AAA's Top Green Vehicle Is 2015 Tesla

The 2015 Tesla Model S P85D earned the top score in the 2015 AAA Green Car Guide, the motor club announced on April 20. The Palo Alto-based automaker’s car is featured with more than eighty other green vehicles in the 2015 AAA Green Car Guide. The best green car value award went to the 2014 Nissan Versa SV.

To help those in the market for a green car or truck, the 160-page, comprehensive fifth annual AAA guide reviews 88 battery electric vehicles, compressed natural gas-powered (CNG) vehicles, clean diesels, hybrids, partial zero emission vehicles (PZEVs), and vehicles with high fuel economy. These vehicles were tested and scored by the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center (ARC) in thirteen categories (braking, fuel economy, emissions, handling, ride comfort, etc.). The report also contains comprehensive information about green technologies from the ARC evaluators.

The Tesla P85D has a 253-mile range, but even with a 240-volt charger, it can take twelve hours to fully re-charge.

The 2014 Nissan Versa SV tops the 2015 guide list as the best green car value when price is factored in.

The research center tracks significant changes to a vehicle from model year to model year. If no significant changes were made to the power train in 2015, a prior model year’s results were used. For example, staff tested a 2014 Mazda3 sedan. No significant changes were made to its powertrain in 2015, so the 2014 results were include in the 2015 AAA Green Car Guide.

Overall Top Scoring Green Cars:

    2015 Tesla S P85D Performance (Electric)
    2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium (Electric)
    2014 BMW i3 (Electric)
    2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium Partial Zero-Emissions
    2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI SE Clean Diesel

Best Value: Cost-Per-Point Scores:

    2014 Nissan Versa SV (Gasoline) $249
    2014 Nissan Versa Note SV (Gasoline) $260
    2013 Hyundai Accent GLS (Gasoline) $269
    2015 Toyota Yaris LE (Gasoline) $273
    2014 Kia Soul+ (Gasoline) $276

2015 AAA Green Car Guide Category Winners:

    Large car: Tesla Model S P85D (Electric)
    Midsize: Audi A7 TDI Quattro Tiptronic (Clean Diesel)
    Compact: Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium (Electric)
    Subcompact: BMW i3 (Electric)
    SUV/Minivan: Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium (PZEV)
    Pickup Truck: Ford F-150 Supercab Lariat (Gasoline)

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