Five exciting, “fun to drive,” yet sensible cars.
All are finalists for the Green Car Journal 2018 Green Car of the Year Award.
The magazine and website calls the five vehicles – the Honda Accord and Clarity, Hyundai Ioniq, Nissan LEAF and Toyota Camry – “models offering consumers varying ways to drive ‘green’ that fit their unique needs and sensibilities, and are readily available to the mass market.”
“This year’s Green Car of the Year finalists reflect the continuing evolution of the automobile and the drive toward ever-greater environmental compatibility,” said Ron Cogan of Green Car Journal.
Reviews of the five finalists ranged from the new Camry’s “sportier and more dynamic” character to the Clarity’s “appealing design” and luxurious appointments, from the LEAF’s sportiness to the Ioniq’s “unique styling cues and character” and Accord’s “style, efficiency, and performance.”
But it’s not the only Green Car Journal award up for grabs. Vehicle awards also will be given to one of five finalists in each of the following categories:
Truck of the Year
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Ford F-150
- GMC Canyon
- Honda Ridgeline
- Toyota Tacoma
Performance Car of the Year
- Acura NSX
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Ford Mustang
- Honda Civic Type R
- Mazda MX-5 Miata
Commercial Car of the Year
- Ford F-250 Super Duty
- Ford Transit Connect
- Ford Police Responder Hybrid
- Mercedes-Benz Metris
- Ram ProMaster City
“The diversity of this year’s award finalists shows just how aggressively environmental achievement is emerging in all vehicle classes,” said Cogan. “Their common thread is increased efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and greater environmental performance.”
During its vetting process, the Green Car Journal jury and editors look at all vehicles, fuels and technologies before narrowing the field of potential candidates to a final five “for their achievements in raising the bar in environmental performance.” Criteria include efficiency, performance characteristics, “newness,” affordability, availability to the mass market, and overall environmental achievement.
“As we move toward the goal of efficiency in the industry, it is important to bring recognition to these [vehicles] so that more consumers are aware of all that they can do and how they can better impact the environment,” said a spokeswoman for the San Antonio Auto & Truck Show, where winners of the performance car, pickup truck and commercial vehicle categories will be announced Nov. 9.
The Green Car of the Year Award will be announced at AutoMobility LA on Nov. 30 in Los Angeles, just prior to the Los Angeles Auto Show.
