The days of giant touchscreens and buried climate controls may finally be starting to fade, and according to WardsAuto, that is very good news for car buyers.
WardsAuto just announced its 2026 10 Best Interiors & UX (User Experience) winners, and this year’s list shows automakers are paying closer attention to what drivers actually want inside their vehicles. Judges praised cabins that combine technology with usability, noting that physical buttons and knobs are making a comeback after years of forcing drivers to hunt through touchscreen menus just to adjust the air conditioning.
WardsAuto says the shift comes against a backdrop of persistent consumer frustration with in-vehicle technology, citing J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study that found infotainment systems still generate roughly twice as many complaints as anything related to vehicle exteriors.
"Consumers have spoken, and automakers are listening," said Drew Winter, Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX judge. "After more than a decade of ever-larger touchscreens and buried menus, the majority of our 2026 test vehicles put the controls drivers reach for most often – volume, climate, seat heaters – right back under their fingertips. The result is an interior that feels modern but doesn't force you to take your eyes off the road."
The annual competition evaluated 28 new or significantly refreshed vehicles between February and April of this year. Judges rated them on design, comfort, materials, connectivity, infotainment systems, displays, controls, driver assistance technology, and overall value.
2026 Nissan Sentra SR. Credit: Nissan.One thing that stood out this year was the wide price range. The least expensive winner was the Nissan Sentra SR at around $35,000, while the most expensive was the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X at roughly a quarter-million dollars. Yet WardsAuto said several mid-priced vehicles impressed judges with luxury-level features once reserved for high-end brands.
The winners also reveal another shift in the industry. Only two full-electric vehicles made the final list, a sign that automakers are still heavily investing in gasoline and hybrid vehicles even as EV development continues.
WardsAuto said the strongest interiors this year shared several common traits: attractive colors and textures, comfortable seats, easy-to-use controls, fast phone connectivity, wireless charging, intuitive advanced safety systems, and more sustainable interior materials.
Here are the winners of the 2026 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX awards, listed in alphabetical order:
• Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X
• Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige
• GMC Acadia Denali Ultimate
• Jeep Cherokee Overland 4x4
• Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Electric
• Nissan Sentra SR
• Porsche Macan 4S Electric
• Subaru Outback Touring XT
• Toyota RAV4 Limited
• Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line
The Corvette ZR1X particularly impressed judges with what WardsAuto described as a cockpit blending “Italian supercar and jet fighter” inspiration. One standout feature is its front-end lift system, which raises the nose of the car to avoid scraping expensive aerodynamic components on speed bumps or steep driveways. Push a button, save thousands of dollars. That’s technology people can actually appreciate.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Nissan Sentra SR earned praise for delivering an impressive amount of technology at a much lower price point. WardsAuto highlighted features like ProPilot Assist adaptive cruise control, lane centering, drive modes, and brake hold technology, saying some more expensive competitors didn’t match its value.
Volkswagen’s Tiguan SEL R-Line also surprised judges by offering massaging seats in a vehicle priced around $45,000, another example of premium features slowly filtering into more affordable vehicles.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Electric and Porsche Macan 4S EV stood out not just for their interiors, but also for improving the charging experience. Both vehicles offer separate ports for North American Charging Standard (NACS) fast charging and Level 2 charging, eliminating the need for adapters in many situations.
Porsche Macan 4S Electric. Credit: Porsche.One of the most interesting takeaways from this year’s awards may be what’s missing: giant tablet-style screens dominating every function in the car. Automakers seem to be realizing that drivers still appreciate simplicity. There’s something comforting about reaching for a real knob without taking your eyes off the road.
Imagine that. After spending years reinventing the dashboard, the industry may finally be rediscovering common sense.
2026 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Nominees
The full slate of 28 nominees evaluated this year: Acura ADX, Audi Q3, Bentley Continental GT, Cadillac Vistiq, Chevrolet Bolt, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, Dodge Charger, Ford Maverick Lobo, Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige, GMC Acadia Denali Ultimate, Honda Passport, Honda Prelude, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Cherokee Overland 4x4, Kia Sportage, Lucid Gravity, Mazda CX-5, Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ Electric, Nissan Leaf, Nissan Sentra SR, Polestar 4, Porsche Macan 4S Electric, Subaru Outback Touring XT, Subaru Trailseeker, Toyota C-HR, Toyota RAV4 Limited, Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line and Volvo EX30.
