2012 62 BMW 1 SERIES 2.0 116D SPORT 5d 114 BHP

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The cliche 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' was probably created for the BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch. Its long bonnet and rounded rear are challenging to the eye, but its undoubted sales success clearly proves that buyers really don't mind how the 1 Series looks – it's how it drives, the overall quality, and the equity of the badge that really matter. The car's reward-biased stance is a visual clue to the range being predominantly rear-wheel drive – and unusual choice in this class – and one that many enthusiast drivers really relish. This puts a clear emphasis on driving fun over outright practicality, giving it a distinct advantage over its premium rivals, such as the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Lexus CT, and Infiniti Q30. Given the 1 Series' low monthly PCP rates, it will also end up being on the same shopping lists as higher-spec versions of the Volkswagen Golf and Volvo V40. Long gone are the days when German-made premium-priced cars were well-engineered and poorly equipped. While the engineering legacy remains, there's a wealth of standard kit on the 1 Series even if you plump for the entry-level SE. Even here alloy wheels, climate control, keyless start and automatic wipers are part of the package. Most people tend to upgrade to Sport and M Sport, though, with M140i appearing as a standalone spec at the range's pinnacle. When it comes to providing one of the best driving positions in this corner of the market, the BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch has the competition licked. There's an excellent range of adjustment for both the steering wheel and the seat – which can be set sportily low. But be conscious that it's not the roomiest of cabins and the rear-seat dweller immediately aft of the driver is likely to be less enthralled. One particular highlight of the cabin is the iDrive system – a rotary dial surrounded by buttons to navigate the multimedia system. Many rivals have launched similar systems since BMW debuted its original back in 2002, but with frequent honing it remains the most intuitive. Although its well-made, it conspires to not feel as special as the cabin of the Audi A3 or even the Volkswagen Golf, feeling more functional than blessed with flair. But, importantly, everything is logically located and the switchgear feels like it was stand the test of time.It's a premium three- and five-door hatch so it might come as a pleasant surprise to learn that the BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch can be relatively inexpensive to run, for both private and business users – this goes some way to explaining why there're so many on Britain's roads.

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