When you first enter the Aurora, your sense of smell picks up an aura of the leather that a BMW or Mercedes driver would call familiar. The feel of the smooth, soft leather surfaces reinforces this sense of dTja vu. The leather is light-colored, in the latest Euro fashion, and the real burled walnut wood surfaces are not overwhelming. Oldsmobile interior designers have truly figured out the ambiance that makes the European and Asian luxury cars generally so appealing.The cowl is lower than the previous car's, giving you the impression you can see outside better. Even though the new Aurora is smaller outside, you actually gain a little head-, shoulder-, and hip room in the front. Tall drivers, like me, may sense a bit less legroom than the previous Aurora; and my left leg covered the driver's door stereo speaker. The trunk is 1 cubic foot smaller, but a wider opening and a low lift-over make it more useable and easier to unload a set of golf clubs.
The instrument panel is angled sharply toward the driver. The driver's adjustable lumbar support should allow back-pain sufferers to drive long distances in comfort. Climate controls are found on the left spoke of the steering wheel, but you may find these redundant since the climate functions buttons on the center console are angled so close to the driver that they're an easy reach. There is a trip computer that you can configure to your needs, and it's handy, too. The high-tech "rain-sensing" automatic interval wipers could not sense frozen wiper fluid or slush, we found out one cold morning, and it shifts the blades into overdrive when they aren't required.