Designing a car for the most heavily contested class on the market was always going to carry some risk for BMW, reports Caroline Beamish.

The engineers set about creating a machine that would not only uphold the company's motto, The Ultimate Driving Machine', but something that would carve itself a section of the market to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hatchback giants - the VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra.

Their mission was also to produce a car to sit in between the Mini and 3-Series which would be sure to uphold the value and prestige of the BMW brand.

Fear not.

For although the all-important appearance of the One was criticised albeit not heavily by the motoring press, no-one can argue the car is not a genuine crowd pleaser.

For sheer look at me' value on the roads of South Lakeland, the car scores very highly as it earns a longer than normal stare from other drivers.

Perhaps they are slightly confused by the trademark headlights and grille at the front followed by the unremarkable rear end.

But step inside, close the door and press the start button on the dash, and you will be willing to forgive anything.

Even before pulling out of the driveway at Bateman BMW, at Lindale, I had a good idea I was going to like the 118d Sport.

Interior-wise, the One has the same mark of quality as the 3-Series with some quality extras as standard.

There is absolutely no danger of feeling you have just shelled out a good deal of your expendable income on a car with a cheap plastic interior.

Whatever your size or shape, you cannot possibly fail to find a comfortable position in the Sport seats, with electric adjustment to raise and lower, tilt and lengthen the seat as well as an inbuilt lumbar support device which cushions your back.

The rear seats, although not so roomy, cradle the passengers away from the side doors, for a comfortable ride.

But when it comes to ride quality, the enviable One owner is in receipt of a superbly refined beast.

Despite the two-litre diesel engine, the car was quiet once settled and there was no sign of any sluggishness or loss of power.

Quite the opposite, in fact, as it responded immediately when it came to powering out of the twists and bends of the lanes of the Cartmel Peninsular.

Sharp steering and rear-wheel drive give the feel of a car much larger in stature and the distinctive personality of the rest of the BMW range.

This is a car that knows what it wants. And it wants you to sit back and let it get to work.

The bonus is the six-speed manual gearbox, available on all models except the 116i, although it is an extra on the 120i and 120d.

The extra gear ensures the ratios are closely spaced for a sporty drive. It also means you get out of the car with a smile on your face and can take some credit for having turned an ordinary journey into a driving masterpiece.

OK, so it's priced at the top end of the market. But add together the prestige value, superior handling and the fact you will want to get up and drive to work every morning, and it's hard not to see how enticing it would be to buy into the One Series lifestyle.

l The car tested was the BMW One Series, 118d Sport, from Bateman BMW, at Lindale.

It is priced at £19,290 on the road.