Green Car of the Year 2010 winner announced

(Audi)

The Audi A3 TDI has been named Green Car of the Year 2010.

Audi's popular compact beat competition from the Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf TDI to take the prize, presented to a clean diesel vehicle for the second year in a row.

The award's winner was decided by an eclectic panel of jurors such as talk show host Jay Leno, Carl Pope, executive director of the environmental group the Sierra Club and French environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau, along with Green Car Journal editors. It was presented to Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

"The Audi A3 TDI really defines what a 'green' car should be," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal. "At 42 mpg, it sets the bar for highway fuel efficiency in the luxury car segment. Its 50-state certified clean diesel engine is quiet, responsive, and achieves its mission without the need for exotic technologies."

The Audi A3 TDI has been available in the US since November as Audi's second "clean diesel" model. It achieves an estimated 42 mpg (5.6 L/100m).

Previous Green Car of the Year Winners
2009 - Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel
2008 - Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
2007 - Toyota Camry Hybrid
2006 - Mercury Mariner Hybrid