BMW 1 Series review

Headline prices run from £32,625 for the 120 Sport to £45,550 for the M135 xDrive. In between is the 120 M Sport, two grand (exactly) above the Sport.

As standard you get 17s, LED lights front and back, a cloth upholstery (leatherette is a £730 option), the curved touchscreen and driver display, automatic air con, cruise control, a reversing camera, some active safety gizmos and that nifty reversing assistant that we mentioned earlier.

The M Sport is likely to be popular because - apart from a step up in the wheel department from 17 to 18 inches - it also gets a body kit, and better seats. It's the one we'd have because it also has the frequency selective dampers and more body bracing. Some Alcantara too, plus an M Sport leather steering wheel (seriously, why does this need to be so chunky?) and that hexagonal under-dash lighting. Funky.

The M135 also rides on 18s as standard, but you can spec 19s if you prefer. The optional M Dynamic Pack brings forged 19s alongside loads of other chassis sharpening for £3,000. The roster of improvements look good value beside that tag, but ask yourself sternly what you'll use the car for - if it's going nowhere near a racetrack, go without. You'll have a better all-rounder.

Adaptive LED headlights, glass roof, Harmon Kardon sound, wireless charging, advanced driving assistant… yeah, most of that jazz is buried within packs. Which is fine if you want a lot of stuff, not so much if you’re fussy. You can only add the head-up display as part of the £2,750 Technology Plus Pack, for instance.

What about monthlies?

They start at around £350 via BMW's terms for a 120 Sport, or £250 via third party deals. M Sport adds a negligible premium, proving its extra appeal will be reflected in future values. 

On the same terms, an M135 xDrive will set you back a whisker over £500 per month via BMW, or £350 upwards elsewhere. Beware adding the M Dynamic Pack - it sends your monthly payment past £600 with BMW. It's not like those pricey Cup 2s will still be fresh by the end of your deal...