5 Luxury Car Brands With the Nicest Car Interiors According to U.S. News
A lot goes into choosing a new car. Price, features, power, fuel efficiency, and space are all important. But how comfortable the car is inside is a key factor as well, considering how long you’ll likely spend inside it. When it comes to car interiors, a few luxury car brands stand out among the rest for having the nicest car interiors. Here are the top five brands for car interiors, according to U.S. News.
BMW
U.S. News starts the top five with BMW, the long-standing fixture in German luxury car brands. It’s known for its expansive lineup of sedans and coupes and many SUVs. Within the last few years, more hybrid and plug-in hybrid options have been added to the lineup as well. U.S. News gives the brand an average interior score of 7.34 out of 10.
U.S. News includes BMW on this list because of the standard car interior you can expect, regardless of model. Even entry-level models like the 2 Series sedan or coupe offer a clean and modern feel inside without a steep price tag. Reviewers note the use of accents with materials like wood, carbon fiber, and aluminum in the design make each model feel special.
Though BMW’s fleet has opulent car interiors in almost every model, the flagship models are some of the nicest car interiors on the market. BMW’s 7 Series sedan is loaded with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a backseat entertainment system, a panoramic glass roof, and heated front seats. And there’s the BMW Alpina XB7 SUV — Edmunds’ top large performance SUV — which “blends insane performance and world-beating luxury”, U.S. News writes.
Mercedes-Benz
Another German entry in luxury car brands, Mercedes-Benz is the standard for many luxury segments. The entry-level A-Class sedan, like the 2 Series, gives drivers a lower-cost option to enjoy without cutting any corners on the interior. U.S. News gives Mercedes an average interior score of 7.52 out of 10.
There’s a luxury sedan for most every class and more powerful options with AMG high-performance badges on them. Same goes for the luxury SUV offerings like the GLC, the brand’s best-selling model of 2020.
Reviewers note that the combination of technology and design keep Mercedes near the top of the best luxury car brand list. Comfortable seating and lots of interior space are a mainstay for each class. The recently redesigned C-Class offers lots of standard features and great technology, including a new 12.3-inch touchscreen. The latest E-Class sedan offers all of that in a more spacious environment.
Edmunds gave Mercedes four awards in its best SUVs list alone: best X-Small luxury SUV (the GLB), best Midsize luxury SUV (GLE), best Large luxury SUV (GLS), and best Super luxury SUV (Maybach GLS). It also gave out four awards to the brand in its sedan rankings: best x-small luxury sedan (the A-Class), small luxury sedan (C-Class), midsize luxury sedan (E-Class), and large luxury sedan (S-Class).
Genesis
Genesis is the newest luxury car brand on this list but has made strides to offer some of the nicest car interiors at a great value. Hyundai’s premium brand offers just three cars — the G70, G80, and G90 — and three SUVs — GV60, GV70, and GV80 — but still earns an average interior score from U.S. News of 7.64 out of 10.
Quilted leather and great technology welcome drivers to the compact G70. There’s sporty options for the executive sedan as well. Stepping up to the G80 and G90 means more space and leaning more in favor of luxury over performance with their fantastic interior finishes.
That same design and luxury carries over to the SUV lineup. Reviewers call the Genesis GV70 and GV80 a mix of “rocket-age retro styling with cutting edge technology and high-end materials.” With a competitive price point and the backing of Hyundai’s suite of industry-leading warranties, Genesis is making its case as one of the top luxury car brands.
Audi
The third German luxury car brand on the list, Audi’s fleet similarly has a mix of luxury sedans and SUVs for all types of drivers. U.S. News reviewers argue the car interior is where Audi decided it would have to outdo its German rivals. And they believe it’s a successful endeavor with an average interior score of 7.76 out of 10.
Sedans like the A4, the top best-selling A5, and A6 offer lots of luxury with sporty seats and driver-centric car interiors. Attention to detail in design is the key for these models. Bump up to the larger sedans like the A7 and A8 and you’ll see a premium put on comfort instead of performance. There’s touches of wood and leather in the place of metal or carbon fiber from more sports-focused models.
TrueCar named the A3 the second-best luxury sedan of 2022 and 2023. Edmunds taps the Q7 — the big brother of the brand’s best-selling Q5 SUV, as the best midsize 3-row luxury SUV of 2022 and 2023.
Lincoln
Lincoln takes the top spot in U.S. News’ rankings with an 8.05 out of 10 average interior score. The point difference between Lincoln and Audi in second (0.29 points) is bigger than the difference from Audi to Mercedes-Benz in fourth.
Unlike the other brands on this list, Lincoln does not currently offer any sedans. Four SUV models are currently available: the compact Corsair, midsize Nautilus and Aviator, and full-size Navigator. But that small lineup makes up for the lack of quantity with quality. Reviewers highlight the brand’s unique finishes on buttons and controls and piano key shifting system that make each model feel unique.
Inside each SUV, U.S. News notes the luxury car brand does a wonderful job of eliminating outside noise. The seats are incredibly comfortable and you can expect features like massaging and adjustable bucket seats in the front on top trims. Lincoln models are good for passengers as well, with back seats that are more supportive than most other brands.
Which luxury car brands have the best interiors?
These five brands stand out in their respective segments for offering drivers and passengers a lot to love inside the car. There’s comfortable seating, sleek designs, attention to detail, and technology to make the time spent inside pleasurable. Lincoln stands a step above the others when it comes to SUVs with the nicest car interiors. But if you’re looking for all-around great cars in a luxury setting, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have the awards to back it up. Genesis may be a newer brand but its value and warranties are great for new entrants into the luxury market.
