The 7 best cars with red interior (2023)
Car interiors come in many different colors, with the primary ones being black, gray and a brown/beige. These are considered “safe” options and will match any exterior color and there’s nothing wrong with that. One of the more difficult colors for a car to pull off is red interior. However, despite that difficulty, there are several cars that can do it with swagger and style. Here’s a list of some of the best cars with red interior.
What are the best cars with red interior?
Really, it comes down to personal preference. However, this list contains 7 of the best cars with red interiors that would even convince haters of the color red that it has a place, plus a couple bonus cars at the end. There is a mixture of luxurious cars, performance cars and affordable cars.
Kia Stinger GT 2
The Kia Stinger GT 2 is a is Kia’s answer to the need for a sporty sedan–and a disappearing breed, unfortunately. The GT 2 is the Stingers premium package with a twin-turbo V6 producing 365 horsepower. This car also has AWD. For an additional cost, a buyer can opt to red interior. However, it is a very nice option, with the seats being a Napa red leather for extra grip.
The red color isn’t a candy apple; rather, it’s more of a muted cherry. It can be paired with any of the available exterior color options, but would (probably) look best with one of the grayscale colors–or maybe a blue. The lower spec package–the GT line–also has a similar interior option.
If you’re looking to save some money, the 2021 Kia Stinger GT was also available with red interior.
Porsche 718 Boxster
The Porsche 718 Boxster is a fantastic performance car that produces 400 horsepower while maintaining the luxurious name that Porsche has grown. This sports car is also available with red interior.
It can either come in two-tone red and black, with the seat cushions and leather door inserts being red, or a completely red interior, meaning anything that is leather in the interior is red (certainly an acquired taste. This includes the steering wheel, dashboard, seats, door panels, and center console.
The Porsche 718 Boxster can also get a red soft top to match the interior if it is your hearts desire. If you’re looking for something a little more practical, the Panamera also has red available as an interior option.
Lexus LC
The Lexus LC, or LC500 depending on the year, is Lexus’s luxury performance coupe with a V8 making 471 horsepower. This is also available in a hybrid for improved fuel efficiency. The hybrid’s mpg is 26 city/34 highway and has a good ride experience. This model is available with red interior and is done tastefully and minimally, with it only being in the seats.
The LC is has a fairly strong technology package, although the navigation of the infotainment system could’ve been handled better. Red seats are a standard option across all LC trim levels. While this high end vehicle starts at $91k, it is an excellent option if you’re trying to marry luxury, performance and reliability.
BMW M Series
At this point, BMW makes a wide range of models that have several different trim options. The vehicles in their lineup that make the most sense with optioning red interior is their M series models.
Similar to the LC, the M series red is in the seat padding. As a whole, BMW has always been on the cutting edge with its technology package. The M series engine ranges from a twin turbo inline 6 to a twin turbo V8 on the M5, M6 and M8.
The seats being accented with red goes along very well with the red line in the M series logo. BMW does offer a M model in their sport utility vehicles, but it does not have a red option for the interior. It does offer a “sakhir orange”, which is awfully close to red. If it’s an SUV you’re looking for, then this might be the one.
Kia K5
The Kia K5 GT-line is available with red interior, albeit slightly more abrasive. However, this is the most affordable car on this list, with a sticker price of $30k for the this model. It’s important to note that is only this specific trim that the red interiors available. If you chose a trim too high (“GT”), it isn’t available anymore. It’s weird, I agree.
While this is technically a “GT-line” car, the Kia K5 it only makes 180 horsepower. However, its turbocharged 1.4 liter four cylinder engine gets 27 miles per gallon city and 37 highway. While it isn’t a powerful engine, it’s certainly fuel efficient.
Acura TLX
The Acura TLX is a sporty looking sedan, available with a Type-S trim that pushes more power in the engine, bringing 272 horsepower to 355 horsepower. This cars red interior option is vibrant, yet soft at the same time. The color works, especially with the Type-S branding as an “aggressive” car–although that remains up for debate.
With a turbocharged V6, the Acura TLX engine gets 19 miles per gallon city and 25 highway. While the sticker price is high–$55k–you still get a good amount of features from Honda luxury brand. 355 horsepower certainly isn’t nothing, and the technology in the vehicle is on par with all other modern vehicles.
If you’re something a little cheaper with a price of $27k used, the Acura ILX is a discontinued model that you can pick up used with a similar interior option. It is much slower and on par with the K5, but still has the luxury of an Acura.
Lexus NX 300
Rounding out this list, the Lexus NX 300 is one of the few cars with red interior on all trim levels. However, if you’re looking at the Lexus NX 300, you may as well step up the the AWD model for a few thousand dollars more. This delivers 287 horsepower giving it all the power it needs to make good use of the all wheel drive system.
This is done as tastefully as the LC, but the it crawls up toward the stack and dash. This vehicle is equip-able with many a feature, but it depends what you want out of your sport utility vehicle. There isn’t much else worth mentioning. It’s a solid luxury SUV.
Honorable mentions
The majority of the list above are very expensive vehicles. The only exception is the Kia K5 and MAYBE the Lexus NX 300. Here are a couple cars with red interiors that are a bit more realistic and achievable.
Toyota Camry XSE
The Toyota Camry’s interior comes with an option for red. This sedan starts at $25k, but the color is only available on in the XSE/XSE Hybrid which starts at $31k. It makes a decent 206 horsepower and gets 27/38 mpg, making for solid fuel efficiency.
This color is in several places in the interior, primarily on entirety of the seat, door trim, and center console. The car is competitive with the K5 in price, but this has a slight edge in power.
Chrysler Pacifica Red S Edition
Yes, a Chrysler Pacifica is on this list. While this red-interior van isn’t available new anymore, there are several available on the used market. These had a special trim, dubbed the “Red S Edition.” It’s hardly affordable, sitting at $45K to own it used.
This is more comical than anything. If this is what you’re looking for, then go for it. It’s fully loaded with a “premium” package (or as premium as a Chrysler Pacifica can get) and gets decent gas mileage.
Mazda 3 Hatchback
The Mazda 3 Hatchback with red interiors is by far my favorite on this list. It’s a very deep color, venturing into a mahogany. The cheapest version it’s available on is the Carbon edition, which starts at $29k. It’s also available on the sport plus, which has a turbocharged four cylinder making 250 horsepower.
In general, Mazda does a good job with stretching the dollar and making a “luxurious,” premium experience as affordable as possible. Plus, they still offer manual transmissions with many of their vehicles.
Parting thoughts about cars with red interiors
This color is definitely an acquired taste. That being said, it can also really bring a unique experience into the cabin of a car. While there are cars that do it more tastefully than others, cars with red interior can be a fun way to spice up a vehicle. Just as important is making sure the interior matches the exterior.
No matter the color interior you choose, make sure you like it. It’s very difficult to change the color of it once it’s picked–and certainly very expensive if you want it done well and permanently.