PARAPHRASING Henry Ford's oft repeated quote, BMW's 116d is available in a great many colours, but all of them are green.

In fact, so environmentally friendly is this latest model I have no doubt that if Mother Nature drove a car, she might well go for this baby Beemer.

The 116d is the most fuel efficient and least polluting car the company has ever manufactured, returning almost 65mpg while pumping out just 118g/km of C02 emissions. It even trumps the much lauded 118d, which was pronounced World Green Car of the Year just 12 months ago.

The car, which remains unaltered in terms of its exterior looks, comes in both three door and five-door versions and both are powered by a 2.0 litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which provides plenty of power through the range.

Despite its green credentials the 116d is capable of reaching 60mph in a not-to-be-sniffed at 10.2 seconds and will go on to top out at 124mph.

The key to the car is its use of BMW's EfficientDynamics(CORR) technologies or to put it in more understandable parlance its inclusion of brake energy regeneration, auto start-stop – the psychological barrier to which I have finally overcome - and electric power steering.

In addition, BMW has also included a gear shift indicator to ensure economy is fully optimised.

All of the above help to make the 116d the car that it is.

However, despite these innovations BMW hasn't forgotten that a car has to be fun to drive if it is to tick all the necessary boxes.

The fact that this 116 is a diesel and yet it is still capable of bringing a smile to the face of its driver is all the more pleasing.

It is best experienced when driving on a twisty country road, the way it handles, thanks in some part to the wheels being pushed to the corners of the body, and the level of grip it offers allowing you to push on with real confidence.

There's room inside for five at a push, but it has to be said that the rear is somewhat restrictive and getting children, for example, in and out of the rear of the three-door version isn't the easiest of tasks.

With all the seats in place the boot volume is 330 litres, not the greatest but enough for the average shop. However, by making the most of the 60:40 split rear seats this can be increased to 1,150 litres.

The build quality is of a high standard, with the doors closing with a firm thud and all the switchgear and dials etc made of durable materials. The only real gripe came from my wife, who found it hard to adjust her seat and frustrating that it seemed to revert to the default position whenever she got out.

You may pay a premium for any BMW, but you're not short-changed in terms of the way it makes you feel when you are inside. Whether it's desirable or not it driving one certainly makes you feel superior to so many other road users.

And now it's such a green vehicle you can feel morally superior as well.

Price, as tested, £20,280