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Mazda MX-5 Roadster vs BMW 1 Series comparison

Compare performance (132 HP vs 300 HP), boot space and price (29,000 £ vs 29,400 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mazda MX-5 Roadster or BMW 1 Series?

Mazda MX-5 Roadster vs BMW 1 Series: Key differences

Mazda MX-5 Roadster

  • marginally cheaper
  • visibly lighter
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BMW 1 Series

5 (1 Reviews)
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  • significantly more power
  • substantially more efficient
  • significantly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • clearly more trunk space
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By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

MX-5 Roadster

Costs and Efficiency:

When it comes to price and running costs, the biggest differences usually appear. This is often where you see which car fits your budget better in the long run.

Mazda MX-5 Roadster is marginally cheaper – starting at 29,000 £ , while the BMW 1 Series costs 29,400 £ . That’s a price difference of around 395 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the BMW 1 Series uses 4.3 L/100km and is substantially more efficient than the Mazda MX-5 Roadster with 6.2 L/100km. The difference is about 1.9 L/100km.

1 Series

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the BMW 1 Series offers significantly more power – delivering 300 HP compared to 132 HP. That’s roughly 168 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the BMW 1 Series is significantly quicker – completing the sprint in 4.9 s, while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster takes 8.3 s. That’s about 3.4 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the BMW 1 Series delivers substantially more torque with 400 Nm compared to 152 Nm. That’s about 248 Nm more.

MX-5 Roadster

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Seats: BMW 1 Series offers more seats – 5 vs 2.

In terms of curb weight, Mazda MX-5 Roadster is visibly lighter – 1,078 kg compared to 1,465 kg. The difference is around 387 kg.

Looking at boot space, the BMW 1 Series offers clearly more boot space – 380 L compared to 130 L. That’s a difference of about 250 L.

When it comes to payload, the BMW 1 Series carries substantially more – 510 kg compared to 152 kg. That’s a difference of about 358 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The BMW 1 Series is far ahead overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £29,400
1 Series

BMW 1 Series

  • Engine Type Diesel, Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV, Petrol
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 122 - 300 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 4.3 - 7.6 L/100km
Mazda MX-5 Roadster
BMW 1 Series

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Mazda MX-5 Roadster

The Mazda MX-5 is a featherweight, open-top sports car that turns ordinary roads into a grin-inducing playground thanks to razor-sharp steering and an engaging, tactile gearbox. It won’t swallow the weekly shopping or ski bags, but for anyone after pure driving fun and sun-on-your-face weekends, few cars match its sheer charm and value.

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BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1 Series is a compact premium hatchback that injects a proper sense of driving fun into everyday life, with sharp handling and a cabin that punches above its class. It’s a great pick for buyers who want sporty manners without losing practicality, and yes, you’ll still get that unmistakable BMW grin behind the wheel.

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Mazda MX-5 Roadster
BMW 1 Series

Costs and Consumption

Price
29,000 - 34,300 £
Price
29,400 - 51,900 £
Consumption L/100km
6.2 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
4.3 - 7.6 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
140 g/km
co2
112 - 173 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
2
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,078 kg
Curb weight
1,465 - 1,625 kg
Trunk capacity
130 L
Trunk capacity
300 - 380 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,735 mm
Width
1,800 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
152 kg
Payload
475 - 510 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol
Engine Type
Diesel, Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV, Petrol
Transmission
Manuel
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
132 HP
Power HP
122 - 300 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.3 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.9 - 9.8 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
152 Nm
Torque
230 - 400 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Power kW
97 kW
Power kW
90 - 221 kW
Engine capacity
1,496 cm3
Engine capacity
1,499 - 1,998 cm3

General

Model Year
2025
Model Year
2024
CO2 Efficiency Class
E
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, C, F
Brand
Mazda
Brand
BMW
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.