PREMIUM: BMW 1 Convertible, from £22,335
There’s likely to be a battle royale in the premium compact convertible market this summer between BMW and Audi, whose 1 Series Cabriolet and A3 Cabriolet have been launched within weeks of each other.
The 1 Series Cabriolet is a good effort from its BMW. It looks stylish - reminiscent of 3 Series rag-tops from the 1980s - and is impressively rigid for an open-top car. It drives well and does not ride too firmly either.
While BMW chose the hard-top route for its 3 Series Convertible, it has stuck with a fabric roof for the 1 Series version. Not that you would know the difference. The fabric top is very well-made and fits snugly. It retracts electronically - but can’t match the A3’s roof for speed.
You can get two adults in the back for short journeys and the lack of a hard-top means the boot is of a reasonable size. The Beemer is rear wheel drive and comes with a wide range of engines, with the 120d likely to prove the most sensible option at just under £25K on the road. It faces tough competition from the closely-matched A3, however, and it may all boil down looks in the end.
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