BMW Wins Green Car Of The Year

British car publication What Car? named the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics sedan as there Green Car of the Year.

This comes as a surprise to some due to the award is usually reserved for a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or an electric car. This year they chose to give the award out to a diesel.

"If anyone had told you as little as five years ago that you could buy a BMW 3 Series that would hit 60 mph in less than eight seconds, average the best part of 60 mpg and emit less than 110g/km of CO2, you'd have been carted off to the funny farm," said Will Nightingale on the What Car? website. "Yet, here we are, looking at a model that does all that - and more. The beauty of the 320d Efficient Dynamics is that it lets you go green without compromises."

The BMW 320d makes 163 horsepower, 265 pound-feet of torque, and class-leading balance of ride and handling. The BMW 3 series offers a

Editors were most likely impressed by a wide range of attributes that define an extremely proficient car, including high mpg and moderately low emissions. The 3 series standard safety equipment includes six airbags and dynamic stability control which incorporates cornering brake control, dynamic traction control and brake control.  

"There's so much more to the 320d Efficient Dynamics than low emissions and high economy," said Nightingale. "It isn't just a great green car, it's a great car - and a deserved winner of this award."

Last year the range-extended electric Vauxhall Ampera won the 2011 award.

Other green awards given out included:

 Best Family Car: Ford Mondeo

Best Small Family Car: BMW 1 series

Best Executive Car: BMW 3 Series

Best Fun Car: Mini Cooper

Best Superminis: Skoda Citigo

Best SUV: Mazda Cx-5

Best Alternative Fuel Car: Chevrolet Volt