The interior is roomy, comfortable and functional. The long, wide body, along with a relatively thin door design, translates into impressive shoulder and hip room for a compact pickup. Seat choices are high-backed bucket seats for two passengers, a bench seat for three, or a reclining 60/40 split bench. Front bucket seats are standard on four-wheel-drive SLS and SLE regular cabs along with all Crew Cabs and four-wheel-drive extended cabs. Driver lumbar adjustments and standard recliners on the seats enhanced comfort in our test model.

Extended-cab trucks offer fold-down jump seats for rear occupants, though there isn't a lot of space back there for adults. Three-door models lose one rear jump seat, a worthwhile sacrifice for the improved loading access.

Four-door Crew Cab models offer comfortable rear seats relative to this class. The seatbacks are slightly raked, an improvement over upright designs in some of the other mid-size crew cab pickups. Rear legroom is adequate for people with feet that are small enough to slide under the front seats. Getting out of the back seats is a bit awkward, however, because it requires pulling your feet in and threading them between the B-pillar and the seat bottom. Also, the rear door handle is a bit awkward. We use the phrase "a bit" because the little people who are most likely to ride back there probably won't complain.

The sculpted instrument panel includes radio and ventilation controls angled 15 degrees toward the driver for improved accessibility. One neat detail is a passenger-assist grip located on the dashboard. Up-level models now have two dash-mounted power outlets below the ashtray. The center console can accommodate an optional cassette player. Other options include power windows, door locks, tinted glass, and an upgraded remote keyless entry system with security alarm. Safety features include tall integral head rests and a seat belt design that allows the belt to travel with the seat for a safer, more comfortable ride for occupants of all sizes.