5 clean diesels: The future is now

Here's the difference between the diesel-powered 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and the other diesels in this article: You could buy two Jetta TDIs and have change left over for the price of the others. The Jetta TDI four-door sedan starts at about $22,000 while the SportsWagen - a station wagon if there ever was one - begins below $24,000. Cut that by $1300 as both are eligible for the IRS' Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit. Both come with a 140-horspower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder that pumps out a V-8-like 236 pound-feet of torque.

Expect around 40 miles per gallon on the highway. These are well-equipped cars that feature six airbags, electronic stability and a sound systems that features 10 speakers, a six-disc CD changer with MP3 and satellite radio capability.