Volkswagen Jetta TDI Named 2009 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Car Journal, the leading resource for information about exciting and environmentally positive vehicles, has announced the winner for its annual Green Car of the Year® award for 2009 – the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The award, announced via a press conference this morning at the Los Angeles Auto Show, recognizes new model vehicles that provide real answers for new car buyers looking for a personal stake in lessening environmental impact.

This is the first time that a clean diesel model has been awarded the title Green Car of the Year®. The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI breaks new ground in the field of clean diesels, achieving emissions certification in all 50 states without the use of special additives or extraordinary measures. It provides five passenger functionality with welcome levels of power and a satisfying driving experience. Importantly, it also achieves hybrid-like highway fuel economy of 41 mpg with greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The clean diesel Jetta TDI matches this efficiency with a powerplant that’s more straightforward and affordable, allowing the Jetta TDI an affordable $21,990 price tag. A quick view of the stats are below:

Engine: 2.0-liter inline-four, diesel

Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/SULEV

Horsepower: 140

Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 30/41 (EPA)

The other finalists for Green Car Journal's 2009 Green Car of the Year® award also included the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid and the smart for two.

“Amid some of the most challenging times the auto industry has ever seen, ‘green’ cars represent the future of the auto industry and the products that will enable our mobility in the years to come,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "It’s no longer an option for automakers to address the efficiency and environmental impact of new models, but rather an imperative, and this year’s remarkable selection demonstrates that environmental performance, in all its forms, is a greater touchstone for new car buyers.”

Vehicles using all types of technologies, fuels, and powerplants are eligible for the Green Car of the Year® program. To qualify for consideration as a nominee, a vehicle must exhibit characteristics that substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production by January 1 of the award year. Plus, a potential nominee must be driven by Green Car Journal to allow experiencing driving dynamics first-hand.

The 2009 Green Car of the Year® was selected by a jury that includes 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; and automotive icon Carroll Shelby.

About Green Car Journal

Green Car Journal’s mission is 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 today with an award-winning auto enthusiast magazine and website. It is considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. Find out more at www.greencar.com.

Green Car of the Year(R) is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.