10 Best Green Cars

Just because a car says “hybrid” on its side panel, is it really any easier on the environment than its entirely gas-burning counterparts? Green technology strives to lessen our impact on the environment, but how can you really be certain how much your car is impacting the planet? “Green” vehicles are becoming more accessible and more prevalent, but just how do they compare to other cars — and to each other?

 

1. Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Topping the list of greenest vehicles is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV (pictured at top), which has the highest MPGe (Miles Per Gallon equivalent) of 112 (126 city and 99 highway) and an energy impact score of 0.3 barrels of fuel per year. The MiEV is also the cheapest to operate at $0.90 every 25 miles.

2. Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf rolls in second with 99 combined MPGe (106 city and 92 highway) and costs $1.02 every 25 miles.

3. Chevy Volt

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 energy-impact score of 0.4 barrels/year. With the gas motor operating fuel economy figures drop to 35 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.

4. Smart fortwo electric drive

The smart fortwo electric drive arrives third if you run the gas motor on your Volt – fourth, if not. It features a combined score of 87 MPGe and costs $1.17 every 25 miles. Issue for U.S. consumers is that only 250 are slated for that market.

5. Toyota Prius

By all counts the venerable Prius from Toyota ranks highest of vehicles relying on hybrid gasoline-electric propulsion technology. It is rated at 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway (50 combined). Pretty close behind that is the new larger Prius V with 44 mpg city and 40 mpg highway (42 combined).

6. Honda Civic Natural Gas

In a tie for fifth is the new Honda Civic Natural Gas (formerly the GX). It’s availability is being expanded to 35 states, up from only four, and has a higher green score than the Prius with fuel economy equivalent coming in at 24 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

7. Honda Insight Hybrid/Honda Civic Hybrid

Next is the “this just in” 2012 Honda Insight Hybrid in 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 city and 43 mpg highway from both.

8. Lexus CT200h

The Lexus CT200h rolls in next with 43 mpg city 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 economy on the open road.

9. 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Ninth is a (very) last-minute entry in the Toyota Camry Hybrid which has been upgraded (like the Hondas) for 2012. Fuel economy has improved to 43 mpg city and 39 mpg highway with the new vehicle also seeing weight reductions and more efficient packaging.

10. Chevy/GMC half-ton hybrid pickups

As pickups are the best-selling vehicles in the U.S., I am going to finish this list with the greenest truck available today. As they make up a good number of vehicles on the road, they have to be taken into account in the overall picture of green driving. General Motors boasts the best numbers with its Chevy/GMC half-ton hybrid pickups offering 20 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.

Source: Howstuffworks