BMW 3-Series

Why it won...

A temporary blip – that’s how the perfectionists at BMW would have viewed finishing second to the Audi A4 in the Compact Executive class last year. We heaped praise on the winner’s achievement in pushing its arch-rival aside, but warned there was a revised 3-Series on the way.

BMW didn’t disappoint, building a compact executive car with subtle improvements in virtually every area. Add some of the most intelligent and effective emissions-reducing technology around, and the 3-Series has regained its title of king of the business park.

At Auto Express, we’re proud of our approach to consumer-focused road tests – so when the revised 3-Series arrived, we formulated a list of the company car options thousands of drivers face every year. The BMW met the Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class and Jaguar X-Type in Issue 1,034.

Quickly emerging as the leading pair were the 3-Series and A4 – but selecting a winner from these two couldn’t have been more difficult. In the end, the BMW’s superior dynamics won the day. Add this to a model range that includes everything from a diesel variant capable of 62.8mpg to the supercar-chasing 414bhp M3, and the car is unbeatable.

One of the few criticisms we have of the BMW is its popularity – the sheer number on the UK’s roads means you’re unlikely to stand out from the crowd by choosing one. However, being able to mix it with superminis among the top 10 best-selling models is testament to the 3’s desirability, quality and success.

Commended

Audi A4
There’s little to criticise about Audi’s compact exec. The A4 saloon and estate are fantastic to look at, and the cabin arguably offers greater design flair than that of the 3-Series. Few buyers are likely to be disappointed with the driving experience, either. In the end, minor victories in some crucial areas give the BMW the edge – but it’s never been tougher at the top of this market sector.