No amount of external beauty can overcome an unenjoyable car interior. That’s why we found the best car interiors of 2021.
Look around the automotive landscape today and it’s wildly easy to find reviews and opinions on exterior styling and design. That’s understandable since many buyers value that styling so much, but what’s often under-appreciated is how nice a car can be on the inside. We spend countless hours in our cars and while we may love the way it looks on the outside, no amount of beauty can overcome a car interior that’s just not enjoyable to engage with.
Today, we dig into the best available interiors on the market in 2021. Since something like seating comfort is highly subjective, we’ll try to focus on other features, like seating adjustability, technology, and overall quality. Let’s open the door and get into the best car interiors of 2021.
Over the last few years, Mazda has slowly but systematically made advancements on German luxury brands. Take a seat in the new Mazda3 2.5 Turbo and it’s easy to believe you’re in a $50,000 vehicle. The quality of the switchgear is particularly noteworthy, but it doesn’t end there. Fit and finish are far above average and the technology inside is outstanding.
The 8.8-inch infotainment screen is better than most, and while it’s not a touchscreen (Mazda feels that those are less safe), it’s still easy to navigate and comes with Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay. The 8-way adjustable driver’s seat is great too and both front seats are heated.
Paddle-shifters are mounted just behind the steering wheel and leatherette is lavished throughout the interior. The large screen in the center of the gauge cluster is clear and communicates information very well. For $31,000, it’s hard to find a car as well sorted inside as the Mazda3 Turbo. Don’t forget that it’s a really lovely car to drive too.
There’s something to be said for an interior that just makes its occupants feel cool and the Land Rover Defender does that in spades. Every surface is angular and resolute. The center console and infotainment system are dramatic yet incredibly easy to use. There are even cool trick features like climate control knobs that double as the heated/ventilated seat controls when you push them in.
Drivers will love the capacitive touch controls on the steering wheel that are so much more pleasing than the plastic buttons found in rivals. Perhaps one of the nicest features of the Defender lineup is how configurable everything is. Regardless of personal preferences about material or color, Land Rover offers something available for everyone.
Seating is highly adjustable too and there’s storage littered throughout the cabin for longer trips on or off-road. The interior is a big key to the Defender. It can go anywhere yes, but even out in the middle of nowhere the cabin will make you feel right at home and it gives you a sense of confidence that is unmatched.
No minivan is going to shock buyers like the Kia Carnival. Much like Mazda, Kia has been making some huge improvements in terms of car interior fit and finish, and the Carnival demonstrates that beautifully.
Drivers will love how the cabin seems to wrap around them the same way it would if they were seated at a command center. Every other passenger has access to incredible technology as well as beautiful seating. For the front passengers, there are multiple ways to adjust the seat, easy access to the infotainment controls, and beautiful surfaces to look at and touch. In the second-row things get arguably better with individual screens for each passenger and seats that fully recline including a leg rest.
We really like how the screens already have apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Twitch already included. That’s sure to make entertaining occupants all the more easier. Of course, removing or reconfiguring seats is a breeze too. The second row can even slide left or right to allow for easier third-row access. Pretty much every segment has seen car interiors get more luxurious, but none have made such a massive step forward as the Carnival.
Another surprising entry is the Genesis G90. For those that appreciate minimalistic design, the G90 and its smaller sibling the G80 are in a class of their own. These sedans are aimed squarely at brands like BMW and Audi, but the way they achieve success is through a very clever application of design language and technology.
In the G90 you’ll find 16-way adjustable seats upfront with a super cool feature called the smart setting. Give the G90 some information about your height, weight, and inseam, and it’ll position the seat in an optimal position for you automatically.
Technology doesn’t stop there though, because the back seat is even more luxurious. Not only do rear-seat passengers have their own personal screens, but they also have a full control panel that allows them to adjust media and climate control. They even get a button to raise and lower a rear sunshade. Much like its KDM ancestor the Hyundai Equus, we think that the G90 will be the choice of those who want luxury, but don’t care so much about the badge on the front.
If IKEA was a car it would be the Volvo XC40, and that’s far from a knock on its quality or luxury. In fact, we think that of all the cars in the sub-$40,000 compact SUV category, the XC40 might have the best car interior of the bunch.
First and foremost, it’s incredibly functional. That’s demonstrated most easily by Volvo’s beautiful and vibrant touchscreen that’s laid out much in the same way as a smartphone, which makes it easy to navigate and understand even for first-time users. There’s a cornucopia of storage throughout the XC40 as well. Everywhere you look there’s a cubby or a hook meant to help you transport bags more easily.
Then there’s the overall design language translated by the high-quality materials. Owners can even opt for driftwood interior trim. Unlike some of the excellent cars mentioned above with incredible technology looking back at its occupants from every direction, the XC40 uses a simplistic aesthetic to communicate class.