AAA picks its annual ‘Green Car of the Year’
For buyers looking for a car that’s environmentally friendly, the 2015 Tesla Model S 70D might be the way to go.
This week, AAA named the Model S 70D the organization’s Green Car of the Year. The Tesla is featured along with 80 other vehicles in AAA’s Green Car Guide, an annual report that analyzes the green vehicles available on the market.
John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of automotive engineering and repair, said the Model S offers drivers lots of amenities while allowing them to go green.
“The Tesla Model S 70D has a 240-mile range, room for five, excellent power and steering and fast charge capability,’’ Nielsen said in a statement.
“Add sleek styling, great acceleration and an air of sophistication that separates it from other alternative-fueled vehicles, and you see why the Model S 70D was our top vehicle this year,’’ he said.
Vehicles were graded on a scale from 0 to 10 points on 13 types of evaluations. The Model S 70D earned the highest score of 92.49 points.
Two other all-electric vehicles came in just behind the Tesla. The BMW i3 earned the second-highest score with 88.47 points. The Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium came in at third place with 87.09 points.
In terms of price range, the Tesla Model S 70D was also named AAA’s Best Green Car over $50,000. The BMW i3 was named the Best Green Car between $30,000 and $50,000, while the 2014 Mazda 3S Grand Touring was named Best Green Car under $30,000.
When broken into different segments, the Tesla Model S 70D was named best large car. Other winners by vehicle segment include the Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTEC 4matic (Best Midsize Car), the VW eGolf SEL Premium (Bess Compact), the i3 (Best Subcompact), the Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium (Best SUV/Minivan) and the gas-powered Ford F-150 Supercab Lariat (Best Pickup Truck).
AAA’s Green Car Guide summarizes each vehicle’s test scores, data, and observations, noting the vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses. AAA also tracks significant changes from model year to model year. If no major changes were made to a vehicle’s powertrain, the organization uses a prior model year’s results.
Tesla Model S and other gas-friendly cars from Kelley Blue Book
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