2014 Green Car Of The Year Finalists Announced – No Electric Vehicles To Be Found

The Tesla Model S Which Has Picked Up A Win Of Just About Every Award (Green Or Not) Has Never Even Been Nominated For The Green Car Journal’s “Green Car Of The Year”

The finalists for the 2014 Green Car of the Year award, sponsored by the Green Car Journal, was announced Thursday. The eventual winner be announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

2013 Green Car Of The Year Winner Ford Fusion, Hybrid And Plug-In Energi
Although if we were the Green Car Journal, we’d would be too embarrassed to show up. Quite frankly this could have been the finalists for the 1994 Green Car of the Year – had the award been given out before 2006 that is.
The five finalists include 2 diesels:
BMW 328d
Audi A6 TDI
And 3 regular internal combustion vehicles:
Mazda3
Toyota Corolla
Honda Accord
Not an electric vehicle in the bunch, and only one of five even has a plug-in hybrid option, the Honda Accord PHV - which represents quite possibly the worst value of the EV segment at a $18,100 premium for 13 milesof electric range. C’mon
We suppose considering the 2008 “Green Car of the Year” was won by the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid (not kidding), any winner from this year’s list would still be a large step up from there.
Last year the 2013 award was won by the Ford Fusion (along with the Fusion Energi), ahead of its sister car the Ford C-Max hybrid and Energi, as well as the Dodge Dart Aero, Toyota Prius c and the Mazda CX-5.
Average age of the models listed? 31 years old; with the Mazda 3 only entering its 10th year of existence and the Toyota Corolla entering its 48th.
Below you will find a listing of the 2014 finalists for the “Green Car of the Year”, along with the Green Car Journal’s “ditty” about their selection – complete with selective featuring of only highway MPGs in most cases - apparently only one of these vehicles is capable of city driving. What is this a corporate sponsored award?
Try to not to snicker as you peruse them:
Audi A6 TDI

Audi’s 2014 A6 TDI blends excellent “green” credentials with unexpected levels of performance in a high efficiency vehicle. Its 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine with tiptronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive provides 240 horsepower and 428 lb-ft torque, achieving 0-60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. A start-stop system aids efficiency, as does a lightweight body that makes extensive use of aluminum body panels. This sedan features an EPA estimated 38 highway mpg that enables over 700 miles of highway driving range.

BMW 328d

Featuring the first 4-cylinder BMW diesel engine in the U.S., the new 328d combines exceptionally high fuel efficiency with the performance expected of BMW models. EPA estimated 45 mpg highway fuel economy is achieved with this sedan’s 2.0-liter TwinPower clean diesel powerplant, which produces 180 horsepower and 280 lb-ft torque. Efficiency is enhanced with engine auto start-stop and brake energy regeneration. A 328d Sports Wagon is also available. The models are offered in rear wheel drive or with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.
Honda Accord

Honda’s popular Accord sedan aims to lead in the efficiency space with an array of efficient powerplant choices including four-cylinder, V-6, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions. Even the V-6, the largest engine option, nets 34 highway mpgwith the four-cylinder rated at up to 36 highway mpg. The bar raises considerably with the Accord Hybrid at 50 city and 47 highway mpg, and the Accord Plug-In with its 47 city and 46 highway mpg on hybrid power. The Plug-In also offers an EPA rating of 115 MPGe, the highest of any mid-size hybrid sedan in the country.
Mazda3

The all-new third generation Mazda3, this automaker’s best-selling model worldwide, is lighter, more efficient, and packed with advanced electronics. The 2014 Mazda3 features an appealing new design and has been built from the ground-up with Mazda’s award-winning SKYACTIV technology. The 2.0-liter powered Mazda3 four-door sedan offers best-in-class 41 mpg highway fuel economy, with the five-door hatch coming in at up to 40 mpg. A more powerful 2.5-liter engine with an i-ELOOP capacitor-based regenerative engine braking system gets 38 mpg.
Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has long been a best-seller due to its blend of efficiency and affordability. With the all-new 2014 Corolla, Toyota adds visual excitement, improved driving dynamics, and even greater efficiency to its popular compact sedan, achieving up to 42 highway mpg delivered by the model’s Eco version. This level of efficiency is achieved with a 1.8-liter, 140 horsepower engine featuring the first use of Toyota’s Valvematic technology in this country. A driver selectable ECO function moderates acceleration and optimizes on-board systems to enhance mpg.