If you spend a lot of time nestled into the seat of your car, then the interior comfort and quality of your vehicle is a big deal for you. Nothing makes road trips or daily commutes more miserable than a seat that is not comfortable, or the placement of buttons on the dash just out of reach, or the annoying string from the leather-wrapped steering wheel coming undone because it never fit right to begin with. Needless to say, having a nice interior for your car can bring some peace of mind, and keep body aches to a minimum. It appears that the folks at US News and World Report agree and have taken it upon themselves to rank the interior of auto manufacturers for 2020. A list of their top five ranked interiors is below.

The Data

This list is a brand rating. It is based on an average for each model within the brand. Judges were looking for “interior comfort, features, styling, build quality, and cargo room”. It is interesting to note that none of the American manufacturers made the top five on the list. The manufacturers on the list represent Germany, Sweden/China, Japan, and South Korea.

1) Audi

Audi takes top honors. The reviewers were impressed with the sleekness of the interior design language, good seats, and material choices of the German brand. They also found the options of massaging front seats and a heated steering wheel nice, as were the infotainment system’s Bluetooth connectivity and integration with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. 

2) Volvo

Reviewers also found Volvo to have great cabin comfort. The availability of a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, leather seating surfaces, powered multi-adjustable position driver’s seat, and clean dashboards are all attractive. So are the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Volvo is a Swedish brand that is owned by Geely, a Chinese company.

3) Honda

Honda’s interiors “are both functional and attractive, with comfortable seats and plenty of soft-touch materials.” The reviewers noted that the leather-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated seating options, and ambient lighting are all nice touches that are available. Honda also offers the Apple Carplay and Android Auto functionality. In a first for this list, Honda was also noted to offer models with Wi-Fi hotspot capability and wireless charging. Honda is a Japanese company.

4) Kia

Kia has come a long way since the brand was introduced to the shores of the United States. The once-struggling company of decades ago has improved its overall design and quality across all models. Things have changed, however. The reviewers noted that Kia, as a whole, uses “quality materials, attractive cabin designs, and a wealth of standard safety and tech features.” They also liked that some models offered heated steering wheels, multi-zone climate control, sunroofs, and heated and cooled seats. They found the UVO infotainment system easy to use and applauded the Bluetooth connectivity with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. 

5) Volkswagen

Volkswagen is the second manufacturer from Germany on the list. The judges liked the materials chosen, the infotainment system, and the comfort of the seats. In an interesting note, the reviewers called out that even the smallest VW, the GTI can be equipped with leather, a sunroof, and heated seats. Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay are standard features on all models, and a Wi-Fi hotspot option is a nice touch.

If you plan on spending a good bit of time in your vehicle, then this list of the top five interiors will be a good reference when it comes time for vehicle replacement. The comfort factor will certainly be a consideration, and this list will clarify the serious contenders to research. The last thing anybody wants is to purchase a vehicle, and then to quickly regret that purchase because they had not taken into account the comfort of the cabin and its features. Body aches and remorse are not fun.