Hybrid Car Review

Of the top 10 greenest cars, 4 of them are hybrids according to the the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Greenercars.org calculates their top 10 greenest vehicles based on their 'green score,' a measure of their emissions, fuel consumption and the emission of gases that cause global warming.

The ACEEE also lists out the top green cars for vehicle type. The Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid and Chevy Tahoe Hybrid received top scorese in their respective classes, while the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid round out the top 10 greenest cars.

To see the list for 2007 greenest and meanest cars, follow the link.

Greener Choices 2008

A Selection of Gasoline Vehicles that Score Well

Make and Model	Specifications	Emission Standarda	MPG: City	MPG: Hwy	Green Score
TOYOTA PRIUS	1.5L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	48	45	53
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID	1.3L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV	40	45	51
SMART FORTWO CONVERTIBLE/COUPE	1.0L 3, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	33	41	49
HONDA FIT	1.5L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	27	34	43
FORD ESCAPE HYBRID	2.3L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	34	30	42
HYUNDAI SONATA	2.4L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	21	30	39
SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON	2.5L 4, auto stk 4wd	Tier 2 bin 5 / PZEV	20	26	37
NISSAN ROGUE	2.5L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	22	27	37
TOYOTA TACOMA	2.7L 4, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	19	25	34
TOYOTA SIENNA	3.5L 6, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	17	23	33
CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID C1500	6.0L 8, auto	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	21	22	28
NISSAN FRONTIER	4.0L 6, auto 4wd	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	14	19	27
[P] denotes premium gasoline. "auto CVT" denotes continuously variable automatic transmission. "auto stk" denotes manually adjustable automatic transmission. a A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a federal and California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications.

Greenest Vehicles of 2008

Make and Model	Specifications a	Emission Standardb	MPG: City	MPG: Hwy	Green Score
HONDA CIVIC GX	1.8L 4, auto [CNG] c	Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV	24	36	57
TOYOTA PRIUS	1.5L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	48	45	53
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID	1.3L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV	40	45	51
SMART FORTWO CONVERTIBLE / COUPE	1.0L 3, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	33	41	49
TOYOTA YARIS	1.5L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	29	36	46
NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID	2.5L 4, auto CVT	PZEV	35	33	46
TOYOTA COROLLA	1.8L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	28	37	45
MINI COOPER / CLUBMAN	1.6L 4, manual [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	28	37	44
FORD FOCUS	2.0L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	24	35	44
TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID	2.4L 4, auto CVT	Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV	33	34	44
HONDA CIVIC	1.8L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II	26	34	44
HONDA FIT	1.5L 4, manual	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	28	34	44
[CNG] denotes compressed natural gas fuel. [P] denotes premium gasoline "auto stk" denotes manually adjustable automatic transmission "auto CVT" denotes continuously variable automatic transmission. a Certain other configurations of these models (with different transmissions or meeting different emission standards) score nearly as well. b A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 2/ PZEV) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a Federal and a California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications. c Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fuel economy given in gasoline-equivalent miles per gallon.

Meanest Vehicles for the Environment in 2008

Make and Model	Specifications	Emission Standard a	MPG: City	MPG: Hwy	Green Score
VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG	5.0L 10, auto stk 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	15	20	14
BUGATTI VEYRON	8.0L 16, auto stk 4wd [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	8	13	17
MERCEDES-BENZ GL320 CDI	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	18	24	17
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D] b	Tier 2 bin 10	17	22	17
MERCEDES-BENZ R320 CDI	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	18	24	17
LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO / MURCIELAGO ROADSTER	6.5L 12, manual 4wd [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	8	13	18
MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 CDI	3.0L 6, auto 4wd [D]	Tier 2 bin 10	18	24	18
MERCEDES-BENZ G55 AMG	5.4L 8, auto 4wd [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	11	13	18
HUMMER H2 c	6.0L 8, auto 4wd	Tier 2 bin 8	12	16	18
GMC YUKON 2500 c	6.0L 8, auto 4wd	Tier 2 bin 8	12	16	18
BENTLEY AZURE	6.7L 8, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	9	15	18
BENTLEY ARNAGE d	6.7L 8, auto stk [P]	Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II	9	15	18
[D] denotes diesel fuel. [P] denotes premium gasoline. "auto stk" denotes manually adjustable automatic transmission. a A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a federal and a California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications. b The 2wd configuration of this model receives a Green Score of 18. c These vehicles, classified as heavy duty trucks, are exempt from fuel economy regulations. d The Bentley Arnage (non-RL) also receives a Green Score of 18.

Press Release Follows:

Washington, D.C. (February 6, 2007): Amid numerous industry claims of eco-friendly vehicles and rising public concern about U.S. oil dependence, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) today named the year's "greenest" and "meanest" vehicles, along with environmental scorings of all model year 2007 cars and passenger trucks. This announcement marks the tenth year ACEEE has published its widely respected rankings. The vehicle scores are part of ACEEE's Green Book® Online, ACEEE's environmental guide to cars and trucks, available at GreenerCars.com.

Claiming the prize as the greenest model year 2007 vehicle is Honda's natural gas-powered Civic GX. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, stalwarts on the annual "Greenest Vehicles" list, claim spots two and three, while the Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Yaris, market newcomers for model year 2007, round out the top five. Others in the list include conventional and hybrid-electric vehicles from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota. Domestic automakers were shut out of the top-twelve list.

"We've seen a lot of advertising this past year about efficient and eco-friendly vehicles being offered by domestic manufacturers. But when you look at the specs that matter, it's fair to say the imports have Detroit's number," said author and principal vehicle analyst James Kliesch, a Research Associate at ACEEE. Kliesch blames the domestics' absence from the list on their wavering approach to fuel-efficient technologies. "Certain companies committed years ago to fuel-efficient technologies—and held firm to those commitments. Today, those automakers have a clear competitive advantage in the world of green vehicles."

Widely regarded as the pre-eminent buyer's guide to environment-friendly passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, GreenerCars.com provides the facts necessary to examine the eco-performance of any 2007 model. Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a "Green Score," a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and the emissions of gases that cause global warming.

This year's "Meanest Vehicles for the Environment," a list traditionally dominated by large domestic pickups and SUVs, contains only four models from Detroit. European imports make up the remainder of the list. Much of the reason for that shift is the arrival of a number of new diesel models that meet some of the dirtiest tailpipe emissions standards allowable in the United States. Five diesels populate the year's twelve-worst list, including the year's most environmentally unfriendly model, the diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg. Rounding out the "bottom five" are the Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI, Lamborghini Murcielago, diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Bentley Arnage RL. Prominent gasoline models on the list include the Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab pickup, Ford F-250 pickup, and Lincoln Navigator SUV.

"Given the arrival this year of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, having five diesels show up on the Meanest Vehicles list is a letdown," noted Therese Langer, ACEEE's Transportation Program Director. "Fortunately, these same manufacturers have already announced plans to bring much cleaner diesels to the United States in 2008, using an entirely different emissions control strategy." While diesels are more efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles with similar performance, they produce higher levels of environmentally damaging nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and consequently require more sophisticated emissions control.

The GreenerCars.com Web site also identifies a selection of top widely available models in each vehicle class. This "Greener Choices" list includes larger vehicles, such as the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, GMC Sierra Classic C1500 pickup, and Toyota Sienna minivan. Passenger cars such as the Hyundai Sonata and Ford Focus Wagon also top their respective classes. As the list demonstrates, consumers can make "greener choices," whether they need a sedan, minivan, pickup truck, or SUV.

"To answer the President's energy security call to cut oil consumption, we need an American fuel that emits nothing from the tailpipe. That fuel is energy efficiency—the first fuel in the race for energy security," commented Bill Prindle, ACEEE's Acting Executive Director. "We must boost fuel economy if we hope to replace oil with biofuels or any other energy source. The good news is that we can boost fuel economy with the technologies on our Greenest Vehicles list, easing our pain at the pump while revitalizing our auto industry and slowing global warming."

In addition to highlighting the year's "Greenest," "Meanest," "Greener Choices," and best-in-class lists, the GreenerCars.com Web site contains informational write-ups on model year 2007 highlights, a consumer primer on vehicles and the environment, and advice on how to buy green when shopping for a new car or truck.