BMW 1 Series hatchback - MPG, running costs & CO2

Short of buying a hybrid, the BMW 1 Series engines are some of the most advanced and economical offered in the family hatchback class, featuring the latest turbocharging technology.

BMW 1 Series MPG & CO2

Diesel can still make sense for some high mileage drives and three are offered, badged 116d, 118d and 120d as we've become familiar with. Pick a 116d and you'll be getting a 1.5-litre three-cylinder that used to be shared with the MINI range. It's thrifty, managing up to 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of just 120g/km with a manual gearbox and smaller alloy wheels fitted.

The 118d and 120d are bigger, using a 2.0-litre diesel fitted with 'multi-stage' turbocharging for greater efficiency. With front-wheel drive the 118d can hit 58.9mpg with CO2 emissions of 127g/km. The front-wheel drive 120d becomes available from the Sport trim, and is capable of up to 57.6mpg and emissions of 129g/km. Adding BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive to the 120d reduces economy to 55.4mpg and increases CO2 emissions to 135g/km.

With 138bhp, the BMW 118i is the only petrol in the regular 1 Series range so far. It can return up to 49.6mpg and emits 130g/km, making it an affordable option for company-car drivers with a mid-range BiK benefit banding. During our time with the car, however, we were only able to achieve around 34mpg on average, with a figure in the high thirties possible on longer drives.

The standalone 128ti is a front-wheel drive performance version of the 1 Series that’s capable of 0-62mph in just over six seconds. Despite the rapid pace on offer, it’s actually reasonably efficient on paper, with claimed fuel economy of 40.1mpg and CO2 emissions starting at 157g/km.

The flagship M135i xDrive is a rival to the Volkswagen Golf R and Mercedes-AMG A35, returning up to 38.7mpg while emitting 167g/km of CO2, making it by far the most expensive 1 Series to run.

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Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the BMW 1 Series range from 23 in the 118d to 28 in the 120d xDrive range-topper in diesel form. Go for a petrol engine and the range is wider – from 21 in the 118i model to 29 in the 128ti and 36 for the stand-alone high-performance M135i model.

Warranty

Every BMW comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty that also includes roadside assistance. It equals the deal offered by Mercedes and can be increased in length for an additional cost.

Servicing

Sensors in the car keep watch over the oil quality and alert you when it deems a service is required, usually between one or two years and less than 20,000 miles apart. Customers can also opt for a BMW service plan, paying a monthly sum to cover routine maintenance instead of being stung by unexpected bills.