The semantics cut both ways: If you take a hand off the wheel to drink and then put a hand back on the wheel to drive, you have your "hands" back on the wheel in a fraction of a second. But you're right--who needs to hold three cups in front? Talk about "throwing in the kitchen sink"! Volvo might be competing with Saab; before I purchased the T5, I took and declined delivery of a 9/5 Aero wagon with a pop-out rotating nonadjustable cup holder on the far side of the center dash, even more of a spill risk and less of a feature.

Is not the center console one of the most personal and useful areas of your vehicle? Why don't makers recognize that and build in some configurability? My design for the V70 would include a flexible modular console that could accommodate various storage units--duh!