Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £23,000 to £24,550
Distinctive styling, diesel economy.
Modest boot, small dealer network.
A Saab 9-3 in a sharp suit.
The BLS has many of its parts in common with the trusty Saab 9-3 and Vauxhall's Vectra and Signum, and is built alongside the 9-3 at Saab's factory in Trollhattan, Sweden. The engines and gearboxes have all proved reliable elsewhere in the GM family.
Fit and finish of the BLS's interior is mostly good, with some high-quality materials used. There are, however, some weaker areas: the roof lining (on some of the cars we've driven) is a poor fit and although the wood trim in top-spec models might hail from a tree, it looks cheap and tacky. Exterior panel gaps, although not as millimetre-tight as an Audi or BMW, are consistent.
