2013 Green Car of the Year

The Aero package for the 2013 Dodge Dart gives it Fiat's 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir inline 4-cylinder engine, which when combined with the available 6-speed manual transmission is good for 41 mpg highway. Despite costing $3,300 more than a base Dart, the Dart Aero still clocks in at just a little more than $20,000. The 2013 Dart Aero is fun, affordable and efficient, making for a perfect Green Car of the Year candidate.

Read:  2013 Dodge Dart review

The upstart Ford C-MAX Hybrid is creating a growing fan base as the hybrid that's more fun to drive than others. Placing the hybrid powerplant from the Ford Fusion within the shell of a Focus has proven to be a winning combination. Along with its 47 mpg city and highway rating, ample interior space and $25,200 base price, the C-MAX is the next step in real-world hybrid hatchbacks.

Read:  2013 C-MAX Hybrid: First drive review

The smallest member of the ubiquitous Prius family, the Prius c could be the one to finally win the most famous name in hybrids: a Green Car of the Year award (the Camry Hybrid won in 2007 for Toyota). The Prius c has won high marks from hybrid enthusiasts for its improved driving dynamics compared with its larger counterparts, as well as for returning better real-world mileage than most hybrids on the market today.

Watch Video:  2012 Toyota Prius c review

Many observers went to the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show believing that the Mazda CX-5, equipped with the new Skyactiv engine, was the odds-on favorite to win Green Car of the Year. Mazda put a lot of eggs into the Skyactiv's 2.0-liter 4-cylinder basket, especially in its use as the CX-5 crossover powerplant. That gamble appears to be paying off for Mazda — the company had to bump production up before the end of 2012 to meet demand. The CX-5 with Skyactiv motive power is nimble against its competition, affordable and everything a crossover should be. But it wasn't the winner.

Read:  2013 Mazda CX-5: First drive review

The Ford Fusion was the perfect contender for Green Car of the Year. The Fusion's blend of contemporary comfort and attractive body design make it one of the most appealing sedans on the market today, green or not. The potential reach of the sub-$30,000 Fusion Hybrid must have played a part in Ford's victory. With an EPA rating of 47 mpg city/47 mpg highway, it's a no-brainer you can buy without thinking twice. But it was the entire Fusion trio that was recognized this year: the hybrid, the gas engine and the plug-in Energi model. Regardless of how you take your green, the Fusion is already populating American roadways, and kudos like the 2013 Green Car of the Year award will add to the attention.

View Slideshow:  America's most fuel-efficient cars

For more information on the cars featured in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Dodge Dart
-Ford C-Max Hybrid
-Toyota Prius c
-Mazda CX-5
-Ford Fusion

Compare: All 5 vehicles

James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial sideasSenior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.