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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg From both Europe and the US, green vehicles go head to head and you decide who comes out on top. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=247106)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/CleanMPG_Car_of_the_Year.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) – Dec. 28, 2009

As more “Green Car of the Year” awards are created, which outlet actually drives or reviews their nominees in a “Green” or fuel efficient manner?

As most know, CleanMPG members are all about being kind to our country, our planet and our pocketbooks no matter what is being driven and this is a chance to make your own statement about what is or is not worthy of the title “Green Car of the Year.”

Just like last year, the process will first include a large group of fuel efficient or fuel free vehicles to select. You can vote for as many of the vehicles as you would like or simply your personal favorite from the list below. Remember that voting for all is a waste due to the dilution effect. On Dec. 31st @ noon PST, the top three choices per the poll vote will then go after the title with a second round of membership and moderator voting.

The second and final round for the “Green Car of the Year” title will include the entire membership’s choice with just a single vote for one of the top three vehicles. The membership’s votes will count for 75% of the final vote while the remaining 25% will be selected from the current CleanMPG moderator’s. We will divide up the votes on the final three vehicles, do the math and award the CleanMPG “Green Car of the Year” award to your favorite.

In practice, everyone receives up to 10 votes in round one to choose the top three of the 10 vehicles listed. You have some thinking to do. The top three in this poll will then go to the final round.

Let us assume Car A, B and C was voted as the final three vehicles. In this final round, the membership voting may have Car A receiving 85 votes, Car B with 80 and Car C with 75 with 240 votes cast. The 16 moderators will have their say and that vote may go Car C with 6, Car A with 2 and Car B with 2 votes.

The winner will be chosen as follows:

CAR A with (85/240)*.75 + (4/16)*.25 = .328125 or 32.81% of the vote
CAR B with (80/240)*.75 + (4/16)*.25 = .312500 or 31.25% of the vote
CAR C with (75/240)*.75 + (8/16)*.25 = .359375 or 35.93% of the vote

Car C would be declared the winner in the example above.

Memberships vote will be anonymous whereas the moderator’s votes will be posted in the final tally with a quick reason as to our own particular choice. That way we will not have a “Green Car of the Year Award” with the judges (moderators) hiding behind a veil of secrecy.

I welcome you to vote for CleanMPG’s “Green Car of the Year” with the first round including five diesels, four hybrids and a battery electric automobile.

CleanMPG’s Green Car of the Year Award Candidates

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_Audi_A3_TDI.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 2010 Audi A3 TDI - 2.0L TDI Turbo-diesel

Our first nominee is the all-new 2010 Audi A3 TDI. With an EPA combined rating of 34 mpgUS, this luxury compact is a welcome addition to the US as Audi’s first true fuel miser. Along with its 50-state clean emissions rating and excellent FE, we had a chance to drive the A3 TDI w/ its 6-speed DSG AT at the LA Auto show and it proved just as wonderful as the hype preceding its launch into the consumer marketplace. With a 0 to 60 time of approximately 9 seconds, excellent handling and a reasonable price ($29,990 to start), this Diesel powered wagon is a welcome addition to this years CleanMPG Green Car of the Year nominee list.



http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_BMW_320d.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg 2010 BMW 320d - 2.0L Turbo-diesel

Following in the footsteps of its famous 118 and 116d series brethren, the EfficiencyDynamics based 320d includes a robust 12V Start/Stop and regenerative braking system attached to a fantastically efficient 2.0L turbo-diesel. Using the latest Piezo-electric injectors at a touch under 30,000 psi and up to 5-injections per combustion cycle, the 2.0L allows the vehicle to reach 60 mph in just 8-seoncds! At the same time, this Diesel offers an almost unheard of 57.4 mpgUS combined on the NEDC (~ 47 mpgUS combined on the 08 EPA) while still maintaining BMW’s 3-series ride, handling and surrounding its owners in luxury.



http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_Ford_Fusion_Hybrid_Challenge_Vehicle_in_front_of_the_Capital_on_Tuesday_Morning.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - 2.5L Hybrid

For 2010, Ford gave us the award winning Fusion Hybrid. The all-new 2.5L engine is mated with possibly the most advanced hybrid drivetrain on the planet that not only provides more power but offers more fuel economy than any 3,800 pound vehicle in the world other than a BEV! Earlier this year, the Fusion was driven to a world record 81.5_mpg over 1,445 miles on a single tank of fuel (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21523) in Washington DC. That alone guarantees this super misers inclusion into the 2009 CleanMPG Green Car of the Year award nominee list.



http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/thumbs/2009_Ford_Fiesta_ECOnetic1.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg 2010 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic - 1.6L TDCi Turbo-diesel

Due to its recent redesign and release into the European market place in late 2008, release to the Chinese and Australian’s this year and soon to be available within the US (albeit minus the fantastic 1.6L TDCi super diesel :(), the world-wide and multi-award winning Ford Fiesta with its 1.6L TDCi diesel engine makes its appearance for the second year. As one of the most fuel efficient automobiles available on the planet, it certainly deserves it. The ECOnetic is able to reach 60 in less than 12 seconds and achieves 63.6 mpgUS combined on the NEDC (~ 52 mpgUS on the 08 EPA combined). The all-new Fiesta continues to be a popular choice across Europe and continues to be the number one vehicle sold in Great Britain.


http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_Honda_Insight-II_EX.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 2010 Honda Insight-II - 1.3L Hybrid

With an excellent showing at the 2010 Honda Insight-II Preview (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18649), the Insight hit the US with all the fanfare of a Super Model thanks to its low initial price of $19,800. This price makes it the least expensive hybrid available anywhere. Although initial strong demand has given way to slow uptake, the vehicle is still capable of taking on and beating its cross town rival (the 2010 Prius-III) as occurred earlier this year at the 2009 Midwest Automotive Media Association Fall Rally (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25678). It may not be a Fuel Economy world record capable automobile as its more expensive brethren, the HCH-II, but it can easily best the EPA just like most Honda’s purposely built for high fuel economy. Do not sell an Insight-II short or it and its owner will own you!


http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_Lexus_HS_250h.JPG http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 2010 Lexus HS 250h - 2.4L Hybrid

The Lexus HS 250h is Lexus’ first dedicated hybrid and most fuel efficient. Built off the new 2010 Prius’ platform, it uses a standard sedan form factor rather than the hatch equipped Prius. The powertrain should be a familiar one to most as the 2.4L ICE and HSD comes right out of the TCH. In addition to the standard Lexus luxury appointments, the HS includes an independent suspension that together with Lexus’ extensive attention to extraneous sound attenuation, offers one of the quietists driving experiences on the road today. Although not as fuel efficient as most sub-compact through mid-sized hybrids, it offers the luxury car buyer fuel economy unsurpassed by anything in its segment at 35 mpgUS combined and does so with a reasonable starting price (for its class) of $34,200. You can preview the HS including its city/suburban_FE prowess (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215415) and its moderate all-highway_FE performance (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showpost.php?p=244547&postcount=35) as linked.


http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_Tesla_Rodster.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 2010 Tesla Roadster - BEV

The best way to describe the Tesla Roadster is its fast, its electric and it will never have to visit a gas station. With the capability to hit 60 in under 4 seconds, it satisfies the enthusiasts that could only use that capability to get into an accident yet offers the rest of us the knowledge that its all-electric drivetrain is the fastest way to true sustainability. Thanks to an all-new interior, the inside matches the outside with not only a look that says drive me but drive me a lot ;) With an up front cost of $101,500 minus the $7,500 tax credit, it will only be seen in the hands of the very well to due but thankfully, it forces that same buyer to drive fuel free vs. what he or she could have been driving...



http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_Prius.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 2010 Toyota Prius-III - 1.8L Hybrid

To the chagrin of many “other” manufacturers, when someone speaks “Hybrid”, the 50 mpgUS combined rated 2010 Prius is the vehicle that takes center stage. Since its inception, the Prius has been sold to over 1.3 Million customers worldwide. Our first look at the all-new 2010 Prius (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20725) proved its worth as many of the nagging previous generation details have been improved upon or eliminated altogether. Regarding its capability, it did make it from Chicago to NY City on a single tank of fuel (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23505) this summer and gave up some of its secrets as described in the 2010 Prius-III_P&G, SHM_and_WS_FE techniques rehashed, defined and refined (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25579) write-up. This vehicle is definitely a favorite.



http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_VW_Golf_TDI.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 2010 VW Golf TDI - 2.0L TDI Turbo-diesel

The all-new 2010 VW Golf TDI. With an 08 EPA combined rating of 34 mpgUS, this compact fuel miser is proof that VW’s TDI turbo-diesels are and will continue to be stalwarts in the US where great fuel economy and good performance are concerned. Borrowing the 2.0L Turbo-charged diesel engine from the award winning Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen TDI, the new smaller 2 and 4 door hatches is as impressive to look at as it is to drive. Weighing in at almost 300 pounds less than its big brother, the Jetta TDI with a similar 34 mpgUS combined rating, do you see why we cannot wait to get our hands on one these diesel powered bad boys for a long highway drive.



http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/2010_VW_Polo_BlueMotion.jpg http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg 2010 VW Polo BlueMotion - 1.2L TDI Turbo-diesel

What do you get when you combine a hyper efficient 1.2L Common rail TDI + Start/Stop + Regenerative Braking? You receive the most fuel efficient automobile on the planet! At the heart of the Polo BlueMotion is a 3-cylinder, 1.2L TDI. A gear-shift indicator integrated in the instrument cluster shows the most energy-efficient gear for the current driving conditions. Other BlueMotion features include regenerative braking, Start/Stop, low rolling resistance tires, lightweight and aerodynamic wheels. Altogether, you have a vehicle rated at an unheard of 71.3 mpgUS combined rating on the NEDC. With an almost 12 gallon tank, a range of 850 miles is a given and well over 1,300 when taking it to its limits!

There are a number of BEVs, FCVs, Diesels and Hybrids left off the list due to unproven worth but as with everything else, the market is changing fast and next year launches an entirely new decade with the promise of even more fuel efficient automobiles to take us from that ever present point A to point B. While we wait for the future, we vote on the present which means what is on the road today.

Your vote will decide what vehicle is going to be the “real” Green Car of the Year vs. Wannabe Green Sites with authors and editors that could not reach your level of green driving skill on their best day ;)

Good Luck

Wayne

I have only one question. What does it take to vote on the "Green Car of the Year" selection? Thank you for providing the information.

Glacierblue

Hi GlacierBlue:

___Welcome to CleanMPG!

___When you are logged in, check off as many of the 10 vehicles you want that are listed in the poll at the top of the thread. Once your poll selections are submitted, you will see the poll with the vehicles displayed and the number of votes each has received so far.

___As of this minute, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is in the lead. The voting is only a few hours old however so anything can happen over the next few days.

___Last year, the Yaris and IIRC, the Jetta TDI moved past one of my favorites, the European Civic iCDTi Turbo-diesel on the last day of the initial selections. The eventual winner was the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid with the 2009 Toyota Prius-II a close second and VW Jetta TDI in third.

CleanMPG’s 2008 “Green Car of the Year” decided - From eighteen, down to three and now we have the winner. (www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18525)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I would've voted for the most efficient gasser (e.g. Yaris/Fit), but that isn't an option here.

In my case and many others, a small gasser is more green than a diesel, BEV or hybrid because the energy expenditure (or environmental damage or cost) over the car's life doesn't outweigh the extra energy required for the car's design and manufacture.

Last year this was so much easier with only three or four serious contenders. This years is going to much harder with all the great candidates available. :cool:

I voted for 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - 2.5L Hybrid because I think it's doing the best job of mainstreaming high efficiency vehicles in the US...

There are several good choices this year. It is getting to be a harder decision. I ended up voting for the Toyota Prius. As the leader in fuel economy it is still the best.

Indeed. We have great choices this year, but I personally believe that the initial selection can be further reduced on the basis that ultimately defines what is green and what is greener:

NOTE: The environmental impact of today's hybrid vehicles have been discussed extensively at CleanMPG. To summarize: Comparable non-hybrids do have a measurable environmental advantage as long as the vehicle is driven less than 100,000Km - 60K miles - (as per Toyota and Honda's yearly life-cycle analysis). After this threshold, the argument that hybrids are not significantly greener than the gas counterparts is found wanting.

With that note out of way, I'll focus on the filtering criteria first:
Vehicles that are not available in North America (for whatever reason) are clearly at a disadvantage. This means that no matter what the drool factor is over those excellent choices you are likely not to find them at your local dealer, which effectively places them out of the running.
In my view, the hallmark of a truly green vehicle lies in the potential to make a significant change by virtue of how many people it can reach and how significant that contribution is on a per unit basis. This effectively excludes commendable "green" options like the Tesla as well as other lower production models (lux and intro-lux are also affected).With this rough filtering in place, I'm left with a smaller set to choose from. The way I see it, it looks like this:

2010 Toyota Prius
Ford Fusion hybrid
VW Gold TDI
2010 Honda InsightTo me the Fusion comes in a close second to the Prius, not because of its FE potential but mostly because it comes closer to looking attractive to most of today's drivers. Being an AT-PZEV (T2B3) also helps a great deal as this is a bare minimum to me.

The Prius is tops because in the end, the numbers do not lie. It also does not hurt to have a bullet proof reputation for reliability, resale value and customer satisfaction.

I did not drive the Golf TDI yet, but I enjoyed the 2009 Jetta TDi and I just wish VW can bury the past reliability issues as well as the discontent towards the dealer competencies in a distant past. I'm lightly concerned about the long term reliability of the cleaner diesels but I am willing to forgo this concern in favor of having more of these babies on the road. We definitely need more of them replacing the gas based counterparts. In my view, VW should stop selling the regular gas only models in favor of their TDis.

The Insight definitely has the potential to be a great fuel miser for the masses but Honda definitely erred on the mixing of the IMA ingredients and the final pricing it is asking for this platform. In the end, the Insight has much to offer but also lost a fair bit with real innovation having taken a back seat compared to Honda's Previous hybrid platform. I expected the Insight to best the HCH-II, but instead it played the "back to the past" card while not showing much in terms of price abatement.
Yes, it is also an AT-PZEV T2B3 (in Canada and California) but the price is the main killer point. Can the poor sales figures evidence this deficit any clearer?

Cheers;

MSantos

None of the above for Model Year 2010. Disappointing. No Consumer Market OEM PHEV or full function BEV in 2010. ("Full Function" BEV at least 80 mile range, 60 mph top speed). Maybe 2011 is the year? While the criticism is obvious and deserved, the Volt could be the leading candidate for 2011.

I voted for the Insight-II for a couple of reasons: It's priced low enough that it has the potential for decent market penetration; although rated for 41 MPG, the folks at Motor Trend were able to squeeze 64 MPG out of the car.

I voted for 4 cars that I would like to see make it as finalists:

BMW 320d - BMW's 4-cylinder diesels are among my favorites. The 320d is simply amazing in the performance and fuel economy combination it offers, other European diesels with similar acceleration times are rated 5-10mpg lower than the 320d. They really have a bit of magic going on with that car.

Ford Fusion Hybrid - The more I think about this car, the more I like it. It shows that Ford can compete with a hybrid system that can go toe-to-toe with the hybrid heavyweights.

Toyota Prius - Redesign of the icon has made it better in many ways. The lowest emissions and highest fuel economy of any car sold in America.

VW Polo Bluemotion TDI - The most fuel efficient 5-seater in the world

I had to vote for the Prius.

To beat the Prius the car has to be better or cheaper so that it has a significant impact on fuel economy.

Can't vote for the Insight-II because it's too expensive to make a significant impact.

Won't vote for the FFH:
- more expensive than the Prius
- less efficient than the Prius.

These two were supposed to significantly expand the hybrid market but they are still being killed by the Prius. If the FFH weren't American would anybody really care about it?

Then there all the luxury cars and expensive imports. No good. They don't fulfill a _real_ need that the Prius can't. I'd rather vote for an efficient truck than an efficient luxury car.

To me the green car also needs to be sold in the USA. It's all very well saying how efficient your Euro car is but they already had lots of efficient choices. USA (you know, that big country with a huge car market, low average fuel economy and high fossil fuel consumption) doesn't have all of those choices. Not selling the car here is ungreen.

So the ECONetic and the BlueMotion could be my choice but they aren't here.

Selecting the 2010 Prius tops I can't disagree with, but comparing it directly with the Ford Fusion Hybrid is apples to oranges. The FFH is a different class and in competition with the Camry Hybrid.

Why don't we think aloud what makes a car the greenest?

For me it's what opens up the market.

For others it could be more performance in emissions, or fuel economy.

There is no right answer. Each one of us has their own specifications that we as an individual would want in our green car.

Ford Fusion Hybrid - a great car, good mileage, better than its competition (camry hybrid), and it shows the direction Ford is taking. It's a sign of better things to come. Also, it's a more mainstream vehicle than the Prius, so it might lure more/different customers.

Prius - well, of course. The game-changer takes it up a notch.

I still think the everyman Jetta TDI is more significant than the semi-lux Audi A3, otherwise I'd add the A3 to my list.

Looks like a shootout between Prius and Fusion. I wouldn't push either out of my driveway.

Surprised Insight-II is in the running for third:

Automotive disappointment of the year: Honda Insight

http://www.examiner.com/x-10697-California-Autos-Examiner~y2009m12d27-Automotive-disappointment-of-the-year--Honda-Insight

being a primer on autojournalists' disappointment with the car... are people expecting popularity to jump when gas jumps?

I picked the only EV. It's just greener. Maybe next year there will be more EV choices! :D - Dale

Prius is still the # 1 seller . I don't see anything coming close to it as Green Car of the year. Honda Civic Hybrid is #2. My opinion only!
Cheers: Hal

Regarding Wayne's comment about the Tesla: "...With the capability to hit 60 in under 4 seconds, it satisfies the enthusiasts that could only use that capability to get into an accident..."

There are situations where hard acceleration on public roads is perfectly safe, and speed is *always* appropriate in controlled racing environments. I hypermile a 2002 Saturn L100 to mid-30's mpg in pure city driving (actually, about the same in mixed highway/city too, lol), and also drive and autocross a 405hp 2002 Corvette Z06. The Saturn is my daily driver and I only drive/race the Vette occasionally. By the way, the Vette returns 30+ mpg on the highway at 55-60mph while matching the Tesla's 0-60 capability, and then pulling away from there... :)

My point is: one is a commuter car and one is for fun (although hypermiling ,as we all know, is also fun in its own way), and I think there is room for both in our society. If we want to win over those who appreciate cars as more than mere transportation appliances, we shouldn't come across as anti-high-performance fanatics.

In a week or two, they will select the NFL Coach of the Year.

Is is that the coach with the best record? Coach that made the biggest turnaround? The latest hot coach? Best coach that has not already won it? Coach that did the most with the least? How you answer that question will determine if your Coach of the Year is Caldwell, Peyton, Belichick, Reed, Turner...


This was my point of my prior post. It was not to endorse a particular car, but to ask what your criteria is for the Green Car of the Year....there is different criteria.

Strange...I look at the list and would have thought my vote would go for a "popular" car like the Prius or the Fusion - but IF I had to replace my HCH, I'd have to go for the Insight! So my vote went there! Had to throw in a vote for the Polo with that tiny diesel motor 'just because'.

I gave this a lot to thought, and in the end it really came down to 3 things:

3. price
2. practicality
1. reliability

So considering these three things I have chosen the 2010 Toyota Prius.

I know the prius is not the cheapest hybrid, but I feel it brings alot of tech to the hybrid game at a resonable cost.

Practcality is also very important. In most of the sedan hybrids, the back seat does not fold down and is usually smaller in size, limiting practicality.

And finally reliablility. Toyota has proven its worth in this regard.

My top 5 are as fallows: 1. Toyota Prius 2. Honda insight 3. Ford fusion 4. Golf 5. polo

For me I view the "Of the Year" as the most important point to vote on. So for me I thought about what cars really made steps forward in innovation this year. Secondly I thought about the "Green" part of this, and thought about what cars are really going to be daily drivers for most people, and how they're going to reduce emissions overall. This eliminated the luxury cars as very few people will buy them in comparison with the others. Based on these criteria my choices were:

1. Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
2. Toyota Prius
3. Ford Fusion Hybrid

Lets really think about the two cars in question: the 2010 Prius and the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. All of us look to the EPA as a rating for comparison so why stop here in the "Green Car Of The Year" award from us. The only great rating of the 2010 Prius is a review by Wayne Gerdes of 133% of EPA and the 2010 FFH has many better reviews by Wayne above that number. No comparison IMHO. Now look at the 17,500 mile LMPG of my '09 FEH below of Ford's EPA rating of the '09 FEH at 155% of EPA rating and tell me the 2010 Prius is any better. The 2010 FFH has a better Hybrid system than my '09 FEH. Ford earns the "Green Car of the year" hands down!

GaryG

Hi All:

___ My picks included the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, 2010 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, 2010 Toyota Prius-III and the 2010 VW Polo BlueMotion.

2010 Fusion Hybrid because it truly is an amazingly efficient automobile given its size, weight and quiet at steady state cruise. Besides the European Super Diesels, there is only one vehicle available in the US that can topple it in the city and that happens to be the 2010 Toyota Prius.

2010 Fiesta ECOnetic because it is new, it looks great, handles well (from what I read anyway???) and is only one of two on the entire list capable of 100 + mpgUS over an entire tank of fuel!

2010 Toyota Prius-III because it is one of the most fuel efficient automobiles available in the world and basically trounces everything available in the US other than the VW TDI’s out on the highway... The TDI is pretty close in that regard. Around town, only those taking the European Super Diesels to very advanced levels are going to best it in any head to head. Adding that it is a rather large automobile, the FE is icing on the cake.

2010 VW Polo BlueMotion... It is to bad our government regs keep out the European Super Diesels because the Fuel Economy they are capable of is absolutely jaw dropping. The most fuel efficient automobile in the world should be a consideration because it is... well, the most fuel efficient :D

___The vehicle I would like to own? Probably the 2010 BMW 320d due to its superior FE and handling (even with LRR tires) and its luxury feel. It is probably the closest vehicle to the magnificent 2007 Honda Civic iCDTi we drove and reviewed a few years back. If any of you remember that, I would take that vehicle over most on the “Green Car of the Year” list even today ;) The Beemer’s price however would be a bit out of my league as would the insurance.

___Bruce, because the conventional vehicles FE are now being buried by the Hybrids and Super Diesels, I had to forgo including any of them. The European VW Polo can be had with a very fuel efficient 1.2L FSI but it does not come anywhere near the 1.2L TDI. The Fit and Yaris along with the Corolla and Civic simply do not have what it takes when it comes to this list. Saying that, the Corolla all by its lonesome has probably saved more fuel than the entire list combined over the years given its decent FE and the sheer numbers of vehicles sold. Something to think about for Car of the decade... I should have that one posted by New Years ;)

___RedPrius-II, I suspect the Volt may take the crown next year although it will be very limited to the average consumer. Similar to the 2011 Prius PHEV-12/13. I did plead with the Toyota reps to include a PHEV in the Chicago Press Fleet and we shall see. GM’s Volt? I must have very little credibility with them even after defending the Volt against the likes of the rabid hoards because I can barely get a reply to my bi-monthly E-Mail asking for “The Drive” :D

___Butterfly Mage, have you followed the links as provided for the Insight-II? MT at 64 :rolleyes:

___It’sNotAboutTheMoney, boy did you nail it!

___Andrew, the only reason I had to remove the Jetta TDI from the list is it is a year old vehicle now. For an affordable all-highway driver, that Sportwagen we drove this past summer was absolutely stupendous. If they offered one in 4WD, it would decimate Subaru!

___Sam919, having ridden any number of bikes that would destroy even the Tesla in the 0 to 60 dance, performance to that level is absolutely and completely useless on any public road in America. The only thing that someone pushing a performance vehicles accelerator pedal into the floorboard (or twisting the throttle ;)) that hard is to feel the joy of super bike performance while asking that the rest of us be prepared to die for said driver/riders “amusement”. Anybody driving 0 to 60 in 4-seconds on public roads is driving outrageously foolish to put it bluntly. That said, I certainly am glad Tesla is selling Roadsters (more than a thousand the last time I checked) that are being purchased by performance aficionado’s. I just hope and pray said owners never use its 0 to 60 capability let alone its top speed because the life lost may not just be there own but yours or mine :ccry:

___Elixer, I like your picks too.

___Gary, if there was a crack in the 2010 Prius’ armor, it would have to be the ability to best its EPA by most and by a decent percentage above by the likes of us. 60 is easy, 70 is darn near impossible on the highway. Around town, 100 is doable but it is not as fuel efficient as the Prius it replaced :(

___Regarding the 2010 Fusion and Milan Hybrids, I have only given three clinics out of maybe 30 that the student driver did not breach 70 mpg in which to me is absolutely amazing! Let alone breaking 80 mpgUS over a tank in Washington and 60 mpg on Debbie and my 95% all-highway drive from Dearborn to Milwaukee and back again. We were taking it to heroic levels in some cases but still, 60 + on a mostly highway drive from a vehicle that weighs almost 2-tons? Ford has their act together in a huge way and they have only just started... Wait until you hear what they have planned for us in 2012 :D

___As I type this up, the Prius and Fusion are in a dead heat so they will surely make the cut into the final round. That is where it is going to be a tough choice for all of us!

___Regarding the 2010 VW Polo TDI BlueMotion, its vote tally is a surprise to me. I actively search out its progress and cover it anytime there is a mention but it is a niche vehicle, even in Europe. Our chances of actually seeing one here in the US is about 0 :( I am really proud of CleanMPG members who find so much value in the Polo BlueMotion to make it the number three choice so far and prove many here really do read some of the drivel I upload on a daily basis. Thank you for doing so!

___Keep the votes coming as the BMW 320d, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, Honda Insight-II and Tesla Roadster are still in the hunt.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

___Sam919, having ridden any number of bikes that would destroy even the Tesla in the 0 to 60 dance, performance to that level is absolutely and completely useless on any public road in America. The only thing that someone pushing a performance vehicles accelerator pedal into the floorboard (or twisting the throttle ;)) that hard is to feel the joy of super bike performance while asking that the rest of us be prepared to die for said driver/riders “amusement”. Anybody driving 0 to 60 in 4-seconds on public roads is driving outrageously foolish to put it bluntly. That said, I certainly am glad Tesla is selling Roadsters (more than a thousand the last time I checked) that are being purchased by performance aficionado’s. I just hope and pray said owners never use its 0 to 60 capability let alone its top speed because the life lost may not just be there own but yours or mine :ccry:


Hi Wayne... In my 20's I owned a Mustang and then a Camaro (both V8's, of course) and, like many of us, I know that I sometimes drove in an unsafe manner. I'm not proud of that. At 32 I bought my Z06 Corvette and have since mellowed (I'm 39 now). I now only make use of all of that 405hp (with only ~3050lbs to move... 3.9sec 0-60mph in one test I saw) on public roads with a great deal of situational awareness: I occasionally enjoy empty on-ramps (that's more about handling than speed), accelerating hard on an empty, open back road, etc. But I never do anything like that in a residential area, with traffic around, etc. My top priority is not putting others in danger or making anyone uncomfortable.

To be honest, I agree the only place to fully and safely enjoy a performance car is in a controlled competition environment, which is why I started autocrossing in the mid 1990's. But I strongly disagree with your statement that performance cars are useless on public roads.

There is a *vast* middle ground between 0-60 in 4sec from a stoplight in a 35mph zone with traffic around and driving 52mph on a 55mph PSL highway (which I just did this morning on my way in to work). For example, from time to time 3/4 throttle from 30-55 (with 55mph PSL) with no cars nearby is fun and does not terrorize and endanger anyone. Performance cars are NOT just about top speed and full throttle acceleration in traffic.

I have a feeling we won't agree on this point, but I had to defend a passion of mine since my first Corvette poster on my closet when I was 13!

Sam

I guress I will explain my choices a bit:

Prius: It holds the best EPA of the current models, and isn't too hard to get a hold of. Advertising has been good at getting out the hybrid word as well.

FFH: It's a very impressive entry into the hybrid car world (though their SUV has been around for a while). While it isn't a basic level car, it isn't a luxury car either. Not everyone can afford it, but it isn't priced out of range for everyone but the rich. Also, I fully expect the FFH to last as well as the FEH. They did VERY well as San Fransisco taxis.

Tesla: It's the only BEV on the list, but it's last since almost no one can afford it.

Hi All:

___Just 24-hours left and the Fusion Hybrid is in a dead heat with the Prius? Is that cool or what?

___Sam, a story was relayed to me about Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier, and Jackie Stewart, one of the most famous Formula One drivers in history.

___In two separate instances, a reporter was riding along with these two after a test drive of a Corvette ZR1 and the Ford 500 GT. I may have the cars screwed up??? This writer was asking them about there public driving mindset after driving some of the fastest production cars in the world at the time and both (I am paraphrasing a bit here), said why would anyone want to drive to the limits of an automobile on a public roadway? Both were traveling down the local Interstates at 55 mph and being passed by the normal hoards which made one heck of an impression on the reporter/writer and me as well. I think it was in a Car and Driver Intro Editorial sometime this year.

___If two of the fastest people on the planet can control themselves while on public roadways driving vehicles that are capable of 3 and 4X’s the PSL, I see no reason for the rest of the public not to do the same. Unfortunately, the rest of the public lacks the ability to control themselves in a fashion that places our safety and theirs, low fuel consumption and low emissions at the forefront. This does not just cause the driver harm in the case of an accident, it causes each and everyone of us harm every time said driver places his foot to the floor with all the problems associated with doing so.

___All that said, I have written up stories for other sites about Insight Auto crossers, I cover the LeMan’s series pretty heavily thanks mainly to the Audi R15 and Peugeot 908 turbo-diesels, the VW Jetta TDI cup thanks to that vehicles wonderful mix of performance and efficiency and now the TTXGP all-electric bike racing series. A little tidbit that was revealed to me at the LA Auto Show earlier this month that I have yet to confirm is the VW TDI cup cars supposedly drove the entire season (10 races) on a single tank of gas at some 20 mpg or thereabouts. While at the BMW Rider Training and Branding event (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25908), I was fortunate enough to drive 10 different BMW’s around one of their short racing test tracks and in doing so, saw the 335d pull an 8.6 mpg run while the std. twin-turbo 6’s pulled 6 mpg time and time again. There is something to be said about that kind of performance with that kind of efficiency albeit low enough to almost make me cry :rolleyes:

___Hopefully the above gives rise as to the reason I have included so many turbo-diesels in the list above as well as the highest performance consumer oriented all-electric automobile in the form of the Tesla Roadster. Additionally, my selection as to what would be in my drive if it was available and I had the wherewithal was the 2010 BMW 320d. Excellent handling provides superior accident avoidance which should be on the top of everyone’s list as well but I can assure you that very few outside of CleanMPG members would be following the speed limits while behind the windscreen of one 99% of the time...

___Testing of acceleration and handling performance is for the track (in my case, an empty mall parking lot most of the time), not for public roads where your family and mine drive day in and day out. I think it was Dan Bryant who said, “Would you like your children to be on a school bus that was following the speed limits or driving like everyone else?” I would like Jackie Stewart to be driving the school bus my kids are on but that is just me :D

___Taliesin, the final is going to be a tough call for a lot of us ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___I refreshed and now see the 2010 Fusion Hybrid has retaken the lead. This is going to be one heck of a close finish!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

The best innovation in 2009 is clean diesels on the US market, but I did not select any for Green Car of the Year.

The best two individual cars are the 2010 Prius and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. In awards like this, there is a tendancy not to give the award to the same person again and again unless it's clear-cut, so you already see my hand. For years, the Prius was head-and-shoulder above the rest - excellent arguements can still be made it's the best. In 2010, I can see Toyota's new hybrid they reveal at the Detroit Auto Show getting the award.

My reasons for choosing the Ford Fusion Hybrid is it delivers better fuel economy than the Toyota Camry Hybrid it competes directly with and also offers excellent quality. It adds more hybrid options beyond the compact and subcompact models - people that want a larger car. It is clearly the best hybrid from Detroit (or at least on par with the FEH), athough the Camry has more American content.

Again, I'm somewhat biased against dynasties and lean towards comebacks, so I will favor Detroit when they can respond with something like the FFH.

The 2010 Prius has numerious new technologies, none of them earthshaking, but they are bringing improvements while keeping the cost down. I am disappointed it can't be hypermiled as well, but some will argue in the big picture it saves more by improving the fuel economy of the gearhead drivers.

Another bias I see as that will be more pronounced is highway vs city drivers. As we get more EV choices this will be more obvious.

This is great!

The fusion is a great car for sure. I really do like the instrumentation. And the car looks great. I still think the prius just edges it out but will see.

Although many may believe that the Insight does not deserve Green Car of the Year, I had to pick it because well, I bought one and had to toot my own horn, no pun intended :). However, I believe the Insight is a wonderful car for me, and I absolutely love it! The Insight is definitely a step up from the Aveo I had before - in terms of spacial capacity, safety, fuel efficiency and looks! Although there may be some problems (like price), there are many new attributes that Honda brought to the table with this car - I love the green/blue speedometer backlighting and the ECON button. I just felt that the Insight needed a positive post. :)

Thank you, Wayne, for the welcome and the instructions. The message I first received was the I could not vote. Now that has been corrected and my vote has been recorded.

Glacierblue

As an international member it would have been nice to have a little more detail on the exact models that have been chosen as the ten candidates. For example, the VW Golf has three 2.0L turbo diesel engines - a 110 hp, 140 hp and 170hp with different performances, specs and economies. The Euro Prius III has two models with slightly different economy etc etc.
Its hard to know which ones are actually being listed here without doing a lot of research, especially as with the Europeans some more eco models are not in the list i.e. the VW Golf Bluemotion.

For me it was economy AND practicality. For example, in Australia the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is being heavily advertised as the country's most fuel efficient car. However its a very small car and is only available in manual, so for me that not only rules it out of the voting but out of my buying - need a family sized car without a clutch.
So although I'm already driving a VW group 2.0L TDi model for me it came down to the Prius on these two criteria.

Hi Ron, I would go by the flag beside the model. For example, the Golf has an American flag, so it would be the American version of the car. That's got the 140hp TDI and extra emissions controls over the European or Australian versions.

BTW, I like your car! The Octavias are starting to look a little dated, but from what I hear drivers really like them and I wouldn't mind having one myself. I got to drive its cousin, the Jetta wagon TDI, and it was great fun.

Hi Ron:

___As Mike pointed out, the 2010 Golf TDI here in the US is only available with the 2.0L TDI and its emissions controls are more robust (read lower FE) than the European variants.

___The 2010 Prius-III has 5 different models available in the US and all are rated identically.

___From what I know, the European and Australian Fiesta ECOnetic’s are identical.

___I actually included just a few of the more famous European models but always included only the most fuel efficient model. IIRC, someone last year mentioned why I did not include some of the VW owned Skoda offshoots last year. The list would simply become to cumbersome if I did.

___I hope this helps?

___Finally, what do you think of the Australian automobile coverage I have been posting the past 2 or 3-months? The mainstream manufacturer media sites are practically disconnected from Australia so it takes a lot of digging to come up with what I can find. When I do, I try and get it up ASAP.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I chose the FFH it had great performance (hypermiler-style) and the price point isn't crazy either. I enjoyed driving that vehicle and the instrumentation was awesome.

I also chose the HI-2 if packaged and priced differently for 2011 this car may yet get the chance to shine for what it is on its own merits, rather than being compared to the HCHII or a certain midsize hybrid that started life as a fat Toyota Echo. It still seems to me the vehicle we got (pricing & packaging-wise) was based of the early success of the Japanese model.

If I could demerit a model it would be the HS250h with HSD under the hood I'd expect better performance. For the price I want to see standard navigation (it doesn't have to be their best, that can be an upgrade), I would also expect better seats and instrumentaton.

Hi All:

___The prelim has a little less than 2-hours to go and the Fusion has once again retaken the lead.

___I have been receiving E-Mails from individuals who want to vote for such and such a car but you have to log in and vote on your own. My votes are used up already ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi Wayne. I think you suggested I resubmit my choices for Green Car of the Year using this input. My choices are: 2010 BMW 320d and 2010 VW Polo BlueMotion. Hope this is what you wanted done...Hickman

Hi John:

___Check off what you want in the poll at the top of the page and you are good. This is open another 25-minutes before moving to the final round so ASAP please ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___The 3-finalists have been chosen!
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
2010 Toyota Prius
2010 VW Polo BlueMotion
___These 3 vehicles will not only be accepting the honor of podium placement but are now the finalists for “Green Car of the Year”.

___Thank you for voting and letting us know what you consider to be the best of the best when it comes to your choice for "Green Car of the Year."

___I will try and get the final voting selections up within the next few hours...

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi Wayne. I vote for 2010 VW Polo BlueMotion....Hickman

Hi John:

___You will have to vote again in the final as I am writing it up at this very moment ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___The “You award CleanMPG’s 2009 "Green Car of the Year” (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27963) is up with the 3-finalists including the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, 2010 Toyota Prius-III and 2010 VW Polo BlueMotion. 3-days so make your vote count :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne