(April 15, 2013) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Asian automakers secured seven spots among this year’s Ward’s 10 Best Interiors. Three vehicles from domestic manufacturers made the list, two from General Motors and one from Chrysler.

Named from GM are the low-cost Chevrolet Spark and the top-line Cadillac XTS. From Chrysler, the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn earned a spot.

WardsAuto editors selected the top passenger compartments after spending February and March evaluating 46 vehicles that are all-new or feature significantly upgraded interiors. The winners will be recognized during a special ceremony at the WardsAuto Interiors Conference to be held May 22 in Dearborn, Mich.

This year’s winners:

    Acura RDX ($40,315)
    Cadillac XTS ($64,695)
    Chevrolet Spark ($15,795)
    Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ($35,925)
    Kia Forte ($25,515)
    Lexus GS 450h ($68,139)
    Mazda6 ($31,490)
    Nissan Pathfinder ($44,395)
    Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn ($55,390)
    Toyota Avalon ($42,449)

This is the third consecutive year WardsAuto editors have selected the industry’s top interiors by using the well-established model applied to the Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition, now entering its 20th year.

Editors drive the vehicles during their routine commutes and submit score sheets ranking each interior based on several criteria, including materials, ergonomics, comfort, safety, value, fit-and-finish and overall design. Scores also are applied based on the user-friendliness of the human-machine interface and the ability to link mobile phones and access vehicle information.

“This year’s batch of winners really drives home the point that interiors are a vital part of the battle for consumers’ hearts and minds,” said WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

“It wasn’t uncommon all that long ago for auto makers to view interiors as the best place to take cost out of a vehicle. They eventually figured out that’s a big mistake, because people spend a lot more time looking at the inside of their car than the outside.”

The Cadillac XTS fullsize sedan, pictured above, earned its place with a thoroughly modern and intuitive HMI, the Cadillac User Experience, which can be voice-activated and integrates an adjustable head-up display that encourages drivers to keep their eyes on the road. CUE is being applied across the Cadillac range, with good reason.

Wards said the Chevrolet Spark, developed in South Korea, is all about fun and function. Decked out in unforgettable “Jalapeno Green” inside and out, the Spark is bound to be that first new car for a lot of young buyers – one they will remember fondly.

Priced under $16,000, the Spark comes surprisingly well-equipped, with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, ample storage cubbies, heated front seats, head-curtain and side-impact airbags, 6-speaker high-end audio system, USB port and Chevrolet MyLink hands-free smartphone hookup. And don’t forget the luminescent green interior trim, which will kickstart anyone’s day.

About the Ram Laramie the editors said, the matte-finish wood trim is natural looking and of the highest quality; the buckled saddle bags attached to the seat backs hearken back to the pony express; and the filigree looks like it belongs on expensive cowboy boots. If Bentley made a pickup truck, its cabin would look like this.

Source: Ward's Auto