BMW is celebrating a triple whammy after its 320d EfficientDynamics automatic scooped a pair of leading green awards and stablemate the 116d landed a small car accolade.

The 320d EfficientDynamics was named Green Car of the Year at the same time claiming the executive car gong in the What Car? Green Awards 2012, while the 116d won the small family car title.

For the second year running the Ford Mondeo was named best green family car, while the new seven-seat Toyota Prius+ scooped the green MPV award.

Proving that eco driving can be fun, the British-built Mini Cooper D got the best green fun car prize for a second year.

And the Mazda CX-5 2.2D Skyactiv-D 150 SE-L, launched earlier this year, was named best green SUV.

The judging panel was very impressed with Skoda's new Citigo, handing the newcomer this year's top supermini crown, at the same time praising its green statistics, superb ride, refinement and roomy interior.

This year's best alternative-fuel car is the Chevrolet Volt, a range-extender that can do 235.4mpg and emit just 27g/km of CO2.

What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: "The BMW 320d is a truly remarkable car that delivers 56mpg in the real world, while company car users will be taxed on its low emissions of just 110g/km of CO2.

"BMW has created a car that delivers great environmental credentials without compromise, which is what consumers really want."

For the first time the Green Awards, presented in association with EDF Energy, include the findings of the What Car? True MPG programme, which offers real-world fuel economy and emissions data.

The judging team considers not only CO2 output because cars emit a whole concoction of polluting gases including nitrous oxides and particulates. The judges also evaluated whole-life costs, driveability and reliability.