Finalists for Canada’s 1st Green Car of the Year Award Announced

As one of the award’s co-originators, it’s very exciting to announce that we are soon about to award for the first time ever the Canadian Green Car Award.

The award was conceived by fellow green auto journalist Peter Gorrie and I while we watched a similar award being given out at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November.  After some brainstorming and the enlisting of some key partners to ensure a quick turnaround from concept to completion, the inaugural presentation is only one week away.  The award has been designed and built to recognize the best green vehicle in Canada, using the most diverse and inclusive criteria ever established.

Yesterday, the five finalists for the first ever Canadian Green Car Award were announced.

The winner from among this group will be announced Friday, April 12 at the Green Living Show, in the Direct Energy Centre at Toronto’s Exhibition Place.

The finalists were selected by expert members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada from a wide variety of environmentally advanced vehicles nominated by their manufacturers.

They include:

– Ford C-MAX Energi

– Ford Fusion Hybrid

– Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

– Mazda3

– Volkswagen Jetta Turbocharged Hybrid

The award, presented by AJAC and Green Living Enterprises, which hosts the annual show, has been launched to recognize vehicles with the potential for strong environmental benefits and to provide consumers with authoritative information about them.

The finalists include a plug-in hybrid, three conventional hybrids and a highly efficient internal combustion vehicle.

With so many different technologies being used by automakers in their efforts to become greener, it’s gotten harder for the average Canadian to know how these cars stack up against each other.  This is why both Peter and I initially felt that the launch of this new award will go a long way to both helping consumers and elevating the prestige of vehicles that are good for the environment overall.  We were both very pleased when both Green Living Enterprises who run the Toronto Green Living Show as well as the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) were eager to help us get the award off the ground.

“The judges found the choice difficult because all the entrants are worthy, and they incorporate such differing routes to greener driving,” said Peter, who has served as chair of AJAC’s Green Car Award steering committee.

“Driving is the most energy-intensive action most people do every day; our hope is this award will shine a light on how folks can improve their health, their planet and their monthly fuel bills, if they have to use a car,” said committee member Michael Bettencourt.

The competition placed heavy emphasis on fuel economy and emissions, but also considered other environmental features within each vehicle – for example, use of recycled or naturally sourced materials – and steps each manufacturer has taken to green its operations.  Equally important, it assessed market potential – factors such as build quality, driving experience, overall features, availability, general consumer appeal and price.

“After all, a car loaded with ‘green’ features will make a difference only if it sells in large numbers and supplants lesser models,” Peter adds. “While EVs represent impressive technology that focus might have prevented the four battery-electric nominees from making the final five.”

Other nominees included the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, Chevrolet Volt, Ford Edge EcoBoost, Ford Focus Electric, Mazda CX-5, Mazda6, Mercedes-Benz B 250 Turbo, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive.

The award ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m., Friday April 12 at the Green Living Show’s main stage.  I hope many of you will consider being on hand for the announcement, or at the very least will check back to this site for updates on who will be the innaugural winner.