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On last year's list of Top 10 Green Cars, we cited skyrocketing gas prices, a weak economy and growing environmental consciousness as the major reasons more car buyers were focusing on fuel economy. As we approach Earth Day 2009, gas prices have come back to Earth but the shaky economy is trumping most other concerns and causes. Result: far fewer car buyers.

The current sales slump is unfortunate for many reasons, one of which is that 2009 is shaping up to be a banner year for fuel efficiency. The year's arrivals include an all-new Toyota Prius that's even more fuel-efficient than its world-beating predecessor, a new Prius alternative in the Honda Insight and a range of new 50-state clean-diesel cars, among others.

In addition to these newcomers, this year's list highlights some familiar faces, and it was again compiled to include a variety of vehicle shapes and sizes because not everyone who wants to get greener can go smaller. Just as buyers would, we considered characteristics like comfort, performance, utility and technology - not just fuel economy and price - in picking our winners.

Here, presented in order of combined EPA-estimated fuel economy, are Kelley Blue Book's Top 10 Green Cars for 2009:

2010 Honda Insight | 41 mpg (40 city, 43 highway)
With a starting sticker price of $20,470, the all-new Honda Insight is the least expensive full-production hybrid available in the U.S. Even the top-level Insight EX with Navigation that includes features like a voice-activated navigation system, Bluetooth phone connectivity, upgraded audio system and electronic stability control is just $23,770. These figures should give the Insight a clear price advantage compared to the newest Prius, for which pricing has yet to be announced.

2009 Honda Fit | 31 mpg (28 city, 34 highway)
The Toyota Yaris remains the category's mileage champ, but the Honda Fit so handily outshines its competitors in our eyes that it's making the list again this year. We're especially fond of the Sport model and its performance-tuned suspension and paddle shifters, but even base models are fun. If you're more interested in pure practicality than driving pleasure, be sure to check out the Fit's flexible back seat and impressive cargo-carrying abilities. The Honda Fit may be a little car, but it's a lot of car.

Below are a few of Honda's most recent awards. Please take a minute and read over them. I'm sure you will be as impressed as we are with the outstanding safety, quality, and resale we have all grown to expect from Honda.

Consumer Reports picks the 2009 Honda Accord for Best Family Sedan

How we choose

Of the more than 300 vehicles we've recently tested, our Top Picks are the best all-around choices in their categories. 

Top Picks must meet our criteria in three areas:

Road tests

Vehicles must rank at or near the top of their categories in our overall road-test score, which includes more than 50 individual tests and evaluations.

Reliability

Each must have an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, which is based on the problems Consumer Reports subscribers reported for more than 1.4 million vehicles in our latest Annual Auto Survey.

Safety

Top Picks must perform adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. (For some models, we do not have enough crash-test data to assign an overall safety Rating.) In addition, each must offer electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaving safety feature, as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

Category: Family Sedan

Honda Accord:

This is a roomy, well-rounded sedan that's easy to live with and enjoyable to drive. It offers a comfortable ride, agile handling, and efficient, refined four- and six-cylinder powertrains. Electronic stability control is standard, and crash-test results are impressive. Though the Nissan Altima edged out the Accord in our Ratings, most Altima versions lack electronic stability control. Price: $21,000 to $31,000. 

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Honda Brand Earns 2009 Overall Best Resale Value Award from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com

2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit and Odyssey win segment, Top 10 awards

Honda has been honored today with several of Kelley Blue Book's (www.kbb.com) 2009 Best Resale Value Awards, including the top overall award for the Honda brand. 2009 Honda models earning awards included Civic and Fit, Top 10 model awards; Civic Hybrid, Hybrid Car award; CR-V, Crossover award and Odyssey, Van award. "Value is a keystone in the foundation of the Honda brand," said Steven Center, vice president of advertising and public relations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Being honored by Kelley Blue Book validates Honda's commitment to supply products of the highest quality at a reasonable price." Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards are based on projections from the Kelley Blue Book Residual Value Guide, researched by an expert staff of automotive market analysts. These prestigious awards honor vehicles expected to maintain the greatest proportion of their original retail price after five years of ownership. Low-volume vehicles and vehicles with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of more than $60,000 are excluded from award consideration, except in the luxury and high-performance categories. "This has been the year of Honda in the United States," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "With a high-quality, highly regarded product line perfectly aligned with the new realities of the American market, Honda has scored big in new-vehicle sales while burnishing its already sterling reputation for strong resale value." _________________________________________________

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named its "Top Safety Picks" for 2009. The Top Safety Pick award covers autos that earned the IIHS' best possible ratings for front, side and rear impact protection, and they are available with electronic stability control (ESC), which helps a driver maintain control during emergency maneuvers. (List below only shows American Honda's award winners)

Large cars: Acura RL, Midsize cars: Acura TL, TSX, Honda Accord, Small cars: Honda Civic, 4-door with optional ESC (except Si), Honda Fit with optional ESC, Minivans: Honda Odyssey, Midsize SUVs: Acura MDX, RDX, Honda Pilot, Small SUVs: Honda CR-V, Honda Element.

 

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Car and Driver has released its 27th annual 10 Best cars list, which was dominated again this year by import brands, as foreign models made up eight of the 10 spots. The most "veteran" car on the list is the Honda Accord, which made the rankings for the 23rd time.

"The industry is evolving, but some things stay the same, including the intense competition between domestic and foreign manufacturers, making this contest tougher to judge every year," stated Csaba Csere, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver. The winners were determined by a panel of 19 Car and Driver editors who rated candidates on a scale of 1-100. They focused on functional performance, driving satisfaction and value. 

—BMW 3-Series/M3 (18) —Cadillac CTS (2) —Chevrolet Corvette (15) —Honda Accord (23) —Honda Fit (3) —Infiniti G37 —Jaguar  —Mazda MX-5 (10) —Porsche Boxster/Cayman (10) —Volkswagen GTI (4) 

 

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Thirty-six vehicles and 14 companion models received Best Buy ratings from Consumers Digest out of some 240 total 2009 models. The ratings, published in CD's December issue (on sale November 1), span 10 categories: Small Cars, Family Cars, Luxury Cars, Sporty Cars, Pickups, Minivans, Compact SUVs, Midsize SUVs, Full-size/Luxury SUVs and Hybrids.

The Best Buys -- based on behind-the-wheel testing, safety ratings, ownership costs, warranty, price, comfort, ergonomics, styling and amenities -- reflect CD's assessment of which 2009 Vehicles offer the most value for the money. (List only shows Honda's winners)

2009 Best Buys: "Small Cars": Honda Civic, Honda Fit, "Family Car": Honda Accord, "Luxury Cars": Acura RL, "Minivans": Honda Odyssey, "Full-size/Luxury SUV": Acura MDX

 

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Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award Winner. With all-new head-turning styling introduced last year, the Honda Accord has cemented its reputation as one of the best- selling family sedans in the American market. That popularity as a practical yet stylish 4-door is one of the reasons why the Accord has captured the first ever Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award.

This new honor is an annual award to designate the No. 1 car on Yahoo! Autos. The award criteria are based on user interest, intent and satisfaction. These factors are measured by search queries, leads submitted, rating and reviews by Yahoo! users. The award is not sponsored by any manufacturer and Yahoo! is not being paid for this initiative.

In capturing the fancy of Yahoo! users, the Honda Accord Sedan relies on fresh styling to set it apart from others in the mid-size category. A bold grille, large jeweled headlamps and crisply executed character lines gives the Accord a commanding presence more in line with European luxury models. The Honda Accord Sedan is slightly larger than its main rival, the Toyota Camry. Compared with the previous Accord Sedan, the new car has a wheelbase that has increased by nearly an inch, and the overall length has increased by nearly 5 in. And at 72.7 in. across the beam, the Accord is an inch wider than the Toyota.

This translates into an abundance of room in the passenger cabin, which sports a contemporary design that matches the freshness of the exterior. In fact, while the Accord Sedan competes in the mid-size segment, its space-enhancing redesign means the EPA now considers it a large sedan, a designation confirmed by the excellent front and rear leg, head and hip room. The front bucket seats are comfortable, the center console has plenty of storage cubbies and there is a choice of no less than three audio systems, all with MP3/WMA playback capability.

But what makes the Honda Accord Sedan stand apart from the crowd is its fun-to-drive nature. Both the LX and EX trim levels come with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces a robust 177 bhp, which is delivered to the front wheels via a choice of a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission. Top level EX-L models can be equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 making 271 bhp. That engine not only delivers power, but good fuel economy thanks to an ingenious cylinder deactivation system that allows the powerplant to run on either three or four cylinders when under a light load.

The Accord’s ample output is enhanced by variable-assist power steering that provides ample feedback through the twisty bits and an easy action in low-speed parking maneuvers. Independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes imbue the car with a lively personality that has become a Honda hallmark. While the head-turning styling and spirited performance appeal to the senses, other amenities of the Accord Sedan address rational concerns. Besides Honda’s emphasis on great efficiency, the Accord boasts numerous standard safety features, including electronic stability control, six airbags and anti-lock brakes.

This combination of performance, safety and comfort—at prices ranging from $20,755 to $28,555—make the Honda Accord Sedan a natural choice as the winner of Yahoo! Autos’ inaugural Excelerator Award.

Chamblee, GA, Feb 11, 2008 - Curry Honda has been awarded the prestigious 2007 President's Award for the 3rd year. Presented by American Honda Motor Company and considered Honda's highest dealership honor, only the top 15% of Honda dealerships who meet the stringent qualification requirements receive the recognition.

To qualify for the President's Award, dealerships must achieve a lofty set of objectives in all areas of operation, including customer service and satisfaction, facility operation, training and sales. More than 1,000 Honda dealerships apply, but only 148 earned the award in 2007.

"Earning the President's Award requires complete dedication from the entire team," said Richard Colliver, Executive Vice President of American Honda. "Curry Honda has proven its commitment and set the bar for all other dealerships. I encourage customers to experience for themselves why working with a President's Award Dealership is so much more rewarding."

"I am extremely proud of my employees for earning the 2007 President's Award," said Adam Zukerman, Vice President/Partner of Curry Honda. "But I'm more pleased to know Curry Honda customers are being taken care of and given an exceptional experience—because that's what sets us apart from all the other dealerships."