Car makers are acutely aware of the push towards environmentally-friendly vehicles, especially as the environment continues to make front-page news. So it’s no surprise motorists are rating fuel efficiency and the environment as leading considerations when shopping for a car.
Like the energy-efficiency ratings on fridges and washing machines, all new cars must have a fuel consumption label on the windscreen in the dealership. If the environment is on your agenda, this should be high on your list when looking for a fuel efficient vehicle. While there’s much debate about the accuracy of these claims in realworld driving, the ratings at least provide a comparative rating against other vehicles.
As a general rule, the smaller the car, the more fuel efficient it will be. That’s because it’s carrying around less weight, which requires more fuel to move it every time you accelerate.
When searching for a green vehicle, though, you’ll need to look further than just the fuel rating.
Per litre, for example, diesel produces more carbon dioxide when burnt than petrol. (Carbon dioxide is regarded as the main greenhouse gas, the one that’s causing global warming and the one that’s had so much media attention lately.)
But diesel vehicles typically use around 30 per cent less fuel than a similarly-sized petrol car, so overall you’ll generally be producing less carbon dioxide.
Diesels aren’t, however, the golden bullet for green motoring. There’s a lot more to the diesel story than carbon dioxide. Diesels still emit more potentially deadly carcinogens than petrol vehicles. Other factors also come into play, such as what emissions regulations it meets.
To save you some of the legwork, Drive has listed the most environmentally efficient vehicles in various vehicle categories. We also realise that environmental friendliness is not the only factor when considering a new vehicle. So we’ve compiled some of our multi-car road tests themed with environmental efficiency.
GVG lists here. With links to road tests According to the Government’s Green Vehicle Guide, only eight new cars sold in Australia achieve a maximum five-star rating. Of the top 50 ‘greenest’ vehicles, none are diesel and the top of the charts is dominated by small, front-wheel-drive machines.
Only Jeep’s Compass bucks the trend, making a surprise appearance in the top 40 as the Guide’s most environmentallyfriendly four-wheel-drive. What the Compass lacks in fuel efficiency it makes up for by meeting the latest emissions standards.
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