BMW 540i

What should I know?

That you ought to have a good look at this before buying a 530d. OK, it’s pricey at £49,945, but the smooth 3.0-litre 335bhp straight-six turbo is the perfect foil for the slick dynamics.

Should I care?

If you care about road manners and luxury above costs, then yes. It’s hushed, fast (4.8-to-62mph) and effortless to drive. But the 530d will be 10mpg better (40mpg vs 30) and cheaper to run. But there’s something about the 540i that gets under your skin.