Looking for a car this season? Here is a breakdown of some of the best options, from a sustainability standpoint.
Note: True Cost to Own figure, explained: The Edmunds Inc. True Cost to Own® (TCO) pricing system calculates the additional costs you may not have included when considering your next vehicle purchase. These extra costs include: depreciation, interest on your loan, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance and repairs.
Chevrolet Volt: extended-range electric hybrid compact hatchback
Base Price: $39,995 – or $32,495 after federal tax credit
True Cost to Own: $39,943
Gas Mileage Equivalent: 95 city, 93 hwy, 94 combined (electric only); 35 city, 40
hwy, 37 combined (gas only)
Annual Fuel Cost: $650 (electric only); $1,600 (gas only)
Air Pollution Score: 10 (electric), 6 (gas)
Greenhouse Gas Score: 10 (electric), 8 (gas)
ACEEE Green Score: 53 (electric), 44 (gas)
Electric Range: 25 to 50 miles; 375 total via electric and gas
Recharge Time: 4 hours on 240 volts; 10 hours on 120 volts
Positives:
Up to $7,500 in federal tax credit
Lowest total ownership costs over five years for any electric car, according to Kelley Blue Book Five-star safety crash safety rating
Excellent crash test scores
300-mile range
Negatives:
Sticker price
Long recharge time on standard electrical outlet
Only seats four
Toyota Prius C: gas-electric hybrid subcompact hatchback
Base Price: $19,710
True Cost to Own: $29,915
Gas Mileage: 53 city, 46 hwy, 50 combined
Annual Fuel Cost: $1,150
Air Pollution Score: 7
Greenhouse Gas Score: 10
ACEEE Green Score: 56
Positives:
Highest-rated city mpg for any car without a plug-in
The new fuel economy leader in the under-$20,000 hybrid market
Second most-affordable hybrid available (after the Honda Insight)
Reduced maintenance costs thanks to electrically driven AC and water pump that eliminate drive belts
Comes standard with nine air bags
Roomy interior
Negatives:
C is for city, not for regular freeway driving
No cruise control in the least expensive trim line
Makes a whirring noise in EV Mode to alert pedestrians and bicyclists
Slow acceleration
Stiff ride
Quality of interior materials isn’t great
Toyota Prius V: gasoline-electric hybrid wagon
Base Price: $27,160
True Cost to Own: $37,316
Gas Mileage: 44 city, 40 hwy, 42 combined
Annual Fuel Cost: $1,350
Air Pollution Score: 7
Greenhouse Gas Score: 9
ACEEE Green Score: 51
Positives:
Generous passenger and cargo space — 58 percent more cargo space than in the regular Prius
Flexibility of rear seats to slide forward or back, recline backward, or fold flat forward offers options for hauling
Quiet, comfortable ride
Class-leading fuel economy
Negatives:
Sluggish performance, even in Power Mode
Only the overseas versions offer third-row seating
Display screen (which shows mph, real-time mpg, etc.) is in the center of thedashboard rather than in front of the driver
Still uses older, heavier nickel-metal hydride batteries rather than newer, lighter and more powerful lithium-ion batteries
Nissan Leaf: all-electric compact hatchback
Base Price: $36,050 for SV trim; $28,550 after federal tax credit
True Cost to Own: $34,917
Gas Mileage Equivalent: 106 city, 92 hwy, 99 combined
Annual Fuel Cost: $600
Air Pollution Score: 10
Greenhouse Gas Score: 10
ACEEE Green Score: 55
Electric Range: 62 to 138 miles
Recharge Time: 7 hours on 240 volts; 20 hours on 120 volts
Positives:
Doesn’t use gas
Average cost for a full recharge: $2.88
Maintenance costs versus a comparable gas car are $1,800 less over five years
Federal tax credit of $7,500
Warranty on the lithium-ion batteries: eight years/100,000 miles
Roomy, quiet interior
Impressive navigation system
Negatives:
Sticker price
Long full-recharge time on standard household outlet
Limited range and recharging points
Small trunk
Volkswagen Passat TDI: diesel sedan
Base Price: $27,895
True Cost to Own: $40,949
Gas Mileage: 30 city, 40 hwy, 34 combined
Annual Fuel Cost: $1,800
Air Pollution Score: 5
Greenhouse Gas Score: 7
ACEEE Green Score: 48
Positives:
The most fuel-efficient non-hybrid family sedan available can travel nearly 800
miles before refueling
Spacious back seat and trunk
Many upscale features are standard
Made in America at the world’s only LEED Platinum auto manufacturing facility
Named 2012 Car of the Year by Motor Trend
Negatives:
Diesel costs more per gallon than regular gas
Fuel economy rating is the same or worse than a hybrid’s
Slower throttle response
Mitsubishi i: electric compact hatchback
Base Price: $29,975 for ES trim; $22,475 after federal tax credit
True Cost to Own: $29,366
Gas Mileage Equivalent: 126 city, 99 hwy, 112 combined
Annual Fuel Cost: $550
Air Pollution Score: 10
Greenhouse Gas Score: 10
ACEEE Green Score: 58
Electric Range: 62 miles
Recharge Time: 7 hours on 240 volts; 22.5 hours on 120 volts
Positives:
Doesn’t use gas
Most affordable of the electric cars currently available
The No. 1 greenest car for 2012, according to ACEEE
Federal tax credit of $7,500
Quiet interior
Negatives:
Range is less than that of the Leaf
Top speed of 81 mph
Requires 22.5 hours to recharge on a standard household outlet
Shorter range than competitors [MC: repetitive?]
Small cargo space
Interior of lower quality
Lexus RX 450 Hybrid: mid-size SUV
Base Price: $45,235
True Cost to Own: $67,552
Gas Mileage Equivalent: $32 city, $28 hwy
Annual Fuel Cost: $2,000
Air Pollution Score: 8
Greenhouse Gas Score: 7
ACEEE Green Score: 39
Positives:
Smooth ride
Upscale interior
Most fuel-efficient luxury SUV
Negatives:
Expensive
Performance isn’t as good as gas-powered RX
Confusing options package
*Sources of information include manufacturers, Mother Earth News and Edmunds.com
Terminology references:
Base Price: Manufacturer’s suggested retail price + the destination fee
Gas Mileage: Official fuel economy estimate from the EPA
Annual Fuel Cost: Assumes $3.75/gallon regular gasoline; $4.00/gallon premium gasoline; $4.05/gallon diesel; $0.12 per kilowatt-hour of electricity; 15,000 miles driven annually at 55% city, 45% highway
Air Pollution Score: From the EPA; zero = most tailpipe emissions, 10 = least Greenhouse Gas Score: From the EPA; zero = most greenhouse gas emissions, 10 = least
ACEEE Green Score: From the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; the higher the score, the better
