Green Car of the Year finalists announced for L.A. Auto Show

Diesels and hybrids dominate the roster of finalists for the 2010 Green Car of the Year award, which will be presented at the L.A. Auto Show in December.

The Audi A3 TDI, Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf TDI will be vying for the annual Green Car award, which is sponsored by Green Car Journal magazine. The winner will be announced Dec. 3.

The award's aim is to recognize vehicles available in dealer showrooms -- as opposed to experimental or concept vehicles -- that achieve "environmental leadership in the automotive field."

The winner is ultimately decided by jurors such as Jay Leno, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Carroll Shelby, Matt Petersen of Global Green USA and the Sierra Club's Carl Pope, along with Green Car Journal editors. Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

"We're seeing the trend for 'green' cars emerging at all levels, from entry-level cars to luxury models, and even performance cars and SUVs/crossovers," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com.

"Plus, an array of technologies and fuels as well as strategies like lightweighting and reducing rolling resistance are being applied to the challenge. Greater choice provides buyers a personal stake in lessening environmental impact, and that's important."

This year's finalists reflect this diversity. For the first time, an Audi makes the final five with its sporty A3 TDI clean diesel. Volkswagen's new Golf TDI shows an expanding focus on clean diesel technology in the VW lineup. The Insight is a completely new hybrid sedan for Honda, and the 2010 Toyota Prius is a totally redesigned, third-generation version of this popular hybrid model. The Milan Hybrid is Mercury's application of its advanced-hybrid technology in an upscale, mid-size car.

-- Martin Zimmerman

Photo: Volkswagen President Stefan Jacoby is the center of attention after the Jetta TDI was awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year last November at the L.A. Convention Center. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[John Rees]

Jacoby and VW should be working on their customer service first. View my VW experience at:
http://www.reesphotos.com/VW/

[Mike]

The Golf TDI is not yet available, at least not in the San Diego area.

[Jason J McCabe]

Where's the VW Polo? The Polo reportedly gets 71 MPG (look it up!) vs the Golf TDI's comparatively paltry (though still quite awesome) 42 MPG. On top of that the Polo is 0.2 second faster to 60 at 8.4 and far more nimble.

[Ben L.]

John Rees: Your experiance is the heart of the problem with VW. For VW not to admit an obvious problem and have the nerves to charge you for extra parts is intolerable. I had a rental VW Jetta that died in 3 days last year. With cars jam packed with ultra expensive electronics now, I would not touch a questionable brand with a 10 foot pole.

[gregsfc]

Sure, VW, like all other brands, have customers that have had problems, but this is not the norm and is being spread as such on this board.

In reality, VWs latest quality ratings are coming in average with respect to most vehicle classes in their lineup. JD Power now separates TDIs from gas powertrains, and the TDIs, at least with respect to the Jetta/SportWagen package, are coming in above average initial quality. The Golf TDI and A3 TDI will share the same platform as the Jetta and Jetta SportWagen, so that's the info. shoppers should read; not individual, rare experiences.

[gregsfc]

The Polo TDI does get great fuel economy, but European fuel economy ratings, even after doing the conversions for America, will not rate as well under the EPA system. In other words, the EPA is tougher on manufacturers, especially with regards to small cars and even tougher for diesel small cars. I would expect the Polo TDI to get a 45/55 (city/hwy) rating in the U.S. Just look how the EPA has underestimated the last two TDI versions of the Jetta, and it becomes obvious that the EPA's system is tough on small diesels.

Secondly, even though I'm a huge proponent for small, diesel car choices in America's future, one has to look at the marketability in the U.S. Due to emission rules, it cost a manufacturer and extra $4K to build and certify a diesel over a small gas car in the U.S. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Suzuki, and Huyndai all sell vehicles in the Polo Class starting at about $13K. VW would have to sell the Polo TDI for about $19K just to make the same profit margin as the others on their cheap compacts. Americans won't pay 19K for a small car in the U.S., because we see small cars as cheap alternatives. There are only a few exceptions to this but those involve cars with exotic reputations (i.e. Mini and Lotus). VW doesn't have an exotic reputation.

The third issue is the exchange rate. Once VW opens their plant in Chattanooga (2011), they may offer more diesel powertrains in more platforms, but I don't see it for now because they are facing too many cost barriers.

[DieselRocks]

gregsfc said: "It cost a manufacturer and (sic) extra $4K to build and certify a diesel over a small gas car in the U.S."

This simply isn't true, at least according to the statements from manufacturers of light-duty diesel vehicles. The highest I've heard is a $3,000 premium for a luxury brand. VW has publicly stated that the cost premium for the Jetta TDI is closer to $2,000, and that can be partially offset by a $1,500 U.S. tax incentive to purchase a high-mileage vehicle. Moreover, in California, at least for the past year, diesel fuel has cost about 20 cents less than regular unleaded. You do the math.

[Jason J McCabe]

gregsfc: Like it or not the 2110 Polo TDI is reportedly going to be sold right here in the US of A. Hence my confusion as to why it wouldn't be included in the Green Car of the Year competition.

[GreenCarJournal]

Regarding Jason McCabe's comment about the VW Polo TDI being reportedly for sale in the U.S. in 2010. Not true, at least in this model year. Thus, it cannot be considered for the 2010 Green Car of the Year program.

[Beng]

I think the Toyota Prius should be named "green Car of the Year". Sales figures should prove it.