LOS ANGELES — Green Car Journal named Audi's 2010 A3 TDI the "Green Car of the Year" at the Los Angeles Auto Show yesterday, marking the second consecutive year a clean-diesel vehicle has won the prize.

Green Car Journal, a quarterly magazine that covers developments in environmentally friendly cars, said the 5-passenger hatchback stood out among five finalists for the award, which included three hybrids and two clean-diesel vehicles, for its exceptional fuel economy.

The win is "an affirmation that fuel-efficient clean diesel models are becoming a serious competitor in the American market," said Ron Cogan, the magazine's editor and publisher.

The A3 TDI gets 42 miles per gallon on the highway, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates. Audi said that's a 50 percent better fuel efficiency than a gasoline powered A3.

The sporty luxury car, which arrived at U.S. dealerships last month, has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $29,950.

While diesel vehicles have long been popular in European markets, they have been slow to catch on in the U.S.

That's partially because of American memories of the smelly, noisy diesel vehicles of decades past.