Audi A3 TDI - Named Green Car of the Year

Audi A3 TDI - Named Green Car of the Year 

In early December 2009, I was out at the Los Angeles Auto Show. One of the highlights was the announcement of the Green Car of the Year. The 2010 Audi A3 TDI won the award.

The Audi TDI is a clean diesel vehicle that offers exceptional fuel economy and very low emissions. It is a compact luxury car that features a fun-to-drive experience and has the functionality of a five passenger hatchback. The it is the impressive 42 mpg highway that attracts attention. This 42 mpg is the EPA estimate and is a 50 percent improvement over the standard Audi A3 gasoline engine.

The Audi A3 TDI is certified in all fifty states and is powered by a 2.0 liter turbo direct injection. That’s what the TDI stands for – Turbo Direct Injection. The Audi A3 TDI’s engine is positioned transversely, so that the engine drives the front wheels through the transmission. The automatic transmission is an S-tronic dual-clutch style. The entire power-plant produces 140 hp. Overall, the powertrain is capable and smooth.

The 2.0 liter TDI engine is the same one found in the Volkswagen Jetta last year and this year. Last year’s VW Jetta also won the title of Green Car of the Year. The judges obviously are impressed with the mileage and emissions control of the engine.

Inside, the Audi A3 is rather plain, but nicely arranged. The seats are leather with body-holding side bolsters. This is a feature I like because it keeps the driver in place to drive the car during sharp turns. The steering wheel is very thick and has paddle shifters on the under side. In the rear, there is plenty of room for two adults. It has adequate headroom, though not quite as much as its VW cousins like the Jetta.

Other finalists for Green Car of the Year were the Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius, and Volkswagen Golf TDI. The Golf used to be called the Rabbit. This is the fourth year of the Green Car Awards and I have been fortunate to have been at two of the award ceremonies.

Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal commented, “The Audi A3 TDI offers it all… this quiet, clean diese engine delivers loads of low-end torque and a fun-to-drive experience…”

The Audi A3 TDI has a base price of just under $30,000, but that will be quickly offset with the savings in fuel economy. The price combined with a great 42 mpg mileage rating makes the Audi A3 TDI worth more than just a second look. Stop by a VW or Audi dealership and give the Audi A3 a third glance as well. You might be impressed for more than just the fact it won Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.