Environmental Advancements & Increased Value of Clean Diesel Vehicles Highlighted By Awards Presented At Washington D.C. Auto Show

WASHINGTON -- Jan. 23, 2015: Three clean diesel vehicles with impressive fuel efficiency and long-term value were among the vehicles honored for environmental and high-value accomplishments at the Washington Auto Show on Thursday.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel was named the "2015 Green SUV of the Year" by the Green Car Journal, and the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI clean diesel and 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI clean diesel received Kiplinger's Personal Finance "Best Value Awards" in their respective categories.

"We're pleased to see the new generation of clean diesel cars recognized by the experts at the Green Car Journal and Kiplinger's Personal Finance," said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum (Diesel Forum).

"These latest awards are a reflection of the impressive real-world fuel efficiency, advanced diesel engine and emission technology, and cleaner diesel fuel that is now the standard for today's clean diesel cars, SUVs and pickup trucks," Schaeffer said.

"Today, consumers have an ever-growing selection of green vehicles to choose from and these clean diesel winners once again highlight that clean diesels can compete in such competitive fields of advanced technology vehicles," Schaeffer said.

"2015 Green SUV of the Year" - Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel

The "2015 Green SUV of the Year" award was presented by Green Car Journal for the first time this year. According to Ron Cogan, the editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal: "The auto industry's very early focus on small cars and efficiency-for-environment tradeoffs has evolved to now include a more dynamic field of 'greener' models in all vehicle classes. Those wanting greater efficiency or better environmental performance are no longer constrained by limited choices or vehicle types that fall outside their top purchase preferences. Today, if you want a more environmentally positive vehicle – even an aspirational sedan or coupe, SUV or pickup – they're out there in growing numbers."

Cogan said the Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel earned the "2015 Green SUV of the Year" award for many reasons including its excellent fuel efficiency for an SUV of its size. Its 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 offers up to 30 highway mpg and is approved for B20 biodiesel use.

"Best Value Awards" - 2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI & 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI Clean Diesels

Kiplinger's Personal Finance unveiled its annual Best Value Awards which is a comprehensive review of hundreds of vehicles with the goal of revealing "the best values on the newest models." The vehicles are rated for their performance, safety and value.

In announcing the winners in each category – including the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI clean diesel ("Best New/Redesigned Car - $20,000-$25,000) and 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI clean diesel ("Best-in-Class - $25,000-$30,000) – Kiplinger's said: "With such a large selection of vehicles and fierce competition for consumers' attention, buying a new car can be overwhelming. And while you find deals across the board, there are plenty to be had – you just need to know where to look."

According to Kiplinger's:

Half the score is awarded for value, including resale, fuel efficiency, front and rear legroom, headroom, and cargo space.

A vehicle's safety (represented by crash-test ratings and features such as airbags) counts for one-fourth of the total score, and performance for 10%. The remainder of the score derives from impressions while test-driving the cars.

Another measure of a vehicle's worth is its resale value three and five years down the road. They show five-year total ownership costs, supplied by Kelley Blue Book, which take into account the out-of-pocket costs such as fuel, insurance and service costs, as well as the car's loss in value. They also break out serv­ice costs, which are an estimate of maintenance and repairs over five years.

Finally, they choose the most fuel-efficient vehicles based on annual fuel costs, using gasoline prices of $3 for regular, $3.35 for premium and $3.75 for diesel, and assuming 15,000 miles of driving each year. Kiplinger

What Is a Clean Diesel Passenger Vehicle?

The fleet of light-duty diesel cars, trucks and SUVs typically achieve a 20-40 percent improvement in fuel economy and 10-20 percent reduction in emissions when compared to a similar gasoline powered vehicle (Fuel Economy).

Automakers are introducing more diesel-powered models every year and consumers are warming up to the efficiency and unique characteristics of the powertrain. In fact, many drivers report fuel economy benefits that consistently rival a hybrid.

While clean diesel cars make up about one percent of the U.S. car market, when diesel pickup trucks are included the market share increases to about three percent of the total market. Schaeffer said many analysts predict the diesel market share will increase to 7-to-10 percent of the total market by 2020.

The benefits of the growth in the light-duty diesel market are real. The number of diesels on the road since 2005 have reduced emissions by 7.6M tonnes of CO2 and saved 29 million barrels of crude oil. This is equivalent to reducing consumption of gasoline by 1.2 billion gallons or removing 1.6 million vehicles from the road for a year. The growth in the diesel market is expected to reduce a further 7.7 million tons and save another 31 million barrels of crude oil.