BMW 118d: It's not pretty being green.

Morale must have been pretty low in the BMW bunker after Mr. Neil’s less-than-enthusiastic review of the North American-spec 135i. But 47 other car journalists from 24 countries used this year’s New York Auto Show to provide a little uplift, bestowing the BMW 118d with the World Green Car of the Year 2008 accolade.

Available in Europe (usually without the writing down the side), the 118d compact hatchback is powered by a diesel-sipping, 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine, but also uses a proprietary system BMW calls EfficientDynamics. This employs tricks found on hybrid cars, such as brake energy regeneration, auto start-stop and electric power steering. An optimum gearshift indicator is also included to encourage economical driving. These help to keep fuel bills and emissions low.

If this model were on sale in the U.S., it could be capable of something like 75 miles per gallon. The 118d beat diesel versions of the Smart Fortwo and VW Passat to clinch its title. Luckily for BMW, no beauty contest aspect was involved.

— Colin Ryan

Photo: BMW