BMW 3-Series Convertible (07 on) - Review

There’s enough legroom in the back for two adults to sit comfortably, plus adequate headroom whether the roof is raised or not. On the move, it's quiet and refined and with the roof down, it's hushed enough to hold a conversation on the motorway. Plus, unique to BMW, is special sun reflective leather upholstery that’s said to remain up to 20 degrees cooler than standard leather in direct sunlight. It means that on hot days, the roof can be left down without the worry of uncomfortably hot seats.

BMW’s first ever folding hard top is very impressive. Not only does it look good whether it's up or down but it operates quietly and smoothly. The roof itself lowers (or rises) in under 30 seconds and has an impressive feature called ‘convenient access’ that raises the folded roof in 10 seconds, so it’s easier to get bags into the boot. This can be done remotely, on the keyfob, from some distance away – so the boot’s ready to use by the time you get to the car with your shopping. A neat feature is that the back of the rear seatbacks fold flat, so it’s possible to carry larger – and longer – items.

All-round visibility with the roof up is very good for a convertible - the forward view is clear and there's a particularly large rear screen at the back. The driving position is excellent with plenty of adjustment (all of which is electric) and the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach. BMW's i-Drive system - which controls the sat nav, phone and stereo functions (among others) is standard. It takes a little getting used to, but is surprisingly easy to use once mastered.