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Today, the new BMW 1 Series Coupe with its fresh, modern design style is already drawing attention befitting its heritage.

And with driving dynamics that set new standards, the new BMW Coupe is a temptation few sports car enthusiasts will be able to resist.

The 371-litre trunk is smaller than that in any 3 Series variant, but it’s a useful space. According to my tape measure, the cargo area is 92 cm front-to-back, 94 cm between the rear wheel wells and 47 deep. Fold down the rear seats (a 60/40 arrangement) and there’s 169 cm between the rear of the trunk and the front seatbacks (though this was measured with driver’s seat set for my short legs).

The thick-rimmed steering wheel feels great in the hands, and is connected to a very direct steering rack that clearly communicates road surface information to the driver. The steering is quite heavy, though. This is welcome at higher speeds, but it makes tight parking lots a bit of a chore.

The M Sport Package also includes 18-inch wheels with run-flat tires. Forty-series tires already tend to make the going harsh over rough roads, but the run-flats’ stiff sidewalls take this a step further. A couple of inadvertent pothole encounters had me convinced I’d damaged the suspension, so loud was the impact. Fortunately, all was well.

The 1 Series’ interior will be familiar to anyone who’s driven the latest-generation 3 Series. Never fear, there’s no iDrive here: instead, the dash is straightforward, with easy-to-use climate controls (dual-zone automatic) and a slightly more complicated radio. Fit and finish are good, but overall, the quality is no better than what you get in many less-expensive cars. The grey poplar wood trim on the dash and centre console is quite nice, though.

A nice touch is the location of the auxiliary input plugs  underneath the centre armrest. There’s also a nifty sleeve on the underside of the armrest for your mp3 player – handy for keeping an expensive toy hidden from prying eyes while the car is parked.

The only thing that makes me question the 1 Series. Still, that’s a lot of coin for a car with less interior space – albeit more comfort – than many, if not all, economy cars. It’s difficult, however, to say no to a car that does so many things so well.