Honda Civic
Starting our list of affordable cars with surprisingly higher-end interiors is the Honda Civic.Hondahas given theCivica seriously upscale makeover for the 11th generation of its compact car. The latest Civic’s interior looks like it belongs in a car a class up. There’s a level of restraint that screams premium, with a smart mesh strip that hides the vents. Twist the climate control dials and there’s a sweet, satisfying click. The top Touring trim uses a larger 9.0-inch infotainment screen, plus a fully digital instrument panel.
Hyundai Sonata
With the market’s continued crossover love affair, mid-size sedans have become more luxurious than ever before. Take the latestHyundaiSonata. Lots of space, a well-designed, clean dashboard, and everything within reach is soft to the touch. Did we mention the heated and ventilated front seats, plus heating for the rear? If it’s all a little too much, the sporty N Line pulls back on all the interior amenities, and gives you the ability to smoke the tires in third gear. Life; it’s all about balance. Not bad for a family sedan.
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagenis a master of walking the line between mainstream and luxury. The restrained interior of the Jetta is the latest example. All the trim pieces are high quality, tasteful metal accents abound, plus the infotainment and instrument panel are both crisp and bright. There’s a real sense of solidity in the Jetta that some cars costingmuchmore could learn from. All that in a package that starts in the low $20,000 range.
Toyota Camry
Toyotaused to make interiors that were about as exciting as reading your dishwasher’s instruction manual. But now we find an entry on the affordable cars with surprisingly higher-end interiors list. Despite prices remaining at the affordable end of the spectrum, thisCamry’sinterior has the kind of quality usually found in higher priced vehicles. An intricately curvy dashboard, quality-looking metal trim pieces, and nicely textured leather seats create a confident-looking package. An even further highlight: Red leather seats!
Ford Mustang
TheMustangalways had this knack for making retro-looking interiors that aren’t too kitschy. Everything in this interior pays homage to design themes of the past while still embracing a modern feel. It uses finely crafted cabin materials and a liberal use of distinctive metallic trim, which is what sets it apart from others in its segment. And pricing remains under $30,000 for entry level models.
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage features a technologically packed, high-end interior. With dual-mode touch button controls, a fully digital driver information center, there are some trick features not found in vehicles costing twice as much as this compact SUV. The rest of the interior continues this technology-based theme with the majority of surfaces covered in premium materials and pleasing hues.
Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 is a bit like fine wine – it doesn’t get worse with age. In fact, it might actually be getting better. Fresh off a refresh this year, the CX-5 not only continues to have one of the nicest interiors in its segment, but it’s even better now. With a restrained, yet sophisticated design, it’s the details where the CX-5 really shines. Almost every surface is covered in soft touch materials, including the tops of the rear doors – a place most manufacturers cheap out on.
Volkswagen Taos
Much like the Jetta mentioned earlier in this list, the Volkswagen Taos adds a lot of sophistication and style to a segment that is usually all about utilitarian designs – small compact SUVs. The digital driver information center and touchscreen infotainment screen are seamlessly integrated into the dashboard’s overall design. Materials are of high quality where the hands touch and eyes see. It feels like a premium little SUV priced amongst its mainstream equivalents.
Mazda CX-30
We can’t get enough of theMazdaCX-30 here atAutoGuide, and a lot of that comes down to its interior. Simply put, you won’t find a better space for under $40,000. The Mazda’s cabin is all soft-touch materials and smooth, almost organic lines. We’ve found less impressive leather in cars costing almost twice as much. If the CX-30 is any indication, Mazda’s goal of graduating from the mainstream to luxury isn’t just a pipe dream, but an inevitability. All this, in a vehicle that starts under $25,000.
Nissan Rogue
It wasn’t long ago thatNissan’sinteriors were … well, not good. But the company has a renewed focus on quality cabin time, and nowhere is that more apparent than in its best-selling Rogue crossover. This family hauler is plenty spacious, as before, but it now comes complete with touches more often associated with the next class up. A fully digital instrument panel and large, clear head-up display keeps the driver informed, while the rest of the crew will enjoy Nissan’s comfortable Zero Gravity seats, decked out in quilted leather.
