Bee cool.

With five cylinders and 168 horses kicking, the compact Volvo S40 handles the quirks of Los Angeles driving with aplomb. Those tricky on-ramps, for instance: The infamous Northridge quake caused freeways to settle in pockets of the City of Angels, leaving us with shortened ramps on some approaches. Small cars may try to take flight or trip into the next lane. The S40 is unfazed, however: This Volvo keeps its line straighter than a bee after its favorite nectar. Driving from Los Angeles to San Diego--switching lanes, passing cars, braking for red lights--the S40 feels balanced, confident, and secure. The manual shifter is the smoothest I've seen. And the S40's specially coated radiator changes ground-level ozone into oxygen as air passes through--proving that not all environmentally responsible cars are hybrids. Simplicity of Swedish design, ergonomically placed environment controls, and high-quality finishes create one of the most elegant interiors I've seen in a small car. Wherever you want to go, this sprightly Volvo will make a beeline to take you there.