My Mazdaspeed3 (the regular 3 has it as well) has a "rubberized" texture on the dash that really makes it seem nicer than it is ... My Mazda has a much nicer interior than the Volvo C30 and the Saturn Astra. I thought of all the cars in the <$25k range only the Civic Si coupe with Navi had a nicer interior but I think part of that was ergonomic design.

My point is that there are things that can be done with plastics to make them appear nice and the choice is made not to do so.

When we're talking about $35-40k for a car, what's another $300-500 dollars?

 

The Z32 definitely has one of the nicest layouts ever IMHO. ...and a 2DIN Navi HU would fit nicely into that center dash.

Of the subcompacts mentioned by charliemike, I like the Mazda3's layout MUCH more that the Civic. ...matter of fact, the only real negative about the Civic is that dashboard layout. Overall, both have interiors that I could easily live with.

 

I know the E class may not be in the same class, but it has the best interior I ever seen.

 

sat in the CTS interior today at the houston auto show...and wow.

i was very impressed.

(and impressed i was with the GT-R, M3 sedan, S5, and the aston martins....)