Five finalists were in the running for the title of 2017 Green SUV of the Year but in the end, only one could win. The BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid took home the crown. The Green Car Journal made the announcement at a press conference at the Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC on Jan. 26, 2017. The Green Car Journal has been around since 1992. The quarterly publication focuses on green vehicles and environmentally friendly energy and technologies. The magazine also hosts events, conducts outreach efforts to educate consumers about green vehicle choices and produces ride-and-drives of advanced and clean fuel vehicles. Thereâs a jury that selects which vehicles receive the Green Car Awards. Three awards are handed out each year. They are Connected Green Car of the Year, Green SUV of the Year and Luxury Green Car of the Year. The jury considers such traditional values as safety, quality, value, performance and functionality alongside superior environmental achievement. To encourage continuing environmental improvement, emphasis is placed on new models and those in the earlier stages of their model lifecycle. Aside from the winner, this yearâs finalists for the award included the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-9, Mercedes-Benz GLE550e plug-in hybrid and Nissan Rogue hybrid. âWinners of the 2017 Green Car Awards in Washington, DC illustrate just how far the automotive market has advanced in recent years,â said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. âThe desire for more efficient and environmentally positive vehicles has grown across the automotive spectrum, including the luxury, connected, and SUV categories honored at the Washington Auto Show. The auto industry has clearly stepped up in a big way to deliver the âgreenerâ models consumers want to buy.â
2017 Green SUV of the Year: BMW X5 xDrive40e
2017 Green SUV of the Year Finalists
Hondaâs fifth-generation CR-V was named a finalist for the award because it offers class-leading fuel economy by virtue of its 190 horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter engine. Mazda also made the list with its redesigned CX-9. The three-row crossoverâs 2.5-liter turbocharged engine gets 28 highway mpg. It also makes use of the automakerâs SKYACTIV technology to be lighter and more efficient. Another plug-in hybrid that made the list was the Mercedes-Benz GLE550e. Itâs able to travel 20 miles solely on battery power. The Nissan Rogueâs hybrid variant rounds out the list. It features a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and electric motor.2016 Green SUV of the Year: Honda HR-V
Honda took home last yearâs Green SUV of the Year award with its HR-V. Honda says the compact crossover was recognized for its class-leading environmental performance and top fuel economy rating of 35 mph highway as well as its additional designation as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle. Itâs powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that produces 141 horsepower.Other Winners
As for the two other categories of the Green Car Awards, the Mercedes-Benz C350e took home the award for 2017 Connected Green Car of the Year. The Acura NSX, meanwhile, took home this yearâs 2017 Luxury Green Car of the Year award.