Zander Drives Cars

I’m back with another listicle (list article, for those unaware of conjunctions), and oh boy is it a doozy. Car interiors come in all shapes, sizes, colors, materials, and more. Some are not so good, some are good enough, and some are great. This list serves to highlight what I think are the best interiors you and I have seen on this very website. So, without further ado, let’s get into this. You guys know the rules, one car per manufacturer, and just because I didn’t mention your favorite doesn’t mean I hate it. Lets-a-go!

5. Mini Clubman

The good: Mini has this really, really cool thing that they do where they take an interior made of middling materials, and make it funkier than Disco Stew’s wardrobe. I mean, this car has toggle switches, how cool is that? Saab didn’t even do that! The Clubman’s cabin is a fun place to be with quirky lights, carpeted door inserts, a big ol’ round screen, and plenty of other little things that make you go “Oh, that’s kind of neat.” Overall, funky interior for a funky car.

The let-down: some of these materials are a bit less premium than expected on a car that can almost hit $50,000.

4. Volvo C40

The good: A Vovo interior? At 4th? Is Zander okay? Yes, he is. Look, I love Volvo’s interiors as much as the next guy, but a lot of them sort of mesh together. They look great, have excellent materials, and the addition of that tiny Swedish flag on the side of the driver’s seat is one of my favorite things a car manufacturer has ever done. It even has a built-in trash can! How fun. But, the new C40 does all of that, and like the Clubman, gets a bit funkier with it, specifically with plush dash materials and the additional Fjord Blue carpeting. This stuff looks straight out of the 70s in the best way possible. It’s like a Linda Bengtzing song exploded in here. Mycket Bra!

The let-down: Volvo’s interiors are starting to show their age just a little bit.

3. BMW iX

The good: While BMWs exteriors have gotten arguably worse this decade, their interiors have gotten arguably much better. The iX is a great place to be. There is just the right amount of space-age design in here that I didn’t feel like I was sitting in a concept car, but was new enough to make me recognize this was something special. The materials were great, the seats were surprisingly not hard for a BMW, oh, and the crystal iDrive wheel and seat controls were hitting Mercedes levels of opulence. This is by far the peak of BMWs interiors and I will hear no criticisms of it other than my own arbitrary ones.

The let-down: The engrained touch controls on the center console are a big no-no. Also, bring back iDrive 7.

2. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

The good: I’ve got to hand it to Porche, every aspect of this interior was about as good as you would possibly think it was. I couldn’t;t find a single piece of scratchy plastic anywhere, not even under the steering wheel. That is commitment right there, folks. It’s hard to describe how solid everything in this car feels without having to ask you to physically go sit in one. And supposedly, this is one of the “lesser Porsche interiors,” what kind of wizardry is this?

The let-down: In a Porsche without a bunch of upgraded woods and metals, it does feel a bit drab, color-wise, but that’s a tiny nitpick, really.

1. Mercedes EQS 450 SUV

The good: Everything. I mean, the audacity Mercedes had to make an interior so gaudy, I love it with my whole heart. Despite what people say about the EQ build quality, this interior is phenomenal. Every inch of this interior is stuffed with… stuff. Mercedes logo dashboard pieces? Check. Pillows on the headrests? Check. Burmester Soundsystem? Check. The opulence here is unreal, and unmatched by anyone else. I constantly wish I was back in this interior. Ugh.

The let-down: The 580 models come with a mandatory Hyperscreen. Boo.

Well, there we have it: the best interiors that have graced this tiny little site. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Let me know! Maybe I’ll do a “worst” list, too. You guys love when I’m negative.