Cabin electronics (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? Does the car employ advanced driving technologies, such lane departure warnings or adaptive cruise control?

Performance and platform (where the rubber meets the road, this covers powertrain 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 antiwheel slip technology? Do all these components make it pleasurable to drive? Does it have a vehicle stability program, traction control, and all-wheel drive?