Affordable Sedans with the Best Interior

Word on the street is if you want roomy, you need an SUV. And if you want to be refined, go European. Well, here are four sedans that not only challenge conventional wisdom but come out on top.

At Least You Can Enjoy the Ride

Show of hands: Who loves commuting to work? Very few of us will put it on our list of favorite activities. But with these affordable and fuel-efficient cars, you can enjoy the journey.

Every one of these sedans is roomy, versatile, and includes an impressive list of standard and available features that will turn your drive to work into some high-quality “me” time.

Toyota Camry: Light and Airy but May Leave You Wanting More

Compared to the other sedans, the Toyota Camry is less refined, but you’ll still love its open, spacious cabin. The cockpit is thoughtfully arranged, and Toyota finally added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to all its models.

If you want creature comforts like leather seats and multi-zone climate control, you’ll need to upgrade to the XLE trim, which starts at around $33k.

Hyundai Sonata: Spacious, Sophisticated, and Affordable

The Hyundai Sonata offers the most abundant package of features compared to its rivals. It was one of the early adopters of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology, plus you get heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and a memory power-adjustable driver’s seat.

The starting MSRP on the base SE model runs a little over $25k, but for all of the comfort and convenience features you get, it remains among the top-value sedans on the road today.

Kia K5: Taking Aim at the Premium German Sedans

Side-by-side, the Kia K5 is clearly a close cousin to the Hyundai Sonata. Both offer sleek exteriors with sophisticated interiors to match. The K5 would earn extra stars for including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but Kia inexplicably swaps the wireless option out when you move up to the larger infotainment touchscreen.

Still, it offers enough headroom and legroom to keep most adults from ruining their posture. And the seats provide just the right amount of cushioning to keep everyone comfortable, even when you’re sitting in traffic.

Nissan Altima: Zero Gravity Seats but the Price Brings You Back to Earth

Nissan’s midsize sedan got an overhaul in 2019. Aesthetically, the interior still has some catching up to do to match the refinement of the K5, Sonata, and Camry. But once you settle into the zero-gravity seats, you may not care as much about those details.

What may be a deal-breaker for some, though, is the lack of smartphone integration in the base model. If you want CarPlay and Android Auto, you’ll have to move up to the SV trim. And since the base S model already starts at the mid-range price point of some of the other sedans listed here, many drivers may find that tough to swallow.

Our Favorites: The Cousins from South Korea

The Kia K5 and Hyundai Sonata are proof positive that you don’t have to spend piles of money to enjoy a rich set of features. Both offer spacious cabins with well-padded seats, plus extras like heated seats, a moonroof, and dual-zone climate control at an agreeable price point. If you’re looking for a new daily driver, do yourself a favor and take each one out for a test drive.