Get past the grille and you’ll feel right at home if you’re a former Beemer owner

Let’s tackle that controversial grille first – you either hate it or you… reckon it’s not so bad. I’m in the latter camp, especially after spending a few days with the car, and noting that the UK number plate bisecting it, makes it far less overt and in-yer-face. Some may still complain that it’s elongated upright stance is unpalatable and at odds with traditional BMW styling cues, but there is a precedent for such grilles in BMW’s historical back catalogue. Anyway of all of BMW’s questionable styling choices, this is nowhere near as bad as the now legendary ‘Bangle Butt’ introduced on the 2000s BMW 7 Series – that some now hail as a pivotal moment in the marque’s design evolution – and I still really don’t like that!