I had high hopes for the 2012 Volvo XC60. I recently (reluctantly) ended a long-term relationship with my own beloved Volvo, a C30, because it no longer fit my evolving family. Having recently added a husband and stepdaughter to my previous status as a single mom of two, we're now in the market for a five-seater like the XC60. I hoped that maybe this car would fill my empty heart.

While my courtship with the well-mannered XC60 started out positive, the chemistry just wasn't there. However, he … I mean it would make a perfect fit for someone else.

The XC60 comes in front- and all-wheel-drive versions in 3.2, T6 and T6 R-Design trims with Premier, Premier Plus and, new for this year, Platinum editions (see the 2011 and 2012 versions side by side). I tested the T6 R-Design — it offers a slightly more aggressive look and driving experience — in the all-wheel-drive Platinum edition, which checked in at $52,675.

With a huge number of mix and match configurations, there's an XC60 for every taste and budget. See them compared here.

• Exterior
• Family-friendly features
• It's the little things that count
• Sense and style
• Behind the wheel
• Safety