What’s not so good?

• While BMW has addressed the exterior styling, nothing has been changed in the cabin. It’s stylish and well made but the Audi A3 is the more premium package inside.
• The xDrive all-wheel drive system is only available in combination with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, so it doesn’t come cheap. It’s over a £3,000 premium to add the package.
• In terms of practicality, the Audi A3 is still the better option. Rear access in the BWM is restricted due to narrow doors and there’s isn’t a great deal of passenger space back there either.

Verdict on the BMW 120d xDrive

It’s been 10 years since the 1 Series went on sale and the baby BMW has never been better. The German brand has sold over two million examples worldwide and upon first encounter with the latest model, BMW will have no trouble maintaining its domination in the premium hatchback market.

For business buyers, the new 118d which emits only 99g/km of CO2 will be the more logical choice but if you’re after some added performance and all-weather capability, we have no hesitation in recommending the BMW 120d xDrive.