Not only does “going green” mean driving vehicles that are good for the environment, but it should be good for your wallet too. SUVs don’t necessarily mean gas guzzlers, and small cars aren’t always the gentlest on the environment.
Not only are “being green,” “eco-friendly,” fuel-efficiency and affordability the top concerns among car buyers, they’re also the American Government’s concerns now.
In light of the recent auto industry push for government bailout, many government officials are viewing the crisis as an opportunity. As President-elect Barack Obama mentioned in a press conference on Nov. 8, “[the car industry’s] resuscitation is an opportunity to make clean-burning vehicles and reduce oil dependency.”
As well as finding on-shore means of fuel, reducing oil dependency means developing, buying and utilizing vehicles with a small carbon footprint. An additional encouragement is the Energy Policy Act, which provides credits for taxpayers who purchase certain new energy-efficient vehicles.
2009 Top Green Cars
• BMW 335d
• Ford Fusion Hybrid
• Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid
• smart fortwo
• Volkswagen Jetta TDI
These five “greenies” are up for the 2009 Green Car of the Year® award, which will be announced the morning of Nov. 20, 2008. Vehicles must prove to substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production before January 1 of the award year to qualify for nomination. Representatives from the Green Car Journal test each of vehicles to prove they follow through with the environmental and performance their producers claim.
BMW 335d (2009)
Betcha thought the only association BMW had with the word “green” was the color your friends turn when you show up to work with a brand new one.
BMW proves that style and performance doesn’t have to be sacrificed when going eco-friendly. This sporty 3 Series sedan pumps out 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway and incorporates advanced, efficient and clean diesel power.
Ford Fusion Hybrid
This vehicle illustrates what strides the American auto industry is taking toward improving fuel efficiency. The Ford Fusion bests the Toyota Camry (its primary competitor) city mileage by 5 mpg (more than 34 mpg), and can cruise up to 47 mph on electric power alone.
This five-passenger hybrid vehicle also incorporates an attractive fuel-information panel called SmartGauge with EcoGuide. The LCDs next to the speedometer display the driver’s fuel efficiency and statistics, and it’s completely customizable—definitely a cool bonus to this eco-vehicle.
Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid
This turned-green SUV crossover boasts at being the most affordable 2009 hybrid crossover ($28,625 msrp) and implements a unique hybrid powertrain system with puts out 25 city/32 highway mpg. It’s GM’s first application of the two-mode hybrid technology and delivers an incredibly smooth V-6 front-wheel-drive ride.
As the only SUV crossover in the top 5 Green Cars, it holds its own among the smaller sedans as being an eco-friendly vehicle while maintaining style and performance.
smart fortwo
This little “head turner” has only been on the U.S. market a short while, but has made big strides in setting a precedent in fuel efficiency. The tiny two-seater is the trendiest green ride on the road, boasting of 33 city/41 highway mpg. It’s wallet-friendly too with the msrp starting at $13,990.
Though its size draws immediate concerns for its safety, it earned comparable crash test ratings as the Mercedes C-Class. And don’t let the 70 horsepower let you think it’s slow. Its lightweight body style and agile steering give this a “go” on performance too.
Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Not only is this diesel Jetta fuel-efficient (30 city/41 highway mpg) and affordable ($21,990), it is downright fun. The “T” in TDI, Volkswagen reminds us, stands for “turbocharged.”
This clean diesel sedan is Volkswagen’s culmination of more than 30 years developing eco-diesel fuel vehicles in the U.S., and passes tight emissions certification in all 50 states with flying colors.
