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Sometimes, happiness with a new vehicle lies in the details. Take interior stowage space, for example.

Years ago, many vehicles were very poorly designed in this respect and apart from a miniscule glove box and a skinny map pocket that wouldn't take even the briefest city street guide; there was little or no interior stowage space.

Thankfully, automakers have been listening to consumers and adding all kinds of cubby holes and bins in recent years, but buyers should still look at this aspect of the vehicle's design and try and find a product that exactly fits their needs. People who work from their vehicles have particular challenges, as do families who do a lot of road trips together and folks who simply like to take long rides with friends aboard.

For many owners, their vehicle is "the office" and countless hours are spent there running day-to-day projects, getting to work locations, clients and planning meetings, moving materials and samples around and other tasks. Buyers with such needs in mind should check their planned new vehicle purchase carefully and perhaps spend some time with no other thought than where they're going to stow all the stuff they carry around with them each working day. There are no hard and fast rules, but there are some key points to look for when buying a new vehicle with interior stowage as a priority.

Though some glove boxes and console bins are wide and deep, very few will accommodate a laptop computer - even a 12-inch - but they are around, mostly in pickup trucks I've tested (Dodge was a pioneer here). It's by far the best place to stow a laptop apart from the trunk and it's worth adding that the bin is lockable too. It's also worth checking to see whether there's a power outlet inside the bin, so the computer can be powering up while you're away from the vehicle and you don't want to leave it in view for a potential thief. And while on the topic of electrical connections, look for at least a couple to deal with the electronic devices we can't seem to live without these days - especially when it comes to a "mobile office" setup.

As far as glove boxes go, many of them are just that, though just about all are lockable so there is at least one secure spot in the vehicle. Owners' manuals usually take up most of the space in the glove box, so it’s a good plan to keep them somewhere else. Seal them in a plastic bag and keep them in the spare wheel well and the manuals always are there when it's needed. Other features that come in useful are small slide-out or drop-down change bins. Even a couple of quarters in the console-top tray can attract a thief in many Canadian cities. Always keep coins out of sight. Those dash-top recesses intended for the stowage of small items are not that useful in most cases - anything placed there will be on the floor moments after setting out.

Most people like to grab a coffee on the run at some time of the day - especially people who work from vehicles. Thankfully, most cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups these days have upholders in profusion and I've seen vans where they've outnumbered seats. The best have removable liners which can be tossed in a dishwasher after the inevitable spills occur. And cup holders have other uses too - especially when it comes to stowing a mobile phone. In fact, some auto accessory stores and dealer parts counters have rubber cup holder inserts designed to accept a phone, plus a pen and notebook, which can be very handy.

The best interior designs have lots of stowage areas besides console bins and glove boxes. Look for wide, deep, door pockets that really will take a stack of maps or street guides - plus other gear.

Some are combined with extra upholders too. Rear seat pockets are often a feature of sedans, SUVs, vans and extended cab pickups, SUVs and vans and they can be very handy for storing papers, manuals and other printed data that might not be needed too often.

A little thought at the buying stage could prevent a lot of frustration later in the ownership process. Don't expect too much in sports cars by way of stowage, though. One of the penalties that comes with the thrill and enjoyment of roadsters and coupes is the need to pack gear very frugally indeed and leave non-essential travel items at home.