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LA 2008: VW Jetta TDI named Green Car of the Year
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Green Car of the Year
There are a few standouts in the emerging green sector of the U.S. auto market that are hitting the market in 2009. BMW's first clean diesel in the United States, the 335d, is one such vehicle that has torque-loving enthusiasts salivating, and General Motors' upcoming Saturn Vue is the first application of the 2-Mode hybrid system in a front-wheel drive vehicle. No green car discussion is complete without a mention of the smart fortwo, which sports the best mileage of any non-hybrid car available. Of course, the new Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid from Ford are shaping up to be real contenders in the green mid-size sedan sweepstakes and they may take a chunk out of Camry hybrid sales when it finally debuts. Still, there is one '09 car that seems to offer the best of all worlds, with a relatively low starting price, excellent fuel economy and refined driving dynamics: The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. For these reasons, the oil-burner from Germany has been selected by Green Car Journal as the 2009 Green Car of the Year. We're not arguing with the decision, but you are, of course, free to make your voice heard in the comments section.
Photos Copyright ©2008 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
PRESS RELEASE:
Volkswagen's Jetta TDI Named 2009 Green Car of the Year(R)
Green Car Journal Announces Winner at the Los Angeles Auto Show
LOS ANGELES, Nov 20, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Volkswagen's milestone 2009 Jetta TDI has been named Green Car Journal's 2009 Green Car of the Year(R), besting competitors that included a pair of advanced hybrids, a clean diesel sport sedan, and a trendy fuel-efficient microcar. This is the first time that a clean diesel model has been awarded the title Green Car of the Year(R). Green Car Journal has been unveiling the Green Car of the Year(R) winner at the LA Auto Show every year since it initiated the annual award in 2005.
"The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI epitomizes what the Green Car of the Year(R) honor is all about," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "It raises the bar significantly in environmental performance with its EPA estimated 41 mpg highway fuel economy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and extremely low tailpipe emissions. This is all the more impressive when you consider the Jetta TDI is a clean diesel, achieving the kind of fuel efficiency offered by gasoline-electric hybrids but in a more affordable way."
Volkswagen's Jetta TDI features a 2.0-liter, turbocharged direct injection engine featuring the latest in diesel injection and emissions technology that allows it to meet strict emissions standards in all 50 states. Although its mission is to provide buyers a comfortable and fuel efficient five-passenger family sedan at an affordable $21,990, there's a bit of performance in the bargain because of this clean diesel engine's abundant low-end torque and the Jetta's well-tuned suspension. This Volkswagen's new-generation diesel powerplant is also exceptionally quiet for a diesel, reflecting just how far advanced diesel technology has come in recent years.
A jury of environmental and automotive experts selected the 2009 Jetta TDI from the field of five finalists that also included the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, and smart fortwo. This jury is comprised of nine jurors including Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club; Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; automotive expert and Tonight Show host Jay Leno; automotive icon Carroll Shelby; and four Green Car Journal editors.
About Green Car of the Year(R)
The Green Car of the Year(R) award is an important part of Green Car Journal's mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. Since 1992, Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment, first with an industry newsletter and then with an award-winning auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. Green Car of the Year(R) is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc. Additional information about the 2009 Green Car of the Year(R) can be found at GreenCar.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Soccer Mom 1:33PM (11/20/2008)
Well deserved.
Reply
Dondonel 2:09PM (11/20/2008)
Really? you should go to Europe, where half of the cars are diesel, to see the "clean technology" at work.
I know that everything looks awesome in press releases, in reality though it is a disaster.
Soccer Mom 2:42PM (11/20/2008)
Dude, you seem to have some soft of irrational hatred towards the car. If it's not your cup of tea - so be it.
MichaelS 2:43PM (11/20/2008)
The diesel in the US Jetta TDI is far cleaner than 95% of the diesels in Europe, even those with diesel particulate filters.
Torrent 3:22PM (11/20/2008)
We're not in Europe. The Jetta is one of the most fuel efficient cars here in the United States of AMERICA.
Stop hatin.
Stumpy 1:35PM (11/20/2008)
Always telling people how great this car is.
Reply
Car dude 1:41PM (11/20/2008)
This is a relevant article.
http://www.prlog.org/10143704-secrets-to-new-car-buying-revealed-by-consumer-protection-company.html
Looks like automakers need to start following suit.
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 4:04PM (11/20/2008)
Was that a BlueTec?
If you drive a lot of highway miles, Diesel starts to make a lot more sense. But given that the higher consumptive rate dominates your overall mpg (easier to see if you do the math in gpm instead of mpg), most are likely going to spend less on fuel in a hybrid. And use less energy (given the 15-18% difference in energy).
Ken Stamper 5:21PM (11/20/2008)
@LS2LS7
Maybe, but hybrids just aren't fun to drive
zamafir 1:41PM (11/20/2008)
50mpg and it handles? awesome. It's nice to see fun cars getting green awards.
Reply
Dondonel 2:15PM (11/20/2008)
If Prius is what you thought of when you said handling, then you're right. And it's not 50 mpg but 40 mpg (hwy), the equivalent of 34 mpg on gasoline, which is mediocre for a car of this size and horsepower rating. Stop hyping an overprice POS.
zamafir 2:18PM (11/20/2008)
The last time you drove an MkV TDI you had issues managing 50mpg on the highway for an entire tank? How fast were you going - 125 mph? @ 70 I had no problems averaging 52mpg on the drive from San Diego to San Jose.
JF 1:41PM (11/20/2008)
Can't wait to see the sportwagen in the US (can't remember when they arrive or if they already have)
Reply
dosahut 1:58PM (11/20/2008)
Yep, they're here already. Look pretty nice.
I think this award was given to the right car, but people who buy the new TDI in the first model year are essentially taking a risk on new emissions technology, whose durability and reliabilty have not been tested in the real world. I own a 2006 TDI, and love it, but I'll wait to get the new model until it's clear that VW has built a robust system.
zamafir 1:52PM (11/20/2008)
I've seen about a dozen sportwagen TDIs so far, they're nice.
Dosahut: I had a MkIV TDI the first year vw sold them here, didn't have any issues. I'm not sure what sort of reliability issues you're expecting with the new exhaust system.
dosahut 2:05PM (11/20/2008)
VW's 2009 warranty seems to only provide 2 year/24K coverage for the new exhaust tech. That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. I love VWs, but buying the first year of new VW tech. seems like a risk. Your MKIV's TDI had a tried-and-true engine from Europe. The new "blue" diesels have entirely new emissions components that, I believe, have not been on sale anywhere before.
zamafir 2:16PM (11/20/2008)
Right, because Europe won't see standards as stringent as ours until 2014.
G-Meister 3:03PM (11/20/2008)
sounds very suspicios- the after treatment components should be covered by at least the same 80k mile rules that cover gasoline cats.
Warranty or not, you're relying on the acclaimed VW America dealer network. better bring a book.
John 1:55PM (11/20/2008)
Very interesting, a diesel is the "green" car of the year and not a hybrid.
I've been saying for years diesel is the way to go. Now if we can get some support from Uncle Sam, say drop the fuel tax on diesel and make it cheaper than gasoline to encourage sales.
I'm glad to see people are finally waking up and learning about the new diesel technology and not equating every diesel to the junk sold in the 1980's.
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 2:10PM (11/20/2008)
Why would we want to encourage Diesel sales?
In CARB areas it would increase air pollution. And compared to other cars of similar performance, the oil usage (keeping in mind the 15-18% higher energy/oil content of Diesel) isn't that much better than gas cars.
I'd rather see a push for HCCI.