• Efficient turbocharged petrols and diesels
• No plug-in hybrid version of the 1 Series
• 116d EfficientDynamics leads the way

It’s a premium three- and five-door hatch so it might come as a pleasant surprise to learn that the BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch can be relatively inexpensive to run – this goes some way to explaining why there are so many on Britain’s roads.

As there’s no plug-in hybrid version, the cheapest to run is the 116d EfficientDynamics with an official consumption claim of 83.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 89g/km.

No surprise that the high-performance M140i is the bookend of the range: stick with the standard manual gearbox and you’ll be trying to justify on-paper figures of 36.2mpg and 179g/km of CO2.

Other 1 Series running costs can be quite high, as servicing can prove expensive at a BMW dealer – but there are plenty of specialists out there.

Wider tyres and other BMW-specific consumables can add to the overall cost of ownership as you go on, though.

If having the lowest-possible emissions for your BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch is the primary factor in your buying decision, then at just 89g/km of CO2 your pick has to be the 116d EfficientDynamics.

The one to avoid? At 179g/km of CO2 you’ll want to steering clear of the M140i with a manual gearbox.

• Disappointing number of 1 Series recalls
• Work should now have been completed
• But don’t assume, always check

Never judge a book by its cover. For all the BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch feels well-made and employs many premium-feeling materials, one look at its recall history with the DVSA vehicle inspectorate is eye-widening.

Recalls include two potential fire risks, four steering maladies and six related to engine issues such as stalling or tripping into limp-home mode.

On the positive side, these issues should now have all been fixed. However, it’s something you should check out with a BMW dealer for peace of mind.