Being a 3 Series variant, BMW M3 safety levels have already achieved a five-star rating from the Euro NCAP crash testing experts.

Scoring particularly well was the 95 percent adult occupancy rating, unsurprising given the wealth of airbags strategically located around the M3’s cabin.

Five three-point seatbelts keep occupants restrained, while child seats are catered for with two ISOFIX mounting points in the outer sides of the rear bench.

Additionally there’s a very effective safety cell which is designed to draw forces away from occupants as well as a glut of electronic safety systems to keep the car stable and on the road.

Don’t forget too the M3’s ferocious acceleration to help you escape potential accidents and the optional ceramic brakes with their prodigious stopping capabilities.

Consider this a sports car and BMW M3 practicality is a forte with four doors, a decently-proportioned boot and space inside, just, for five occupants.

It’s best you think of it that way too, as other four-door saloons are more practical and spacious. Then again, other four-door saloons are not BMW M3s.

Although there are five seatbelts, the adult relegated to the middle perch of the rear bench might feel a little short-changed, with reasonable head and legroom elsewhere in the rear.

Out back, the M3’s boot size is 480 litres, up from the M4 coupe’s 445-litre, and the rear seats fold forwards to cater for bigger loads.

There’s not a huge amount of oddments storage elsewhere in the cabin, with door bins capable of taking 1-litre bottles, a reasonable glove box and a tray-covering the twin front cup holders being about your lot.

What would really boost M3 practicality would be a Touring estate version but there’s not one in BMW’s model plans, despite Audi and Mercedes having rivals in wagon form.