BMW118d

It was a job to decide whether to go for the 118d SE or Sport but in the end I plumped for the multi-function steering wheel rather than the sporty seats. In fact it's a really sporty steering wheel and suits such a stylish car.

Other great features include the programmable remote key - so each driver can store their own information, and the oh-so-groovy-but-are-they-really-neccess​ary 'puddle lights' that light up your door handles in the dark. I have rear parking sensors and am now confident about the amount of space left when the beep goes continuous.

As a shorter person, I can get a really comfortable driving position with excellent visibility - with the exception that the rear panels are rather wide. One thing to note if you're new to BMW is that to raise the seat, you need to have all your weight off it, so if another driver has the seat lower, it helps to raise it up before you get in.

The car drives beautifully. Much of my driving is around windy country lanes and you barely notice the bends. One thing I would say, though, is that if you need to do a lot of 30mph driving, it's quite hard to find the right balance between 3rd & 4th gears - it seems to prefer neither! Fuel economy is excellent.

My 1 series is dark blue and it a bit of a nightmare to clean - the dirt really shows up but all those lovely curves in the styling prevent mud being easily washed off unless you're really careful. Maybe a lighter colour next time....?