This morning, the BMW X5 xDrive35d was named the 2012 Diesel Car of the Year by the readers of The Diesel Driver magazine.
The BMW beat the new Volkswagen Passat TDI, which placed second, and the VW Golf TDI, which garnered third place. Altogether, 13 passenger cars and light trucks competed for the award.
The award was presented at the New York Auto Show, which opened for two days of media-only previews today.
The magazine's readers also awarded Volkswagen the 2012 Diesel Car Manufacturer of the Year award. The German manufacturer, which offers diesel engines in several different models, received more than half the votes cast in the category.
“The BMW X5 xDrive35d combines exemplary fuel economy, superb handling and excellent passenger comfort in a single package,” said Jonathan Spira, editor of The Diesel Driver, in presenting the awards.
2012 Diesel Car of the Year and Diesel Car Manufacturer of the Year awards
“Volkswagen has done an extraordinary job of positioning its diesel-powered automobiles in the U.S.," he continued, noting that more than one in five of VW's customers had ordered in a diesel vehicle over the past year.
Votes came from readers in more than 100 countries, though roughly two-thirds of them were cast by U.S. readers.
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