German Car Zone

Inside & Out:

There's an essential rightness to the BMW 120d Convertible's looks. Where it's Coupé and hatchback sisters can appear a little awkward from some angles, the Convertible pleases the eye no matter where you gaze from. Chopping the roof off was made it easier for BMW thanks to the natural flow of the 1 Series' curves from headlights through the window line to the stubby boot. It's also helped by using a fabric hood rather than the more common folding metal coupé-cabriolet style roof of most of the BMW's rivals. This also keeps more space free for rear seats passengers and luggage room in the boot, though you can extend the cargo capacity when the roof is raised by folding up a flap to release some of the space where the hood would otherwise rest.

For the driver, there's ample comfort and the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach. Moving the seat could be easier as BMW persists with its manual levers that require the driver to shift his or her body weight rather than the lever working by a ratchet mechanism. The rest of the driver's environment is typical BMW too, with clear instruments and a clean-cut dash style, though this is not to all tastes. That said, we love it. Rear seat space is tight for adults, but okay for children or short hops across town four up. With the roof up, rear vision is restricted by the hood sides and small back window, though this is made of glass and heated to demist quickly.


Full Review: BMW 120d SE Convertible



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