Buyers new to the marque, as around two-thirds of them are expected to be, will be as impressed with the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer’s interior quality, as those who already drive one of the firm’s cars.

Identical to the Active Tourer’s dash, the facia follows a familiar BMW theme of high quality, well-damped switchgear and clear instrumentation, with a central infotainment screen sat atop the centre console.

There’s also been a noticeable lift in quality with squeezable soft-touch plastics employed across many areas of the dashboard and a particularly impressive level of build quality used throughout.

Also as impressive as it’s intuitive is the latest generation of iDrive controller for many of the BMW’s interior functions.

While the cabin’s overall quality marks the BMW out the 2 Series Gran Tourer’s thick window pillars do impinge on forward visibility. There are trademark MPV triangular windows between the front doors and windscreen but they’re smaller than the Picasso’s.

With a family-friendly focus at the heart of its design, it’s no surprise that BMW 2 Series comfort is one of the car’s strengths.

Sitting on a slightly higher plane than you would in the X1, getting in and out of the 2 Series Gran Tourer’s easy and once you get there the driver’s seat has an excellent range of adjustment, as is typical of BMWs. A fully adjustable steering wheel ensures a comfortable and commanding driving position will result.

While the outer positions on the middle row bench are comfortable, the passenger occupying the narrower, firmer centre position may have cause for complaint, as well adults and taller teenagers relegated to row three – the lack of head and legroom means these are best suited to pre-teens and petite adults.

On the road, particularly over smooth asphalt, the 2 Series Gran Tourer is a refined and quiet cruiser. The serenity only disturbed by wind noise as the air rushes around the large windscreen pillars or when the engines are worked harder at higher revs.

While the 2 Series Gran Tourer corners excellently and relatively flatly, the trade-off is ride comfort is compromised compared to more supple rivals such as Citroen’s Grand C4 Picasso. Even with the adaptive suspension option doesn’t completely negate the difference.