Top 5 Cool Car Interiors

Carmakers are finally beginning to get the hint – boring interiors are, well, boring. It looks like the days of charcoal, gray or black cloth seats and slabs of bland plastic are behind us. Manufacturers everywhere are churning out some really cool interiors that make the cabin as much of a statement about the owner as the exterior of the car. Take a look at DriverSide’s top 5 cool interiors to see what we mean.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

What we think:
 
The world’s aflutter with news of Chevrolet’s brand-new muscle car, and while the massive V-8 and retro styling is cool as can be, General Motors didn’t turn a blind eye to the interior. The 2010 Camaro does a great job of taking classic elements and making them new. From the mean looking steering wheel to the bipod gauges with vintage font, die-hard fans of the classic Camaro have much to be excited about. What’s more, the car can be had with super-cool console gauges, just like the famous 1969 model. 
 
At a glance:
 
MSRP: $31,040
Engine and Drivetrain: 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque; six-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
MPG: 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway

2010 Lincoln MKT

What we think:

Lincoln’s new full-size crossover boasts one of the most attractive interiors of any luxury ride out there. With a striking, sweeping dash that mirrors the MKT’s unique front grille, Lincoln has made sure the people hauler is as slick inside as it is out. Gorgeous burled wood accents and an available light leather interior means this crossover wears some seriously snazzy threads inside. The driver gets the pleasure of enjoying some of the most attractive gauges of any vehicle on the road and a well-sculpted wheel. 
 
At a glance:
 
MSRP: $44,200
Engine and Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V-6 engine with 268 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, available twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 355 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque; six-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
MPG: 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway (3.7-liter V-6), 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway (3.5-liter V-6)
 

2010 Chevrolet Malibu

What we think:

Surprised to see the Malibu on a list of attractive interiors? So were we until we slid into the cockpit. The car received a complete redesign in 2008, and the dual-scallop dash, sweeping center stack and sharp three-pod gauges are a welcome change to the blandness of the old car. Two-tone accents in burnt orange or khaki do much to spice up the car’s insides, and the leather seats on the higher trim levels are both comfortable and attractive. Small details like cleverly-hidden blue-green LED lights add ambient lighting at night, illuminating the gear selector and door handles when things go dark. 
 
At a glance:
 
MSRP: $22,325
Engine and Drivetrain: 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 169 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque; four or six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
MPG: 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway (four-speed automatic), 22 mpg city, 33 mpg highway (six-speed automatic)

2010 Volvo XC60

What we think:

If beautiful is cool, then the XC60 has the market cornered. Volvo has done an amazing job with the XC60’s insides, serving up beautiful two-tone brown and tan leather seats, brushed aluminum accents on the doors and an open, airy center stack trimmed in light wood. The driver gets treated to genuinely sharp, easy-to-read gauges with free-floating needles, and that gorgeous center-stack is slightly oriented toward the left-hand side of the vehicle. Up above, an optional laminated panoramic sunroof washes the interior in sunlight, making the cabin as comfortable as your living room. 
 
At a glance:
 
MSRP: $33,845
Engine and Drivetrain: Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque; six-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
MPG: 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway
 

2010 Kia Soul

What we think:

The Kia Soul’s interior is hands down the coolest of any car out there right now. Not only can you chose between killer seat fabric colors like bright red and houndstooth, but the Soul comes with neat LED lights that pulse to the beat of your music. Necessary? Not at all, but it makes the inexpensive car a great place to be, which is more than we can say for most cars in this price point. There’s also enough storage inside to carry friends and cargo anywhere you want to go, making this interior as functional as it is swank.
 
At a glance:
 
MSRP: $13,300
Engine and Drivetrain: 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 122 horsepower and 115 lb-ft of torque, optional 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 142-horsepower and 137 lb-ft of torque; five-speed manual, optional four-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
MPG: 26 mpg city, 31 mpg highway (1.6-liter), 25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway (2.0-liter)



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