VW Jetta TDI wins L.A. Auto Show's 'Green Car' award

Scott Burgess / The Detroit News

LOS ANGELES -- The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI was named Green Car of the Year this morning at the L.A. Auto Show.

"The future of the auto industry depends on these high mileage vehicles," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of "Green Car Journal," the magazine responsible for selecting the Green Car of the Year.

"It's no longer an option for carmakers to build these cars," he said, "it's an imperative."

This year's finalists for the fourth Green Car of the Year award included two diesels: the Jetta and the BMW 335d; the Ford Fusion hybrid, the Saturn Vue two-mode hybrid and the Smart Fortwo subcompact.

Stefan Jacoby, president of Volkswagen of America, accepted the award, saying, "We are confident that the popularity of clean diesel will continue to grow."

VW has sold diesel vehicles in the United States since 1977. In 2007 it discontinued its diesel models in the U.S. to prepare for higher federal emission standards.

The new Jetta TDI hits 41 miles per gallon on the highway and 30 mpg in the city, according to EPA testing.

Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com.