I looked at the 5-seater too: a spare wheel is an option (or I'd have gone no further) but I found an odd combination - a car which (according to HJ and others) isn't selling too well, but with hardly any discount being offered.

A 2-series Active Tourer (220i or 220d) with the extras I needed was the same list price as the Volvo V60 which I finally went for - but I got £5,000 off the Volvo, by getting a quote from a broker which the excellent local dealer (Yeovil Volvo) matched.

It's still a good car, and less ugly than the 7-seater Gran Tourer. But BMW still put too many things on the options list which ought to be standard, such as front seat lumbar support, which add to the price without being included in any discount calculation.