TOP 5 FAM|LY CARS

2023-06-01 -

BMW 3 SER|ES

THE GOOD: Onthe-deck driving position; dreamy handling balance; slick interior

THE BAD: Knowing you’ve made the obvious choice

THE UGLY: You’ll need an M340i or M340d for six cylinders

THE ONE TO BUY: 330e if you want a hybrid; 320i if you’re on a budget

THE GOOD: Still the best big saloon (or estate) out there

THE BAD: Big does mean big: it takes up a lot of road; even so, the boot isn’t massive

THE UGLY: Looking its age now, even if it doesn’t feel it

THE ONE TO BUY: 530e is an emphatically excellent plug-in hybrid, but sadly the creamy 530d is no longer available

THE GOOD: Seven seats; massive boot with the rear row removed; Fiesta money

THE BAD: Sandero base means it’s a bit narrow; spartan

THE UGLY: Low Euro NCAP score, although it’s pretty safe in a crash

THE ONE TO BUY: Hybrid usefully punchier than petrol, but much clunkier. Go petrol in top Extreme trim

THE GOOD: Smooth petrol engines; e¦cient diesels; available with seven seats

THE BAD: Third row of seats not what you’d call roomy – viable for kids only

THE UGLY: Not a car to make your heart sing and your soul soar

THE ONE TO BUY: For £350pcm, a Kodiaq SE 1.5 TS| five-seat model is in easy reach

THE GOOD: Model 3 with more space. Lacks Model X’s genius/silly doors

THE BAD: Brittle ride quality, rattly refinement

THE UGLY: Mars Attacks roofline; similarly swollen price over Model 3

THE ONE TO BUY: Go for the comfier, more usable Long Range at £600pcm compared with the OTT Performance at £670pcm