Significantly effective measures have been standardised to reduce BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer running costs regardless of the engine, gearbox or number of driven wheels you choose.

The company’s EfficientDynamics programme has seen stop/start, aerodynamics-boosting automatic grille closing and brake energy recuperation among other features employed to reduce the car’s thirst for petrol and diesel.

Championing the efficiency cause and offering the lowest on-paper running costs is the 216d version. Claims of 68.9mpg from its diesel-sipping three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine are complemented by CO2 emissions of just 108g/km, placing it in a low VED car tax band.

We would also advise investing in the Service Inclusive Pack offering 50,000 miles or five years of cover for under £500.

From launch the lowest BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer emissions figures are credited to the 216d, producing 108g/km of CO2.

Benefitting from BMW’s EfficientDynamics fuel-saving measures it’s worth noting that even the most polluting version, the 220i with manual transmission, is 145g/km.

Given that the firm’s not a complete novice to front-wheel drive machinery – if you take the popular MINIs into account – it’s unlikely that BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer reliability is going to be less than impressive.

Even though the three-cylinder engines are relative new to BMW-badged products, early reports of the motors’ robustness are proving positive, while the larger four-cylinder powerplants already have a proven track record.

Build quality, interior plastics and switchgear are all excellent so shouldn’t cause any ownership headaches either, although inevitably in a family-focused MPV it’s likely that kids’ hands will tug and pull on components in ways not envisaged. It feels suitably resilient, though.