Volkswagen Jetta TDI is 2009 Green Car of the Year

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Wins Green Car of the Year at 2008 Los Angeles Motor Show

Returns 38mpg in city driving

By Thami Masemola
November 21, 2008 7:11 PM
Filed Under: Awards, Diesel, German, Green, Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen

Green Car Journal has awarded the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI its 2009 Green Car of the Year award. The turbo diesel-powered Jetta took the honors after beating five other vehicles included in the best-of-the-best 2009 green vehicles. These were BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, and smart fortwo.

"The Volkswagen Jetta TDI rose to the top as Green Car Journal's 2009 Green Car of the Year® for some very important reasons," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "Hybrids have dominated the discussion of environmentally positive vehicles in recent years. The highly fuel efficient, 50 State emissions certified Jetta TDI shows that advanced clean diesel has arrived and is poised to change this dynamic. With its affordable price point, refined ride and handling, and high fuel economy, the Jetta TDI shows that hybrids now have a strong competitor in the marketplace."

Jetta TDI has already sold over 8,000 units since it was launched in the US in mid-August 2008. It has achieved great things since launch, one of which was setting the Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption after averaging 58.82 mpg while traveling through the 48 continuous US States. An independent, real-world test study with the Jetta TDI conducted by leading third-party certifier AMCI, returned 38 mpg in city and 44 mpg under highway driving conditions.

 

Source: VW

Press Release (Click to expand)

The 2009 Jetta TDI clean diesel has been awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal. The editors at Green Car Journal nominated five vehicles that represented the year’s best-of-the-best 2009 green vehicles, and today announced that they have chosen Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI clean diesel as the best-of-the-best and awarded it their 2009 Green Car of the Year.

“It is a tremendous honor to have our Jetta TDI awarded Green Car of the Year,” said Stefan Jacoby, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “We believe our Jetta TDI’s truly offer a no compromise alternative fuel driving experience that provides our customer the best of both worlds—excellent fuel efficiency combined with a dynamic driving experience. With more than 8,000 units already sold since its mid-August market introduction, it’s clear that a Volkswagen clean diesel is what the people want.”

“The Volkswagen Jetta TDI rose to the top as Green Car Journal’s 2009 Green Car of the Year® for some very important reasons,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “Hybrids have dominated the discussion of environmentally positive vehicles in recent years. The highly fuel efficient, 50 state emissions certified Jetta TDI shows that advanced clean diesel has arrived and is poised to change this dynamic. With its affordable price point, refined ride and handling, and high fuel economy, the Jetta TDI shows that hybrids now have a strong competitor in the marketplace.”

Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen showcase the best of both worlds, an alternative fuel vehicle with no compromises. Fuel efficiency, performance and convenience come standard with the 50-state compliant Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen models, which meet the most stringent emissions standards in California.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Jetta TDI at an economical 30 mpg City, and 41 mpg Highway. Volkswagen went a step further to evaluate the real world fuel economy of the Jetta TDI. Leading third-party certifier, AMCI, tested the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway.*

Earlier this year the Jetta TDI set a new Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption as it averaged 58.82 miles per gallon as it traveled through the 48 contiguous states. EPA research has concluded that if diesels were to power one third of all light duty vehicles in the United States, the shift would save approximately 1.4 million barrels of oil a day—equal to the daily shipments from Saudi Arabia to the U.S.

The Jetta TDI models come standard with Volkswagen’s Prevent and Preserve Safety System, consisting of numerous standard safety features. Like all 2009 model year Volkswagens, the Jetta TDIs also come standard with Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) for added safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Jetta with their highest safety rating, a Top Safety Pick.

Providing even more value to the Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen, a $1300 Federal Income Tax Credit is available. The Internal Revenue Service issued a certification letter affirming that both vehicles qualify for an Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Federal Income Tax credit.

Also standard for 2009 is Volkswagen’s Carefree Maintenance Program, with this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance detailed in the vehicle’s maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

Comments

out4ride
November 22, 2008 1:21 AM
Awesome. Nice done VW.

Jamie.Matthews
November 22, 2008 1:27 AM
wow, a whole 38mpg, get a golf diesel, get 70 mpg

plasma_cluster
November 22, 2008 10:01 AM
TDI has always been better then hybrid. The polution and chemicals which go into making those Prius batteries easily offset how "green" they are let alone what people are doing with the harmful chemicals in the massive batteries once the cars life is over

DieselDog
November 23, 2008 6:07 AM
I am pleased to see clean diesel getting noticed. I have averaged 50.8 MPG (documented) in mixed driving over a 2-year period in my '99 Jetta TDI. With over 202,000 miles on it, I would only replace it with a clean diesel. Sure VW, M-B, and BMW have great small diesels, but what about newer, lighter clean diesels from Honda and Subaru? When is the USA getting competitive alternatives?

GanSan
November 24, 2008 5:39 AM
I'm confused.

My German relatives have a newish diesel Golf, and they have to pay for a permit to drive the vehicle in their region of Frankfurt because the diesel engine produces more pollution than the regular petrol variant.

Does this new technology actually make the diesel spew less emissions than regular petrol?

It's a real shame that Australia gets screwed and left with less refined fuels. Cars have to be re-tuned for Australian fuels and turbo cars have more lag. Twin-turbo cars are even worse, with a gap between the two, which leads to massive disappointment.

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