Most Underrated Car Interiors of Recent Years

Explore overlooked car interiors praised for smart design and comfort, including the 2025 Civic Hybrid, Yukon Denali Ultimate, VW Tiguan and Audi e-tron GT.

Car interiors rarely become the main reason people talk about a new model. Headlines usually focus on horsepower, acceleration figures, and fresh platforms, while the cabin is treated as a secondary detail. Yet in real life, it is the interior that defines whether a vehicle feels genuinely comfortable day after day—and that is exactly why some of the strongest cabin designs end up being overlooked.

One clear example is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid. In a MotorTrend review centered on the interior experience, the Civic is described as being designed around practical logic rather than flashy styling tricks. Its 9-inch infotainment display comes with a clean layout but, more importantly, retains physical controls such as a Home button and a volume knob—features that are increasingly disappearing from modern dashboards. The 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster offers multiple display configurations, while the climate system remains straightforward instead of being forced entirely into touchscreen menus. Even a dedicated brightness adjustment wheel for the instrument panel stands out as a small but meaningful reminder that the car was built with everyday usability in mind. The review also highlights a drawback: despite being a top trim, the Civic still lacks seat memory, which may surprise buyers expecting a more premium feature set.

If the Civic represents understated functionality, the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate illustrates a different kind of underappreciation—one where a luxury cabin simply does not get the attention it arguably deserves because the vehicle itself tends to stay out of the spotlight. In a DuPont Registry review, the Yukon Denali Ultimate is described as a premium SUV that can “fly under the radar.” Inside, the approach is clearly upscale, with a Woodland Mahogany interior theme and an emphasis on premium trim and craftsmanship. The centerpiece is a massive 16.8-inch display capable of running multiple apps at once, but the more telling detail is that key functions remain easy to access thanks to retained physical switches instead of being buried deep in digital menus. The review also points to high-end equipment such as a 22-speaker Bose audio system, while practicality is backed by a measurable advantage: cargo capacity reaches up to 122.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

A similar push toward interior quality can be seen in the mainstream segment with Volkswagen’s messaging around the all-new 2025 Tiguan. In an official release, Volkswagen specifically highlights a more refined, high-quality interior along with an upgraded infotainment system. A separate announcement focusing on the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo goes further, listing tangible cabin upgrades that shape how the vehicle feels: American walnut trim, Varenna leather seating, and a stitched center console. The layout also moves the gear selector to the steering column, a change that frees up space in the center area and gives the cabin a cleaner, more functional design.

Even in the premium world, some models remain underrated not because the product is weak, but because public attention is often drawn to louder competitors. In an Auto Express list of the most underrated cars, the Audi e-tron GT is singled out with a clear emphasis on the cabin, described as featuring an exquisite interior, sculpted seats, and extensive technology.

Together, these examples reveal a consistent trend: the strongest interiors of recent years are not defined only by bigger screens or longer equipment lists, but by how intelligently the cabin works in everyday use. Physical controls, ergonomic layouts, improved materials, smarter use of space, and clear interface design are increasingly becoming the details that shape a car’s true class—even if they do not always dominate the marketing headlines.