Top Ten Green Car Alternatives

Whatever your reason for considering green cars - whether you’re looking to save the environment or the cash in your wallet - you needn’t compromise on the type of vehicle you want any longer. Whether you have a large family to transport or you’re simply looking for something fast and stylish there are green alternatives that put conventional models into the shade.

Below we’ve listed our top ten green car alternatives to give you food for thought next time you’re scouring the market for a good, and eco-friendly, deal.

Quick links:

• 1: Hatchback family cars - conventional versus green
• 2: Upmarket family cars - conventional versus green
• 3: Small family cars - conventional versus green
• 4: Panel vans - conventional versus green
• 5: Sports coupes - conventional versus green
• 6: Sports cabriolets - conventional versus green
• 7: People carriers - conventional versus green
• 8: SUVs - conventional versus green
• 9: Head-turning thrills - conventional versus green
• 10: Style conscious - conventional versus green

1:Hatchback family cars

• Conventional choice: Vauxhall Vectra Exclusiv 1.8i 16v VVT Manual
• Green alternative: Citroen C5 1.6 HDi VTR

The Vauxhall Vectra Exclusiv is unquestionably a great road car available as both a hatchback and estate with space, innovation and comfort. However, with CO2 emissions at 180g/km it is left standing by the Citroen C5 1.6 HDi VTR which produces emissions at just 139g/km. The Citroen has a similar retail price, although it usually costs a little more, but has a meagre fuel consumption level. It also has a level of comfort worthy of a high-spec model making it an ideal large family car although residual values can be low.

2:Upmarket family cars

• Conventional choice: Ford Mondeo Zetec 125
• Green alternative: BMW 1-Series 120d

There’s no denying the quality of the Ford Mondeo which offers just about everything you could want from a car. It looks great and it will hold its residual value well by the time you come to sell it. However, the same can also be said for the BMW 1-Series 120d - but the difference is that the BMW 1-Series boasts emissions at a mere 128g/km compared to the Mondeo’s 177g/km. It is available as a five-door hatchback and is a particularly popular and stylish model for business executives.

3: Small family cars

• Conventional choice: Ford Fiesta Style
• Green alternative: Peugeot 206 1.4 HDi 70 Look

There’s an enduring appeal to the Ford Fiesta which remains one of the most popular small family cars on the market - a position it’s held for more than two decades. The Ford Fiesta Style certainly maintains this tradition. However, when it comes to helping the environment it is simply outclassed by the Peugeot 206 which has CO2 emissions at just 64g/km compared to the Fiesta’s 147g/km. Indeed the Peugeot 206 is also a great deal of fun with a punchy engine despite its frugal nature - it can obtain 64mpg.

4: Panel vans

• Conventional choice: Citroen Berlingo Forte D
• Green alternative: Fiat Doblo 1.3 Multijet Active

The Citroen Berlingo was once one of the most popular panel vans on the market and it was also fairly environmentally friendly too with Citroen briefly releasing an electric version of the vehicle - production of which stopped in September 2005. However, a three-door estate Citroen Berlingo Forte D has emissions at 178g/km which leaves it some way behind the Fiat Doblo with emissions at 145g/km. They are usually priced in a similar range and the Doblo can also boast several battery powered versions of its own.

5: Sports coupes

• Conventional choice: Audi TT T150BHP
• Green alternative: BMW 3-Series 320d SE Coupe

There’s a certain amount of prestige associated with the Audi TT and, for the most part, sports car drivers are rarely the most environmentally conscious. However, as the phrase goes there has to be an exception to prove the rule - and if you’re that exception then why not check out the BMW 3-Series 320d Coupe which has all the class and style of the Audi TT, scintillating pace at 0-62 in 7.9seconds and incredibly low CO2 emissions - 128g/km compared to the Audi’s 194g/km.

6: Sports cabriolets

• Conventional choice: Mazda MX-5 I Roadster
• Green alternative: Daihatsu Copen 1.3 DWT

Arguably the world’s favourite roadster, the Mazda MX-5’s lightweight body and powerful engines certainly take some beating. For a cabriolet it’s not a heavy pollutant either - the I Roadster with a 1798cc engine has emissions of just 174g/km. However, if you want to look sporty and be green there’s a neat alternative on the market from an unlikely source. The Daihatsu Copen has emissions at just 140g/km, is fuel efficient and is significantly cheaper than the MX-5. Take it for a test drive - it might just be a winner all-round.

7: People carriers

• Conventional choice: Kia Carens CRDI 16V LE
• Green alternative: Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi 90 Style

It’s not that the Kia Carens isn’t a comparatively clean people carrier - with CO2 emissions at just 171g/km, it certainly is. It’s also a practical and flexible MPV that is affordably priced and pretty cheap to run. However, if you’re looking for a people carrier that’s as good as it gets as far as the environment is concerned then you really can’t look beyond the Ford C-Max with CO2 emissions at a mere 128g/km. It’s likely to cost a bit more than the Kia but with assured handling and a comfortable ride it’s hard to beat.

8: SUVs

• Conventional choice: Land Rover Discovery 2.7 TDV6 GS
• Green alternative: Honda CR-V CTDI EX

There aren’t too many people who use SUVs for the purpose they were originally intended. They’re not so much off-road vehicles as they are the benchmark for large families on the typical suburban school run. So perhaps if you’re an SUV owner you’d be willing to sacrifice some of the dynamics and features of the Land Rover Discovery to drive the leaner and greener Honda CR-V? Not only is it notably more fuel efficient but its emissions are far below that of the Discovery - 173g/km compared to 270g/km.

9: Head turning thrills

• Conventional choice: Nissan 350Z GT Pack
• Green alternative: Mercedes SLK 350

Previously the Mercedes SLK would have struggled to live up to the Nissan 350Z but since its facelift at the end of 2007 it is more than a match for its counterpart. Of course to carry the Mercedes name you’re going to be paying a bit more and the engine may be less powerful - but then who would notice on today’s camera-clad roads? However, the Mercedes notches up around 30.7mpg compared to the Nissan’s 24mpg, fits into band F as opposed to band G and has emissions at just 219g/km compared to 280g/km.

10: Style conscious

• Conventional choice: Volvo C30 2.0DS
• Green alternative: Mini Clubman 1.6 Cooper D

Though the Volvo C30 is unquestionably cool and modern with decent environmental figures of its own (49mpg, 151g/km) it is simply left standing by the original style icon - the Mini Clubman. The Clubman is an eco dream with incredibly low emissions at 109g/km and a whopping 69mpg. Yes the Mini is slightly smaller, but with such extraordinary savings to be enjoyed, who cares?

Check out the listings at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk for more green alternatives to conventional cars.