Like all good Scandinavian design, the S60's interior is simple and functional. The materials have an upscale quality and look nice without trying too hard. The floating center stack, which has storage space carved out underneath it, was trimmed in aluminum and artistic to behold.

The center stack is also easy to use. The climate control system has an icon of a person on the center stack that makes warming up the different parts of your body easy. Are your feet cold? Press the icon's feet to get warm air flowing to your tootsies. Your kids will think it's nifty. My test car came with the optional Multimedia Package ($2,700) that includes navigation with voice control, an upgraded sound system and a backup camera.

For those of us with children, the five-seater's sporty design and sedan-ness doesn't make much room for little ones. This is a car that can handle only two child-safety seats at a time — no matter the type. To that point, only two average-sized adults can fit comfortably in the 60/40-split rear seats, though these sportier rear seats are not unusual in this entry-level turbocharged market. Think of them as a casualty of the stylish design and dominating need for speed.

There is no way I could take my family of five up to the mountains for a weekend in this car. Of course, that would force my husband and me to steal away in it on our own for a weekend, and that's not such a bad thing.

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample