair of jeans.

Kia Telluride

One of the judges describes the interior of Kia’s three-row crossover as “warm as a cowboy’s saddle.”

Kia Telluride

The Telluride also is chock-full of unique commonsense amenities such as six USB ports—including two positioned at chest level on the front seatbacks for middle-row occupants—second-row pockets to cradle phones as they’re being charged, brushed metallic switchgear and matte finish wood-like trim.

Wards says the $47,000 Telluride has several features that are usually relegated to $100,000-plus models. This includes heated and cooled second-row seats and a luxuriant headliner material that Kia calls “premium cloth trim.”

Lincoln Aviator

Symphonic chimes recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra are used for various driver alerts (signaling an open fuel door or unlatched seatbelt).

Lincoln Aviator

This sets the tone (literally) for the rest of the Aviator’s interior.

The large premium crossover also features a sweeping dashboard and a well-proportioned center console. Wards describes the interior as serene and quiet, thanks to its laminated glass, special sound-deadening efforts such as 360-Degree Hood Sealing, a double-wall insulated dashboard and active noise cancellation.

Mercedes GLB

Here’s proof that luxurious things can come in small packages.

                                                           Mercedes GLB

The compact crossover was praised for its “smart use of high-quality materials.” This includes textured Black Linden wood trim inserts that feel “live to the touch,” and satin trim pieces for door handles, door pulls, steering wheel and center console.

Other goodies include metallic racing pedals, a high-end woven headliner and an optional 64-color LED ambient lighting system.

One judge aptly summarizes the overall experience: “Precision-built German craftmanship.”

Nissan Sentra

The 2020 compact sedan delivered big-time on style and luxury appointments.

                                                              Nissan Sentra

The judges raved about the Sentra’s (as tested with a premium package) rich color mix, soft-touch materials, ergonomics, large touchscreen and “surprisingly good” rear leg- and headroom.

Leading the list of class-leading features, Wards says, is the use of Sentra’s unique diamond-within-diamond seat quilting pattern.

Toyota Highlander

The focal point of the sixth-generation Highlander’s interior is an instrument panel that the judges say resembles a tuning fork turned on its side.

Toyota Highlander

Amenities include a panoramic roof, privacy screens, a full-color 10-inch head-up display, digital rearview mirror and 11-speaker JBL premium audio system.

The winners will be honored Aug. 19 during a three-day virtual event that includes the WardsAuto Interiors Conference.