BMW 3 Series safety is extremely good. Run-flat tyres help the driver stay in control of the car if there’s a punctures and the 3 Series can run for 150 miles at up to 50mph with a ‘flat’. Six airbags are standard, including twin front and side airbags plus full-length head airbags while Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) which includes traction control is also included.

Six-cylinder models are offered with DSC+, which adds additional features such as Brake Standby, which primes the brakes when it detects the driver suddenly lifting off the throttle and Hill Start Assist which holds manual versions on a gradient allowing the driver to pull away without rolling backwards.

The BMW 3 Series practicality arsenal has many weapons. The car has a slightly larger boot than its predecessor and it is also available with a luggage compartment package which includes a 20-litre sliding drawer beneath the parcel shelf. It can be used for files, a laptop computer or other items weighing up to 5kg. It’s important to note that folding rear seats don’t come as standard so if you want to carry larger objects such as bicycles you’ll have to specify them as an option.