The Green Streets
The state of eco-friendly automotive art is front and center at the L.A. Auto Show this year, highlighted by the 2014 Green Car of the Year finalists. The winner, the Honda Accord, was chosen from a remarkably diverse field that reflects the booming number of green options whittled down to a gang of five and presented by the Green Car Journal for consideration.
Every year, the Green Car top five reflect the latest, hottest trends in the green segment. And for 2014 it skews more eclectic than ever, ranging from executive-class luxury to mainstream commuter cars. Remember when hybrids were the only game in town? This year there’s only one hybrid in the lineup.
“The diversity of this field of finalists illustrates not only that ‘green’ has gone mainstream but also that there is no single approach to achieving ever-higher levels of fuel efficiency and environmental performance,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal. “There’s something for everyone in this year’s field of finalists.”
The final five were chosen by Green Car Journal editors based largely on their environmental credentials, market significance and overall innovation. The winner was then selected by an all-star jury that included Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, a noted auto enthusiast.
Without further ado, we present this year’s top five Green Cars, starting with the champion.
Honda Accord
Honda’s popular Accord sedan, long a leader in value and reliability, aims to plant its flag squarely in the green segment with a quartet of powerplant options. Start with the traditional four-cylinder and V-6 gas models that get 36 and 34 mpg respectively — strong compact efficiency in a stylish midsize package. The standard hybrid raises the bar considerably, getting 50 mpg in the city and 47 on the highway, and the plug-in hybrid gets a whopping 115 mpgE (equivalent) when it runs mostly on its electric motor.
Audi A6 TDI
Highlighting the impact of clean-diesel on European luxury, Audi’s new A6 TDI midsize sedan brings all the amenities and performance you’d expect from the iconic brand — not to mention 0-to-60 quickness in just 5.5 seconds — in an exceptionally green package. The 3-liter 240-horsepower six-cylinder TDI engine mates with Quattro all-wheel-drive to provide up to 38 miles per gallon and a single-tank range of more than 700 highway miles. The A6 also sports a start-stop system to save fuel while idling, and its lightweight aluminum body panels boost efficiency as well as quickness.
BMW 328d
Featuring the first four-cylinder BMW diesel engine to hit the U.S., the 328d combines exceptionally high fuel efficiency with true Bimmer performance, delivering 45 mpg highway through the sleek sedan’s 2-liter 180-horsepower TwinPower clean-diesel engine, along with 280 pound-feet of torque. Efficiency is enhanced with an auto start/stop feature and the Driving Dynamics Control with five settings — Eco, Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport-plus — that tweak suspension, handling and powertrain accordingly.
Mazda3
Entirely redesigned into a sleeker and more aggressive beauty, the third-generation 2014 Mazda3, which is offered as a sedan or four-door hatchback — is also more efficient than before, with a lighter frame and advanced SkyActiv technology. The sedan’s 2-liter 155-horsepwer direct-injection four-cylinder engine gets 41 mpg highway — practically hybrid-level fuel economy — and the hatchback is rated up to 40 mpg. Want more power? Check out the optional 2.5-liter 184-horsepower engine, which generates 184 horsepower and 38 mpg.
Toyota Corolla
That’s right, the world’s biggest-selling nameplate goes green — and in shockingly stylish fashion. For generations, the compact Corolla has earned its reputation as an affordable and highly dependable workhorse. Not so with the all-new 2014 edition, a new star on the global stage. Packing considerable flair, a bolder stance and tighter, sportier handling to go with outstanding fuel efficiency, the Corolla Eco line gets up to 42 highway mpg through a 1.8-liter 140-horsepower Valvematic engine. A driver-selectable Eco function moderates acceleration and optimizes on-board systems to enhance fuel efficiency.
—Robert Young, Brand Publishing Writer
