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 regular cabs along with all Crew Cabs and four-wheel-drive extended cabs. Driver lumbar adjustments and reclining backrests enhanced comfort in our test model.

Extended-cab Sonomas have a single fold-down jump seat for the occasional rear occupant, though there isn't a lot of space back there for an adult.

Four-door Crew Cab models offer comfortable rear seats relative to this class. The seatbacks are slightly raked, an improvement over the upright designs found in some 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 have two dash-mounted power outlets below the ashtray. The center console can accommodate an optional cassette player. Other options include power windows and door locks, tinted glass, and an upgraded remote keyless entry system with security alarm. Safety features include tall integral headrests, and a seat-belt design that allows the belt to travel with the seat. That provides a safer, more comfortable ride for occupants of all sizes.