Eco Friendly Cars

Eco Friendly Cars

Eco-friendly cars, only a few years ago, were for tree-huggers, socially-responsible people who wore tie-dye and had a history of incense-burning. Now, with the price of gas as high as it is, so-called “green” cars have made it into the mainstream market. These cars, once noted for lack of power, unreliability, and odd styling, are now some of the most popular cars on the market.

According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), cars that combine a gasoline internal combustion engine with an electric motor are the most popular and efficient type of hybrid car. These cars are ranked the top three in the top five hybrid vehicles for 2007.

Honda alone has four cars ranked in the top 12 “green cars” of 2007. The Honda Civic GX is ranked number one with the highest Green Score – a calculation of various features on a car. Included are not only fuel economy, but tailpipe emissions and overall environmental friendliness. The Honda Civic Hybrid comes in at number three, the more compact Honda Fit at number eight, and the traditional Honda Civic at number 12.

Honda’s Japanese cousin, Toyota, comes in second place with the very popular Toyota Prius. The Toyota Prius is the poster-child of hybrid cars. It is the best-selling hybrid in the world since being introduced in 1997. The Toyota Yaris, Corolla, and the new Camry Hybrid also appear in the top twelve.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is the only mid-size car to make the list, coming in at number seven, and tied with the much smaller Toyota Corolla. Although its fuel economy is not as great as some of the smaller cars, for a mid-size sedan, it is very economical.

Unfortunately, there are no domestic-branded cars on the top 12 list for 2007. Although there are American hybrid vehicles and cars that are advertised as eco-friendly, these cars do not quite measure up. They may be more environmentally-friendly than the same models of a few years ago, but they do not compare with Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Kia, and Hyundai – the only car makers on the top 12 list.

With the price of gas approaching all-time highs in this country, now might be a great time to start looking at greener cars. Hybrid cars, or those with traditional engines but exceptional fuel economy, are a socially responsible way to save a lot of money while still maintaining the luxury of driving cars.