BMW 116i SE five-door (2004 to date)

Ones to avoid

Expensive to buy, and now expensive to keep on the road. The thirsty little 1.6-petrol engine in the 1-Series means that owners will have to swallow a hefty £90 hike in their road tax in 2009. Later cars aren’t quite as polluting, so if you can get your hands on a post-September 2007 model, your tax bill in 2009 will be only £110 under the new system.

CO2 emissions: 181g/km

2008 band/cost: E/£170

2009 tax band/cost: J/£260