10 Best Luxury Car Interiors

2017 Tesla Model S ・ Photo by Tesla

When considering these 10 Best Luxury Car Interiors list, we didn't want to just mention the ones full of bells and whistles, or those only with nice leather and wood appointments. To be among the best, a car interior also must have an intelligent layout and use of space, and be desirable as a whole. Fortunately for the car buyers seeking luxury, every choice here is desirable in its own particular way. Since we’re in the realm of the well-heeled here, it might even be possible to make the justification that one should purchase one of the listed selections, to ensure the ideal luxury interior for every driving occasion.

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Perhaps the best thing about the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s interior is that it puts us inside the Giulia Quadrifoglio. This car is essentially Italy’s answer to the BMW M3 super-sedan, and it seems Alfa Romeo’s interior designers had been studying a lot of BMW interiors before creating this one. That’s fine; it means the odd ergonomics of pre-comeback Alfa cars are now history. Instead, the Giulia Quadrifoglio has an attractive cabin that complements a beautiful exterior. Adding to the appeal is the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 makes 505 horsepower, which is 80 hp more than the regular M3. Another driver-centric element is the steering wheel that bucks the chunky trend by being comparatively thin, which enhances the feel of the drive.

Photo by FCA Media

2018 Audi A8

Just like its exterior, this new generation of Audi’s large flagship sedan has a cabin that ballet dances on the fine line between minimalism and elegance. The company’s configurable driver’s display (known as the Virtual Cockpit) does away with the need to pepper the dashboard with buttons. The new A8’s interior is opulent without being overdone; even the air vents are subtly tucked away. The whole thing is a cerebral delight for the thinking person. When unoccupied, the front passenger seat has a section that can fold down to become a footrest for the rear passenger, which is something new. And is it just us, or does that steering wheel look awesome?

Photo by Audi

2017 Bentley Mulsanne

As well as providing magnificent power and surprisingly adroit handling considering its huge luxury conveyances, Bentley also specializes in gorgeous hand-crafted interiors. The 2017 Mulsanne is the most luxurious of the Bentley lineup and takes 150 hours simply to tailor all the leather into place. The Mulsanne’s rear quarters can be a sumptuous oasis of quiet relaxation or a high-tech workstation. There’s also the opportunity to enjoy the award-winning Naim audio system, with 2,200 watts going through 20 speakers to become the most powerful production system out there. The revamped 2017 model offers a longer-wheelbase version and costs around $370,000 before options, but nothing truly luxurious ever comes cheap.

Photo by Bentley Media

2017 BMW 7 Series

Even though the badge on the trunk doesn't say it, every BMW 7 Series imported into the United States is the long-wheelbase variant, so we already know there’s plenty of space in the interior. The 7 Series is an ingenious creation, providing comfort and tech gadgets aplenty — even an optional black headliner dotted with tiny LEDs to evoke a starry night — but none of this stuff weighs the car down too much. For a large luxury sedan, it has deceptive agility, making the interior an attractive place for those who sit in any seat. In the quest to have almost every sense stimulated, there’s even a fragranced air system. This is undoubtedly the most luxurious generation of the 7 Series ever.

Photo by BMW

2017 Lincoln Continental

As agreeable as the 2017 Continental’s exterior styling might be, no one would be surprised if Lincoln revealed that its all-new flagship sedan had been designed and developed from the inside out. Customers can sit down in one of the optional 30-way (that’s a lot, the most ever offered in a car) power-adjustable front seats and find the driving position of their dreams. Rear passengers are not neglected either, they have power-adjustable seats that are heated and cooled, and provide a massage, just like the riders up front. Naturally, there’s plenty of leather and wood. The Continental also offers a 19-speaker Revel Ultima sound system, which is a real audiophile’s choice.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the luxurious interiors of the S-Class or the stretched Mercedes-Maybach. It’s just that the E-Class, new for 2017, is more affordable yet still meets the company’s lofty standards for luxury and technology. Mercedes-Benz has a particular approach to interiors. Not too fussy, but not minimalist; driver-focused, though not to the detriment of other occupants. If features (of which there are many) cannot be elegant, then they are hidden away in the touchscreen menus. The cabin in the E-Class has just the right sense of occasion, yet it’s also welcoming and non-intimidating. So getting to grips with things like the adaptive cruise control and the twin-display option is more pleasure than a chore.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2017 Porsche Panamera

luxury cars often excel in interior design because they’re the first to embrace new technologies. What’s good about the 2017 Porsche Panamera is that it's configurable driver display still places the analog rev counter front and center, just like traditional Porsche sports cars. The center console is high, placing the shifter immediately by the driver’s right hand. The car looks like it’s meant to be driven by a human, not just an agglomeration of sensors and computers, and it's still spacious and plush. The Panamera is expected to be enjoyable for humans, especially those with expensive tastes and a preference for air suspensions. And despite a lack of buttons, the infotainment system is user-friendly.

Photo by Porsche

2017 Rolls-Royce Dawn

It could be any Rolls-Royce. A beautiful interior is as much a part of the marque’s upper-crust cachet as the Spirt of Ecstasy hood ornament. It’s just that with the 2017 Dawn’s roof folded down, the rest of humanity — even the people who don’t shop at Whole Foods — can appreciate what a jewel a car’s cabin can be. The Dawn goes for absolute comfort and opulence rather than trying to squeeze in too much technology. It’s amazing how the absence of Apple CarPlay or mobile wifi becomes insignificant when the painstakingly book-matched grains of the wood veneers bring so much visual appeal, and the finest of fine leather adds a pleasing tactile element.

Photo by Rolls-Royce

2017 Tesla Model S

By now, most of us are familiar with the huge touchscreen that takes up a large portion of the center console on the Tesla Model S. It’s the most visible reminder that we’re in something high-tech and barrier-breaking. The absence of engine noise, or indeed any noise, as the car accelerates at a breathtaking rate is an audible reminder. But what strangers to the Model S might not realize is that passenger space is not just enjoyed within the dimensions of legroom and headroom. This is also a wide car, so shoulder room is similarly generous. Even more, space is freed up because the Model S doesn't require a transmission tunnel. Factor in the high-quality cabin materials and this becomes a seriously impressive interior.

Photo by Tesla

2018 Volvo V90

Inside the 2018 Volvo V90 there is something truly special with a well-designed, elegant and subtly beautiful interior enhanced by the extra practicality of a wagon body style. It means more agility and aerodynamic efficiency than an SUV, but greater versatility than a sedan. To take a break from this crazy world, jump into a V90, let the door shut, feel the noise levels drop, then run a hand over the soft leather upholstery and satin-finished wood veneers. No one begrudges paying a premium for this kind of quality. Volvo also provides unsurpassed comfort to enjoy every day, and solid safety features we hope we’ll never need.

Photo by Volvo