The only American vehicle among the five finalists for Green Car Journal's "2006 Green Car of the Year" award received the honor. Why? "The hybrid Mariner is the right idea at the right time," says Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "To regain its competitive edge, Detroit must come to grips with how high pump prices have put consumers in an entirely new mindset. This vehicle proves that a determined Detroit can win this race." It's nice to encourage American automakers to build hybrids, but they are not even close to catching up with the Japanese.