Yes, it may not look like it, but the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer can grip corners like a (slightly sleepy) hot hatch and has beautifully weighted controls that make it a fun and fulfilling car to drive quickly. You'd have never guessed that, would you? And who could blame you, because the Active...

Of course, the BMW X1 needs to be pretty good to make a splash against rivals like the Volvo XC40 , Lexus NX , Mercedes GLA and Audi Q3 - not to mention the stylish new Alfa Romeo Tonale and ever-popular Range Rover Evoque . Mainstream competitors like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage...

With the addition of the Golf-sized Skoda Scala to its model line-up, Skoda has been able to move the Octavia more upmarket, which you'll notice as soon as you get behind the wheel. Slap a Volkswagen badge on the steering wheel and you wouldn't bat an eyelid, so good is the finish inside. In fact...

The compact executive estate class is highly competitive. Both the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate and Audi A4 Avant are excellent cars but we think the BMW 3 Series Touring is quite possibly the best of the bunch - especially now it's been brought bang up to date with sharper looks and a new infotainment...

The BMW i8 marks a revolution. Not just for hybrid cars but for sports cars in general. The technology may be incredibly advanced but the principle is really very simple. A small 1.5-litre engine, borrowed from the MINI, powers the rear wheels while an electric motor drives the front wheels. In between...

We still like the BMW 3 Series, though. In fact, we reckon the recently updated model is one of the best all-rounders you can buy. For a start, there's an engine to suit almost every buyer. You could, until recently, get the 3 Series with a slightly underwhelming 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engine...