Tech Car of the Year

Cabin electronics (this is pretty much anything in the dashboard, including the stereo, navigation, and Bluetooth phone integration): Does the car have a full array, with no major component missing? Are the electronics easy and intuitive to operate? Do they contribute to or distract from the overall utility of the car?

Performance (where the rubber meets the road, this covers power train and road-holding technologies): Does the engine use something more advanced than simple cam-controlled valves? Is it a hybrid? ABS should be present, but does the car also have traction control or more advanced anti-wheel-slip technology? Do all these components make it pleasurable to drive?

Safety (this area covers crash prevention, such as road holding, along with postcrash protection): Does the car have a full array of air bags? Does it have a vehicle stability program, traction control, and all-wheel drive? Are there advanced systems such as lane-departure warnings?