Let's talk about cup size

BMW's smart pop-out cupholder.

Road tests usually talk about engine, suspension, performance and yes, how easy a car is to live with.

But there's rarely space for the little things. Yet as the years pass, it's often those that you notice.

Take cupholders, for example. I like the Citroen C5, but when you buy a takeaway cuppa there's nowhere to put it. Holden's Astra drops the ball too.

But some cars go the extra mile, with a proliferation of cupholders; removable dividers to make that space more flexible; or by designing clever now-you-see-it, now-you-don't variations.

Of these, Saab's is still my favourite. A slim vertical bracket pops out of the dash with a ring that swivels as it emerges to hug your cup. It takes up no space and feels clever every time.

Recent Porsches have a similar, albeit a horizontally mounted set-up. Yes, cupholders in a Porsche, but if you're a purist you can ignore them - they look like part of the trim.

But the best I've seen lately are from BMW's 3 Series. A slim cutout tray pops from the dash, curving towards you; a base drops down; and an adjustable rim caters to several cup sizes.

It's one of the most stable pop-out systems, so you don't worry about spillage as you drive.