If they could give last year's award to ginormous body-on-frame SUVs, then surely they can give this year's to a small, clean diesel sedan...can't they?
Diesel, yes gives great milage but it way too expensive in most places and still pollutes quite a bit. So no BMW or VW
The Smart still doesn't get great milage for its size and its practical outside an urban area. That and it's only 2 seats so not practical for a family either.
The Vue is just another Hybrid SUV which has been done a dozen times already.
The Fusion is a reskin of the surrent one but is promising in terms of milage and technology (like the SmartGauge).
@jaydez: I don't have any figures to back it up, but the new Jetta TDI uses offshoot technology from the joint MBZ-VW BlueTec project. My understanding is that these new "clean diesels" are geared towards getting the lowest emissions rating possible, other than PZEV, for which they're not eligible as that requires "partially zero", which means that sometimes it's not emitting anything. The goal, if I recall, was to create diesels that actually produced fewer total emissions than a hybrid when both are used in normal day-to-day use. That, and it's simpler technology than a hybrid, which I like, because it seems like everything I own breaks down all the time.
If I'm wrong, and someone can correct me, feel free, my internet tubes are all cloggy today.
Can't argue with you about diesel being too expensive right now, it's still over a buck a litre here in Canada when regular is down to 93 cents in some places.
10/30/08
If they could give last year's award to ginormous body-on-frame SUVs, then surely they can give this year's to a small, clean diesel sedan...can't they?
10/30/08
10/30/08
Diesel, yes gives great milage but it way too expensive in most places and still pollutes quite a bit. So no BMW or VW
The Smart still doesn't get great milage for its size and its practical outside an urban area. That and it's only 2 seats so not practical for a family either.
The Vue is just another Hybrid SUV which has been done a dozen times already.
The Fusion is a reskin of the surrent one but is promising in terms of milage and technology (like the SmartGauge).
I think the Fusion is going to take it.
10/30/08
If I'm wrong, and someone can correct me, feel free, my internet tubes are all cloggy today.
Can't argue with you about diesel being too expensive right now, it's still over a buck a litre here in Canada when regular is down to 93 cents in some places.
10/30/08
I vote for the BMW. Their chassis work is pretty much in a league of its own, coupled with diesel torque...seems nice to me.
10/31/08
10/30/08
Call me a fanboi, but the Jetta really ought to win this one.
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10/30/08
Look for the inaugural online edition of Beer, Steak and Horsepower Journal next month!
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