The dirty, smelly diesel engines of long ago have been replaced with environmentally friendly clean diesels that provide top-notch, fuel-efficient cars.

With a car price starting at $22,995, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI fits the bill nicely in either its sedan or wagon form. Powered by a 140 horsepower, 2-liter turbocharged, direct-injected, or TDI, four-cylinder, the Jetta gets an EPA-estimated 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway mileage.

It seats five comfortably with 15.5 cubic feet of trunk space, while a 60/40-split folding rear seat also features a center pass-through to increase cargo carrying flexibility. Standard features include air conditioning, power windows and locks, power heated mirrors, cruise control, heated front seats, side curtain air bags, antilock brakes and electronic stability control.