10 Cars with the Best Interiors

Could this be the nicest car interior ever? We think so – well, it is a Roller and you are going to pay for the privilege, but let’s ignore that for now and focus on why we love it. It’s handcrafted from the best materials available including lambswool, wood veneer and premium leather. Sumptuous seats offer cosseting comfort to enjoy your bespoke dashboard artwork or Starlight Headliner that depicts the constellations, all while you sip champagne from the built-in drinks cabinet (not while driving, please). There are no distractions either because it’s inconceivably quiet inside. Ah, bliss.

It’s possible that a Victorian time-traveller arrived in our present and was asked to design the interior of the Huayra. Bringing everything they knew about high-grade leather and aluminium dials and switches, this designer was thrilled to discover carbon-fibre and digital technology and couldn’t resist adding those too. The result is a marriage of classic opulence, industrial chic and cutting-edge modernity. It wouldn’t feel out of place in a sci-fi film, and while it may split opinion, we think it’s a thing of unique beauty. Opulent or not, it might not be the best place to relax seeing as the Huayra will bolt you from 0-60 in just over two seconds.

Tesla innovates, that’s just what they do, and as they’re pretty new to the car-manufacture game, they’re redefining as they go. One look inside the Model S confirms the brand’s trail-blazing reputation – it’s dominated by a huge, 17-inch touchscreen that replaces almost all of the switchgear to control (and display) the car’s functions. There’s another screen behind the steering wheel that replaces the instrument panel too. It’s all very cool and perfect for the tablet-savvy. If all that’s not enough though, it’s got a host of fun gimmicks including in-car karaoke! If you’re all about the futuristic tech, why would you look to any other brand?

Competition in the premium saloon/estate category is strong, but the BMW 5 Series is our pick. It’s spacious, comfortable, well laid-out and feels distinctly high quality. Optional extras like the head-up display keep your eyes focussed on the road and gesture controls let you utilise some functions just by waving your hand – it’s a neat trick to show your friends but not quite useful enough to be an essential yet. The Mercedes E-Class may just offer more luxury, but the BMW is a much more fun car to drive, making the interior overall a more enjoyable place to be.

To some the most consistent producers of the very best car interiors, there had to be a Merc on this list. In recent years, Mercedes-Benz has worked hard to bring a little uniformity to its range. This means that, just like in its bigger brother the E-Class, the C-Class interior takes a lot of inspiration from the super-luxurious S-Class – no bad thing. Inside you’ll feel comfortable (thanks to excellent ride quality and supportive seats) and connected to the car because of the low seating position and flowing central console. Switches are easy to reach, and the infotainment simple to operate. Plush and executive, inside the C-Class is a relaxing place to be.

You may know Polestar as a performance version of Volvo, but it has now become a spin-off brand solely producing electric vehicles. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Tesla 3, the Polestar 2 makes a strong case. The interior has clean, simple Scandi styling and feels sturdy. The 11-inch, tablet-esque touchscreen in the centre of the dash houses Android Automative, a completely standalone Android device that offers “Hey Google” voice control. If you share a car, a killer feature is the fact that the car detects your phone as you approach the driver’s door and automatically adjusts seats, mirrors etc to your personal settings.

We love the MINI Hatch interior because it’s quirky and filled with retro touches – one example is the speedometer sitting in the centre of the dash just like the original ’60s Mini. The speedo moved to a more usual position in 2014, but that central display still remains. It also now houses a full infotainment system and a multi-function ring that glows different colours to fit with the music, help you park or simply match the ambient lighting.

The small SUV version of the popular DS3 is a comfortable place to be in, and it also scores points for its unique funkiness. If you like diamonds (and who doesn’t?), you’re in luck because they’re a strong focus in the design of this interior. It gives the DS3 Crossback an interesting edge. Another cool interior feature is the touch-sensitive buttons, though in practice these can be a little unresponsive. Overall however, it’s definitely earned its place on our list for marrying comfort and quirkiness with distinction.

A more humble option than some of the executive models on this list, the interior of the latest Citroen C4 is spacious, modern and comfortable. There’s a central touchscreen which most controls are channelled through, as well as a digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel. The seats are plush and supportive and can be had in a range of different hues that also get picked up in matching internal design touches. If you need more comfort, you can even spec heating and massaging for the seats.

Inside the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a strikingly stylish yet uncluttered place to spend time, with the bulk of the dash being made up of two in-line touchscreens and modern-looking air vents. It may be the cheapest offering from Mercedes, but it feels every bit as premium and luxurious as you’d expect from the marque. It’s comfortable too, thanks to supportive seats, and will encourage you to lean back, forget the touchscreen and use the impressive Hey Mercedes voice control of the infotainment system.

Luxury, premium, sporty, innovative or just downright fun – whatever your bag and whatever your budget, there’s a car with a fantastic interior to match. If we’ve piqued your interest, check out our listings and find your own in-car happy place.