Skip advert
Advertisement

Which has the best interior?

A special car needs a special cabin. So which fits the bill here?

With the hood safely stowed, the world and his wife can admire your roadster’s interior, so it needs to look good. And as you’ll be the one spending time in it, a car’s ability to make each journey feel special is a priceless asset. Good ergonomics and plenty of kit also add to the enjoyment. But which of our drop-tops boasts the best cabin?

Advertisement - Article continues below

The 370Z has a wealth of retro touches inspired by the original Z-cars, including a trio of racy circular auxiliary dials above the centre console. But while their red-on-black typeface recalls the firm’s early sports cars, it’s at odds with the white-on-black of the main instruments.

One thing you can’t fault the Nissan for, though, is the amount of standard kit inside. The GT pack includes heated and cooled leather seats, a CD changer, cruise control and xenon headlights. And Connect Premium (£1,550) adds sat-nav plus a 9.3GB hard drive.

If only the company had spent as much money on the ergonomics.

The steering wheel adjusts for rake only, while the seatbase feels too short and lacks under-thigh support. They’re electrically adjusted, but the controls are oddly located next to the wide transmission tunnel, and feel cheap. In this company, however, much of the Nissan’s cabin is below par – most notably the switchgear, elements of which are derived from other less exotic models in the firm’s range. A smattering of leather and suede help to lift the ambience a little, but poor plastics on some surfaces lower the tone.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

XC40

2020 Volvo

XC40

54,123 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £20,800
View XC40
Kuga

2023 Ford

Kuga

74,868 milesAutomaticPetrol2.5L

Cash £15,350
View Kuga
Fiesta

2017 Ford

Fiesta

62,440 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £6,495
View Fiesta
Tiguan

2020 Volkswagen

Tiguan

39,195 milesManualDiesel2.0L

Cash £19,819
View Tiguan

In contrast to the dark finish in the 370Z, our BMW’s light- coloured interior is a revelation. And even with the roof in place, the Z4’s extra side windows make the cabin feel bright and airy compared to its fabric-roofed rivals. Finding the correct driving position is also easy, thanks to a fully adjustable steering wheel and excellent seats.

Advertisement - Article continues below

On the whole, the interior is well built and robust, and while some of the switchgear is shared with other BMW models, it’s of such high quality that it simply doesn’t matter. It’s also the only model on test to feature an electronic parking brake, which saves space on the centre console. One area where the Z4 can’t beat the 370Z is on standard spec. While the £33,830 price brings xenon headlights, leather trim, climate control and MP3 inputs, the car trails on toys.

Standard equipment is not the Porsche’s forte – much of the kit found on its rivals is relegated to the Boxster options list, including xenon lights and climate control. As an example, our test car had more than £11,000 worth of extras fitted, including nearly £4,500 on its lurid Exclusive paint finish and black Boxster S alloy wheels.

From behind the wheel, this seems less important, and the low-slung driving position and perfectly placed pedals provide a masterclass for interior designers. The dark leather upholstery and rooflining
made our model feel a little claustrophobic, and the traditional Porsche approach is sober for such a fun car. There’s no faulting the build quality, though, as the Boxster feels the most solidly assembled vehicle on test, with superb plastics and material quality.

The Porsche’s layout is by far the sportiest of our test trio, too. Its centrally mounted rev counter and easy to read black-on-white instruments successfully blend clarity with real racing intent.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,499 off RRP*Used from £10,695
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,135 off RRP*
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £7,361 off RRP*Used from £12,495
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production
Range Rover Sport SV Black - front

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production

There’s also a new SV Black trim, and a Range Rover Sport Stealth Package for non SVs
News
1 Jul 2025
Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model
Ferrari Amalfi - front static

Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model

A slick new look and more power are the headlines for Ferrari’s new baby, but it’s probably some simple new buttons that will get customers’ attention
News
1 Jul 2025
Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV
Geely EX5 - front

Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV

Geely has looked to Lotus to ensure it's new electric SUV lives up to our driving expectations
News
2 Jul 2025