Just because a automobile says “ hybrid ” on its side panel , is it really any easier on the environment than its entirely gas - burning counterparts ? Green technology strives to subside our impact on the environs , but how can you really be sealed how much your railroad car is affect the planet ? “ Green ” vehicles are becoming more accessible and more prevalent , but just how do they compare to other car — and to each other ?
New Labels to Navigate by
One way that the Union governing is assisting us in toe the unripe lineage is with new standards and regulations . Beginning with simulation year 2013 , vehicles we will see mandatory young EPA label like the one above attached to window stickers . These are design to give the consumer a clearer picture on just how fleeceable his young set of wheels is ( or is n’t ) .
While the label do furnish some respectable insight on usage , they do not consider environmental wallop during the product process but on a vehicle - to - vehicle scale the differences would be paltry – at this head anyway . One could make the argument that vehicles make in countries with less stringent fabrication regularisation are not as green as those produced here in the States , and I am sure critic can sit here and make a great argument for plants lead on electrical energy provided by cleaner energy sources . But since most a railway car ’s environmental impingement comes from its use — not it ’s manufacture — the former is a better indicant of eco - impact .
1: Mitsubishi i-MiEV (MSRP $27,990)
Topping the list of green vehicle is the Mitsubishi i - MiEV ( pictured at top ) , which has the highest MPGe ( Miles Per Gallon tantamount ) of 112 ( 126 city and 99 highway ) and an vim impingement scotch of 0.3 barrels of fuel per twelvemonth . The MiEV is also the garish to operate at $ 0.90 every 25 mil .
2: Nissan Leaf (MSRP $32,780)
The Nissan Leaf roll in indorsement with 99 combine MPGe ( 106 city and 92 main road ) and costs $ 1.02 every 25 miles .
3: Chevy Volt (MSRP $41,000)
When operating on electric power only , the Chevy Volt would show up third on the list of greenest cars with a combined MPGe of 94 and vitality - impact sexual conquest of 0.4 barrels / class . With the gas motor operating fuel economy soma drop to 35 mpg metropolis and 40 mpg main road .
4: Smart fortwo electric drive (Lease only at $599/mo.)
The chic fortwo electric drive arrives third if you launch the accelerator motor on your Volt – fourth , if not . It features a meld score of 87 MPGe and costs $ 1.17 every 25 sea mile . matter for U.S. consumer is that only 250 are slated for that market .
5: Toyota Prius (MSRP $23,050)
By all numeration the venerablePriusfrom Toyota ranks in high spirits of vehicles bank on hybrid gasolene - galvanic propulsion technology . It is rated at 51 mpg urban center and 48 mpg main road ( 50 combine ) . Pretty tight behind that is the fresh larger Prius V with 44 mpg city and 40 mpg main road ( 42 combined ) .
6: Honda Civic Natural Gas (MSRP $26,155)
In a tie for 5th is the new Honda Civic Natural Gas ( formerly the GX ) . It ’s availability is being blow up to 35 states , up from only four , and has a higher green score than thePriuswith fuel economy tantamount add up in at 24 mpg city and 36 mpg highway .
7: Honda Insight Hybrid (MSRP $18,350)/Honda Civic Hybrid (MSRP $24,050)
Next is the “ this just in ” 2012 Honda InsightHybridin a Tie with stablemate 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid , both offering 41 mpg city and 44 mpg highway . This is an improvement over the 2011 models that saw 40 mpg urban center and 43 mpg main road from both .
8: Lexus CT200h (MSRP $29,120)
The Lexus CT200h rolls in next with 43mpgcity and 40 mpg highway . The Hybrid Synergy Drive technology used in Toyota / Lexus hybrid models benefits from city driving while the Integrate Motor Assist system used by Honda has better thriftiness on the opened route .
9: 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid (MSRP $25,900)
Ninth is a ( very ) last - minute unveiling in the Toyota Camry Hybrid which has been upgrade ( like the Hondas ) for 2012 . Fuel saving has improved to 43 mpg metropolis and 39 mpg highway with the new fomite also seeing weight reductions and more efficient packaging .
10: Chevy/GMC half-ton hybrid pickups (MSRP $38,725/$39,095)
Aspickupsare the best - sell vehicles in the U.S. , I am going to finish this tilt with the immature truck available today . As they make up a expert act of vehicles on the road , they have to be withdraw into account in the overall movie of green driving . General Motors boasts the good issue with its Chevy / GMC half - ton hybrid pickups offering 20 mpg metropolis and 23 mpg main road .
Lots More Information
By comparison I am including a mates of vehicle that do not score so well environmentally . Top honors — that is , the least green auto — is theBugatti Veyronsupercar ( 8 mpg city ) , but with a seven - soma damage tag , we do n’t require to worry about them melting our glacial icecaps anytime soon . And while Chevy may have the greenest truck , they also offer the beggarly with the K2500 Suburban at 10 mpg city and 15 mpg highway .
