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by Starre Vartan Thursday, March 05, 2009 |
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The Greenopia research team recently looked at the 100 most fuel-efficient cars and rated them according to our four-leaf system, but when I asked Doug Mazeffa, the Head of Research, which ones were the very, very greenest, he whipped out his giant calculator and came up with the below list. Doug looked at emissions, MPG's production burden, and recyclability.
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1. Toyota Prius MSRP: $22,000.00 It gets crazy good fuel-economy (45 mpg's on the highways!), it's recognizable (to everyone who isn't living under a rock) as the 'green star car' and it drives like a family sedan, nice and comfy. Prius was an EPA SmartWay elite vehicle and was one of the cleanest burning on the planet. Toyota is also one of the more efficient manufacturers and has commissioned life cycles to reduce its overall impacts on the environment. |
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2. Honda Civic Hybrid MSRP: $23,550.00 I can't believe more people aren't into this cute little car! It's always been less popular than the Prius (it's VERY close in terms of it's impact on the environment), maybe because it doesn't look like a hybrid. The Civic Hybrid is also a SmartWay elite vehicle. |
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3. Jetta Clean Diesel/Clean Diesel Sportwagon MSRP: $21,990.00/MSRP: $23,950.00 |
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4. Smart Passion Coupe/Smart Passion Cabriolet |
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7. Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe MSRP: $16,330.00 Surprised to see this racy looker on the list? This car had the best emissions of any non-hybrid (and it's made here in America), and it's pretty darn affordable for a sporty ride. |
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8. Nissan Altima Hybrid MSRP: $26,650.00 Nissan has a rep for snazzy, zippy cars, and the Altima hybrid lives up to the company's image with almost 200 horsepower. It's capable of 35 mpg and is an EPA SmartWay Elite vehicle. |
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| 9. Honda Civic MSRP: $15,205.00 The regular Civic without the hybrid engine still gets high marks for its super-efficient engine. This is a great non-hybrid alternative, with up to 35 mpg and it burns relatively cleanly for a gasoline engine. |
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9. Mini Cooper Hardtop MSRP: $19,200.00 Minis are just adorable, and you can get them in a bunch of different colors and finishes to suit your style. Minis (especially the hardtop) are fuel efficient with pretty good emissions ratings and like the Smart, they get points for being smaller than traditional cars which means less material and a smaller production burden. |
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10. Toyota Yaris MSRP: $12,205.00 This car is super-affordable, and even more so with 36 MPG and above average emissions ratings. It also has a handy hatchback (they call them 'liftbacks' now for some reason) and tons of interior space for hauling stuff. |
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Note: Cars recommended are the base models. If you install a bigger engine, add a sports package or other performance options, that changes the ratings (you will get lower MPG's and more emissions).
>> Check out Greenopia's Guide to the Ultimate Green Car for a look at the future of eco friendly cars.
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