The Best Used Car Interiors

The Skoda Superb is all about making things easy. Everything is laid out just where you’d expect to find it, but more than anything it’s the build quality of the Superb which shines through here – it puts other more expensive models to shame. What that also means is that used models tend to fend off daily abuse better than rivals, so a second-hand version should still look and feel fresh even with high mileage.

In the Superb you’ve also got acres of rear seat legroom and headroom, too, while because it’s a hatchback as standard there’s a lot of boot space to use up as well. You can get it as an even more spacious estate, should you want.

Mercedes completely changed the game when it introduced its latest A-Class. The interior, which is part nightclub, part stealth fighter, is at the core of the appeal as with loads of clever tech and a very out-there design it’s a welcome change to other more ‘regular’ hatchback cabins.

The good news is that you don’t need to get the tip-top specification in order to net this cabin, either, as it’s there on all types of A-Class. We’re big fans of the turbine-style air vents, too, while later models get a full wraparound screen which has also been used on larger, more expensive Mercedes models like the E-Class and S-Class. It’s been a true beneficiary of trickle-down technology.

This generation of 5 Series brings some trademark BMW touches. It’s all very driver-focused, with loads of adjustability giving you the ability to get comfy no matter your size or shape. You’re also able to sit quite low to the ground, giving everything a sportier feel than you might expect from a car as large as this.

There are loads of great materials used throughout, while the general fit-and-finish is top-notch. The 5 Series, as with other big BMWs, does suffer from some wear markers that present themselves in high-mileage versions, such as collapsed seat bolsters and worn steering wheels – so look out on any model that you might be considering.

We’ve covered off relatively high-value cars up until this point but the Dacia Jogger proves you don’t need to spend big in order to get a great cabin. What the Jogger’s interior lacks in premium materials it more than makes up in clever design with its chunky controls and clear displays making this a remarkably user-friendly option.

Sure, it may feel a little cheap-and-cheerful in places, but with its hard-wearing plastics the Jogger is a car that’ll handle the busiest of adventures. You’ll also find space for up to seven people in the Jogger, too, and you can remove those rearmost seats entirely to free up some extra boot space. It’s a brilliantly flexible interior and one that we’re big fans of as a result.

Audi has always had considerably prowess in the area of interiors and nowhere has that been more evident than in the A3. Despite being one of Audi’s smaller and more affordable models, the A3 still gets the excellent build quality of this firm’s larger cars all tied together in a car which is incredibly useable on a day-to-day basis.

Five-door Sportback models throw in some added practicality, too, though standard three-door versions still offer a decent level of space. More than anything it’s the tactile materials used in the A3 which add to this car’s appeal and also mean that this car stays looking fresh even with thousands of miles under the wheels. It really is one to beat.

Fancying a slice of Scandi-cool? The V90 is the car to do the job. Volvo has always been known for its well made but no-nonsense interiors and you’ll find just that inside the V90. For a while – prior to Volvo culling its estate cars – it was one of the Swedish firm’s most spacious models, with a big boot and a larger interior making a sure-fire hit with families.

The main interior layout is very intuitive, too, while the large central screen is packed with features and simple to operate. We like that you can get the V90’s interior decked out with proper wood trim, too, which adds a level of warmth to the cabin that you don’t get with other models.

Ever since the first ‘new’ Mini, this is a car which has wowed when it comes to its cabin design. Packing the same classic-inspired touches which influence the exterior design, the Mini’s interior has the look and feel of an older car brought fully up to date with the latest materials and features. It’s nice that the main binnacle remains – a bit like the central speedo of the classic Mini – but in recent times it has been supplemented by a screen ahead of the driver too.

Being a Mini it’s not the most spacious inside, but it makes up for this with a solid build quality. We also like the row of quick-fire toggle buttons ahead of the gearstick which gives access to a variety of functions. Newer versions of the Mini get a prominent red starter toggle here, too.

While it may not be the last word in material quality, the interior of the Alfa Romeo Giulia gets into this list for the level of Italian flair it brings. It’s a welcome change to the more subdued German offerings, with the Giulia’s pleasantly shaped wheel and nicely padded seats combining to make this car feel special every time you get inside. We’ve got to highlight this car’s gearshift paddles, too, as they’re so large and well-shaped that they feel fresh out of a supercar, rather than in a standard saloon.

The best news is that you get this interior regardless of the specification you choose. You don’t need to go for the tip-top Quadrifoglio in order to get those magnificent paddles, either – they’re fitted to all models.

The interior of the Honda Civic of how good materials and strong build quality can speak volumes. Now Honda has always been well-known for making car interiors which last the test of time, but it was in this generation of Civic where it really hit its stride. There’s loads to like here, too, with well-placed buttons combining with solid materials to make a very pleasant ambience overall.

It’s got quite a sporty flavour, too, and while top-spec Type R versions may impress with its large bucket seats and aluminium finishers, the entire range of Civic cars makes a big impression from the inside. There’s a good amount of space, too, and since the Civic adopts a hatchback layout it’s got a decent level of boot space as well.

We’re finishing on quite the high note with the Porsche Cayman. This sports car manufacturer’s interiors have always been head-and-shoulders above the rest, but the Cayman’s interior feels particularly special.

The seating position is spot-on with loads of adjustability, while the material quality throughout the cabin is top-notch. There are plenty of tactile features used, too, with proper metal combining with excellent leather to create a truly amazing environment to spend time in. It’s also brilliantly driver-focused; all of the controls are right where you need them when on the move, so it all become second-nature before long. Remember, too, that the Cayman is reasonable practical thanks to a deep ‘frunk’ and a handy area behind the seats.