LA Auto Show Announcement: 2009 Green Car of the Year

Posted 12/2/2008 3:38 PM

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Amid all the hybrid hoopla, one of the least expensive, most viable fuel-saving alternatives has been overlooked by manufacturers and the public alike. Now that the Volkswagen Jetta TDI has won the 2009 Green Car of the Year award, perhaps adoption of the technology will accelerate. The Jetta TDI (Turbo Direct Injection) diesel is available in both sedan and wagon form, earns an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 30/41 mpg and starts around $22,000. While some may question the choice of an oil burner over the hybrids in the competition, including the new Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Jetta is far greener than one might think. Compared to its pure gasoline counterpart, the TDI diesel engines emit fewer greenhouse gases and new clean diesel technology is now available in all 50 states. In addition to the Fusion Hybrid, the Jetta TDI beat out the BMW 335d, also a diesel, the Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid and the tiny smart fortwo.