ATLANTA, Feb. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- From daily commutes, running errands, carpools and even road trips, Americans spend a lot of time in their cars. Aside from being used as transportation, drivers also want their vehicle to be a comfortable place, with quality materials that are laid out in a logical, thoughtful manner, and that may even be as eye-catching as the exterior. Helping consumers find the top vehicle choices that recognize the importance of what is on the inside, and not just the outside, Autotrader editors today selected the 10 Best Car Interiors Under $50,000 for 2018.

"What's on the inside of a car is arguably as important as what's on the outside, since drivers and passengers spend all their travel time here," said Tara Trompeter, managing editor for Autotrader. "We've focused on the latest models, and most have been updated recently to offer attractive, comfortable, thoughtfully-planned interiors. Choose any one of these models, based on your personal preferences and needs, and we suspect everyone will be a little happier during the hours spent on the road each week."

10 Best Car Interiors Under $50,000 for 2018

2018 Audi Q5
The recently updated Audi Q5 boasts new styling and a sporty character -- especially compared to many rival crossovers. But the main attraction is the interior, which is especially handsome. Not only are the materials fantastic, but most Q5 models boast Audi's excellent (and surprisingly easy to use) "Virtual Cockpit."

2018 BMW i3
Constructed using the "maximum amount possible" of recycled materials, the interior is a love-it-or-hate-it affair -- but regardless of your feelings on it, you can certainly tell the i3's cabin has some big differences from a standard car interior.

2018 Buick Enclave
The 2018 Enclave is fully redesigned and it's a huge step up, touting a gorgeous, luxurious interior with a simple, elegant design and handsome materials. In an age of car interiors that constantly seem to have an "attitude" with sharp angles and creases, the Enclave's cabin is more graceful than most.

2018 Genesis G80
The mid-level G80 is an excellent car -- and it boasts excellent materials, with a handsome cabin that's laid out well. While the G80's interior doesn't have any crazy swoops or unusual design elements to make it especially memorable, its combination of nice materials, comfortable seats, lots of cabin space, and well-placed controls ensures it's an excellent place to spend time.

2018 Kia Stinger
The Kia Stinger exterior styling is certainly promising, but the interior is just as nice -- a handsome cabin with great materials and intuitive controls. There's also a surprising amount of rear-seat room for a sport sedan -- and we're impressed with the door panels, which boast impressive quality typically befitting a more expensive vehicle.

2018 Lincoln Continental
While other automakers have adopted interior design that's intentionally daring, Lincoln has instead stayed in the realm of traditional luxury with comfortable seats, a roomy cabin, and easy-to-use controls with obvious placements.

2018 Mazda CX-9 Signature
Although the Mazda CX-9 was on our list of the best interiors under $50,000 last year, we brought it back this year because the interior is -- quite simply -- still one of our favorites. It's roomy, it's versatile, and it's attractive -- and while some people don't like the "pop up" screen on the dashboard, we find that it's surprisingly easy to use and intuitive

2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The interior of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class seems to improve dramatically with each passing redesign -- and the latest model is certainly the best yet. While the C-Class still doesn't offer the desirable "dual screen" setup you'll find in an E- or S-Class, it still touts excellent materials, comfortable seats, and good controls that feel almost satisfying to touch.

2018 Ram 1500
Although there's an all-new, fully-redesigned 2019 Ram set to debut soon, we're still smitten with the interior in the outgoing 2018 model. As you escalate through the Ram's trim levels, the interior improves dramatically, with some top-end models offering luxury car levels of comfort and sophistication.

2018 Volvo XC60
The 2018 Volvo XC60 is fully redesigned with a handsome new cabin that resembles the gorgeous, highly praised interior in the larger XC90. It features a large touchscreen that's tremendously responsive and intuitive and easily ranks as one of the best in the car world.

To learn more about the 10 Best Car Interiors Under $50,000 from Autotrader, including photos, detailed vehicle information and available inventory, visit https://www.autotrader.com/best-cars/10-best-car-interiors-under-50000-for-2018-273959.

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About Autotrader
Autotrader is the most visited third-party car shopping site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience. Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, financial, retail and wholesale solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader^®, Dealer.com^®, Dealertrack^®, Kelley Blue Book^®, Manheim^®, NextGear Capital^®, vAuto^®, Xtime^® and a host of other brands. The global company has 34,000-plus team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

SOURCE Autotrader