Green machine (From The Northern Echo)

Green machine

12:28pm Monday 25th January 2010 in

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You can be greener without being boring in the BMW 118d, says Matt Westcott.

GOING green need not mean a life of cabbage soup, hummus and mohair jumpers. These days it is possible to do your bit for the environment and have a bit of fun into the bargain.

Take the BMW 118d for example. Voted Green Car of the Year in 2008, the 118d is the lowest CO2-producing BMW ever. Both versions, three and five-door, return an impressive 62.8mpg on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of just 119g/km – putting it into the Band B category for Vehicle Excise Duty – meaning taxing it will cost just £35 a year.

The use of what BMW calls Efficient Dynamics, or brake energy regeneration, auto start-stop and electric power steering, allied to a gearshift change indicator to encourage economical motoring, all helps to cut fuel bills and put a smile on the face of all but the most ardent of tree huggers.

And while BMW have clearly concentrated heavily on the car’s green credentials, its boffins have still ensured that the 118d is also engaging to drive. Its 2.0-litre engine pulls well and there’s power available in whichever gear you are in, though manoeuvring the stick requires rademark degrees of brute force.

There’s no mistaking that you’re driving a diesel as the 118d is not as refined as some of its rivals, but the noise from up front can hardly be described as intrusive.

Some have criticised the car’s handling in an urban environment, describing it as overly harsh, but I cannot say it caused any excessive jarring of my bones.

While its looks might not be to everyone’s liking, part of the reason for its quirky design becomes clear when you set it free on the open road. On the twisting and turning country lanes, the 118d really comes into its own, rewarding the driver with a thoroughly engaging ride, especially if you are experienced enough to know just when and where to change. There’s plenty of grip on the corners and it is beautifully poised, when driven respectfully.

The miles come and go and before you know it you are at your destination wishing you had just a little further to travel.

Space isn’t the 1-Series’ greatest forte, but I have carried two adults and two children in comfort. I can imagine, however, that adults travelling in the rear might find their headroom slightly compromised.

This five-door version makes life a little easier when it comes to getting people into the rear. Personally, I have always found doing so in the three-door something of a headache due to the difficult way the front seats fold forward.

While the rear door openings aren’t the widest I have come across, it does make ingress and egress a little less of a trial.

The boot is big enough to carry an ordinary load, but it is somewhat oddly shaped and awkward loads may prove difficult to transport. On a day-to-day basis, however, you should encounter few problems. The rear seats also split 60:40 and fold flat to increase load space.

Owning a BMW has never been cheap – the 118d will set you back around £20,000 – but the badge brings with it assurances that you might not get with some other manufacturers.

In addition, if and when you come to sell it, you will get more of your money back.

We all like to think we are doing our bit to preserve the environment, but, let’s be honest, we are all equally selfish in our desires for motoring fulfillment. With the 118d, at least, you can rest safe in the knowledge that both boxes are ticked.