BEST INTERIORS
What’s inside is what counts
It’s what’s on the inside that counts. After all, what’s the point of buying a sexy sports car if you absolutely can’t live with the interior?
Wards Auto has your back when it comes to evaluating car cabins. Wards has officially dished its 10 best interiors for 2016 and the results are, well, unsurprising — with a few exceptions.
It’s common knowledge that the more money you spend on a car, the better the interior appointments are. The 2016 winners back that up; almost all of Wards’ choices are luxury vehicles, but there’s something interesting to pick out: there are four mainstream vehicles on the list that, despite their reasonable price points, can run with the best of ’em, thanks to the liberal use of soft-touch plastics, upscale materials, in-car technology and safety features.
Here’s a look at what Wards Auto says are the 10 best interiors your hard-earned dollars can buy.
2016 AUDI TTS
What Wards Auto likes: Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is hardly new; it appears in the redesigned A4 and Q7. But the TT is something else. Wards Auto praised the TTS for its drivercentric focus, as well as its stellar seats, optional interior colours and brushed-aluminum trim pieces. What we like: The TTS might not be the most practical vehicle in Audi’s lineup, but the interior is a very nice place to spend time. The Virtual Cockpit infotainment system truly seals the deal.
2016 BMW 7 SERIES
What Wards Auto likes: On the outside, the 2016 BMW 7 Series might not appear very different. But inside? Wards Auto says it has just the right mix of cutting-edge tech (gesture controls for the infotainment system and a crystal-clear 10.2-inch iDrive display) along with the requisite luxury appointments (massaging seats and heated armrests) and design features. What we like: The leather is buttery smooth, the ambient lighting is downright cool and, well, you just have to experience it for yourself.
2017 CADILLAC XT5
What Wards Auto likes: The luxuryoriented compact crossover market isn’t an easy one to compete in. The XT5 takes the fight to the Germans with first-rate materials, supple leather, a camera-based rear-view mirror and an expansive panoramic sunroof. The XT5 is ergonomically correct, whether in the driver’s seat or the second row. What we like: Remember when this was called the SRX? The XT5 is a considerable departure. Cadillac has been on a roll with many of its redesigned models and their cabins.
2016 CHEVROLET CAMARO
What Wards Auto likes: The new Camaro is a significant improvement. Wards Auto puts it very well: “Who knew the cabin of a muscle car could incorporate so many soft surfaces and still feel like a sporty coupe intended to be driven hard?” What we like: At what point did today’s muscle cars become sports cars? The interior isn’t perfect, but it’s a considerable improvement over the plastic-fantastic cabin of the previous generation. The Cadillac genes show — and we don’t mean that just because the Camaro is based on the same platform as the ATS and CTS.
2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA
What Wards Auto likes: Who’s to say minivans have to be “only” functional? With matching leather trim on the seats, doors and instrument panel, the Pacifica coddles families, and the ingenious storage pockets and integrated vacuum can handle anything they can throw at (or in) it. What we like: We were a little fazed at the fact that the Pacifica adopted a significantly higher price point with this family truckster than what we’re used to. But you know what? You usually get what you pay for.
2016 HONDA CIVIC
What Wards Auto likes: The Honda Civic is an exceptionally popular car here in the Great White North. The interior of the previous-generation Civic was rough around the edges, but not the newest one. Wards Auto calls the interior spot on, considering its impressive ergonomics, materials and tech. What we like: The differences between the ninth- and 10th-generation Civic interiors are astronomical. The seats are comfortable, the materials are stellar, the infotainment system is intuitive enough and the swath of brushed-aluminum trim on the dashboard really classes things up.
2016 LEXUS RX
What Wards Auto likes: It may be tough to stand out in the luxury crossover segment, but Lexus appears to have that formula figured out with the new RX’s cabin. Fitand-finish is impeccable, gauges are crisp and legible, the seats are comfortable and the cargo area is downright massive. What we like: It’s a shame about the RX’s styling because even to this day, Lexus’ so-called “spindle grille” is polarizing. While it might take a while to grow on you and it could date itself rather quickly, there’s something timeless about a well screwed-together interior.
2016 MERCEDESBENZ GLC-CLASS
What Wards Auto likes: For the past couple of years, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and C-Class earned spots on Wards’ 10 best interiors list. The GLC-Class crossover keeps that tradition going, delivering the requisite luxury-car features (heated rear seats, a Burmester sound system and many active safety features) in tandem with “supreme” comfort up front and a surprisingly intuitive infotainment system. What we like: Since the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz has been on a roll with its redesigned vehicles. The GLC is hardly an exception; it feels much more expensive than it actually is, especially compared to the outgoing GLK.
2016 NISSAN MAXIMA
What Wards Auto likes: Consider this another mainstream-car surprise. For 2016, the Nissan Maxima makes a fantastic first impression with craftsmanship, materials and quilted seats that could very well have been lifted out of an Infiniti. Wards’ favourite feature? The socalled Liquid Chrome metallic trim; it appears smooth but when light hits it just right, a subtle weave appears. What we like: For a front-wheeldrive sedan with 300 horsepower, the Nissan Maxima is certainly underrated. If you don’t care about the badge or platform, a fully loaded Maxima certainly has the chops to give a base Infiniti Q50 a run for its money in the luxury department.
2016 VOLVO XC90
What Wards Auto likes: Hypnotic beauty. Yup, that’s what Wards Auto calls the Volvo XC90’s interior. From the way the head restraints are shaped to the lack of buttons, there’s something inexplicably elegant in how the XC90 lives up to the Scandinavian design ethos. What we like: The redesigned XC90 went from being one of the oldest luxury SUVs on the market to being the one to beat. It’s impressive inside and out. If you need any proof Volvo is making a comeback, all you need is to spend one minute in an XC90. You can bet on the upcoming S90 and V90 living up to this benchmark, too.