Green Car Journal has built a strong reputation in the industry, and the publication has again just announced the five finalists for its 2010 Green Car of the Year award.

The list includes two diesels and three hybrids, one obvious choice, another not so much. The criteria for the award is simple. Eligible cars must available in the United States and honorees must fit in the scope of the magazines philosophy: "the intersection of automobiles, energy and the environment."

This year’s finalists, in alphabetical order:

1. Audi A3 TDI
2. Honda Insight
3. Mercury Milan Hybrid
4. Toyota Prius
5. Volkswagen Golf TDI

“We’re seeing the trend for ‘green’ cars emerging at all levels, from entry-level cars to luxury models, and even performance cars and SUVs/crossovers,” said Ron Cogan, editor of Green Car Journal. “Plus, an array of technologies and fuels as well as strategies like lightweighting and reducing rolling resistance are being applied to the challenge. Greater choice provides buyers a personal stake in lessening environmental impact, and that’s important.”

Audi is among finalists for the first time. Defending champ Volkswagen is back with its new Golf TDI. Honda’s new hybrid, the Insight, goes against arch-rival, Toyota Prius. The Mercury Milan Hybrid is the only American-made vehicle among the finalists.

According to the publication:

"Regardless of the approach taken, each of these vehicles achieves high fuel efficiency levels and substantially reduced CO2 greenhouse gas emissions. The Audi and VW finalists, each rated by EPA at 30 city/42 mpg, do this with turbo direct-injection (TDI) clean diesel engines. The Honda, Mercury and Toyota nominees use gasoline-electric hybrid technology to net estimated city/highway fuel economy of 40/43, 41/36, and 51/48 mpg, respectively."

The Volkswagen Jetta TDI was selected as the publication's Green Car of the Year for 2009.