It’s that time of the year again: Car manufacturers are rolling out 2009 models and making deals you can’t resist. What’s your pleasure? Want something environmentally friendly, luxurious, or affordable and compact? They’re all here.
The Green Car Journal named the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel the 2009 Green Car of the Year. This affordable German car provides hybrids with some strong competition and a compelling argument for going diesel again. If you want eco-friendly luxury, check out the 2009 Lexus LS 600h Hybrid. Adding the Executive Class Seating Package gives you built-in massage seating, a 9-inch screen/DVD player, and infrared body-temperature sensors that adjust the airflow according to passengers’ body temperatures.
If money is no option, it’s all about the M’s: Mercedes and Maserati. Maserati’s sport luxury sedan, the Quattroporte, just debuted at the Paris Motor Show. Featuring modern lines, enhanced engineering and a new engine, this car is built to thrill. The CL600 Coupe by Mercedes is a high-profile vehicle with a low-slung profile designed to impress.
Don’t want to break the bank? The good news is the recently named 2009 Motor Trend Vehicles of the Year are affordable and stylish, with cool interior features to boot.
2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Nissan GT-R has the world’s first independent transaxle (transmission, clutch and transfer case). It’s sleek, fast and meant to be pushed to the limit. Other affordable contenders include the Pontiac Vibe, the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Fit, the latter two of which were named “safe cars” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The 2009 Subaru Forester took top honors as the 2009 Motor Trend SUV of the Year. The Forester was designed to have a low impact on the environment and, according to the IIHS, it is one of the safest SUVs on the road. This isn’t a disposable purchase, either: 95 percent of Subaru vehicles sold in the past 10 years are still on the roads today. Other 2009 SUV options include the Toyota Venza and the Ford Flex. Other IIHS safety award winners include Chevrolet Traverse and the Honda Pilot.
