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: Ford Focus Zetec S 1.8 3dr
• Green alternative: Toyota Prius T3 Hybrid 1.8 VVT i

The Prius might be a bit smaller in size than  the Focus, but a slight compromise in legroom while the Prius is surprisingly generous in boot space. Unlike the Focus 1.8 Zetec, the Prius is road tax free thanks to its amazing 89g/km CO2 figure. Add this to the 72.4 miles to the gallon you’ll get out of the Prius and it is easy to see why it pays to go hybrid. The 1.8 Zetec achieves a lot less, emitting 167g/km CO2 and delivering 40.3 miles to the gallon. The Prius is eligible for exemption to the London Congestion Charge to further reduce its running costs.

2:Upmarket family cars

• Conventional choice: BMW 330i SE
• Green alternative: Vauxhall Insignia Exclusiv 2.0 CDTi ecoFLEX

The Insignia’s diesel engine might be a bit more sedate than the BMW’s petrol engine, but by making the switch to diesel fuel, in this instance, C02 emissions are slashed from 173g/km to just 136g/km. Sure you compromise a little on performance, the 3-Series 2996cc engine achieves 0-62 in 6.3 seconds, compared to the Insignia’s 1956cc engine which hits 62mph after 8.9 seconds. The saving in fuel, insurance and road tax should make all worth while though, as the Insignia gives 54.7 miles to gallon while the 3-Series; a measly 38.2 mpg. Add this to the fact that the Insignia is actually more spacious for passengers with a larger boot space and I would say your are on to a winner. Plus its around £11,000 cheaper too!

3: Small family cars

• Conventional choice: Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 5dr
• Green alternative: Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi DPF ECOnetic

The Clio might seem like bags of fun, but at 115g/km CO2 emissions, unlike its Fiesta counterpart, it misses out on that vital sub 100g/km tax band so you’ll immediatley pay for your choice. The Fiesta delivers a truly amazing 76.3 miles to the gallon too, which knocks the socks off the Clio’s 64.2 mpg. While the Clio’s OTR is less and passenger space more generous, the boot is smaller and the engine’s performance less punchy. There is a good reason why the Fiesta is one of the top selling cars of 2009; its cool and green.

4: Panel vans

• Conventional choice: LDV Maxus 2800 SWB HR
• Green alternative: Citroen Relay Panel Van 33 L1H1

The Citroen Berlingo is not just greener than the Daily, it actually has a larger payload if you pick the right model. It isn’t easy being green when you have a heavy load to carry, but the Relay variant we picked here has a payload of up to 1455kg compared to the Daily’s 1048kg. Not only that, but the unladen Relay will give you 35.8 mpg combined and produce just 208g/km of CO2. The Daily will produce 230g/km of CO2 and travel 32.1 miles to the gallon unladen. OK the Daily is cheaper but the running costs could add up against it.

5: Sports coupes

• Conventional choice: Mazda RX-8
• Green alternative: Audi TT 2.0 TDi Quattro

The Audi may not have quite the blistering performance of the Mazda, but the difference in efficiency is very telling. While the mean little Mazda’s 1308cc engine gets to 62mph in just 6.4 seconds, it delivers a measly 24.6 mpg combined. The Audi is around £3000 dearer, but a 53.3 miles to gallon performance is not to be sniffed at. Plus its not like the TT doesn’t know how to have fun, its little engine whizzes up to 62mph in just 7.5 seconds while it produces just 139g/km of CO2. The Mazda? A shocking 299g/km of CO2, I can hear mother nature crying.

6: Sports cabriolets

• Conventional choice: Volkswagen Eos 2.0 TDi
• Green alternative: BMW 118d ES

At around £3,000 less, the Eos sure looks tempting, but the frugal 1-Series cabriolet is capable of 57.6 miles to gallon and produces just 129g/km of CO2. While the Eos delivers a more disappointing 51.4 mpg and produces 144g/km, meaning that the first year rates introduced in April 2010 will be ready to sting you for your choice before you even roll off the forecourt. The 1-Series is slightly smaller for passengers but it retains a more generous boot than the Eos and its performance is keener too. BMW’s offering will get you to 62mph in just 9.5 seconds, while the Eos follows at 10.3 seconds.

7: People carriers

• Conventional choice: Renault Grand Espace Team DCi150
• Green alternative: Nissan Quashqai+2 1.5 dCi Acenta

Both generous seven seaters but a world apart, the Grand Espace is not only £5,000 more but much more polluting. Ok so it is more generously proportioned than the Nissan, but Nissan have been really celever with space in this model to provide a truly versatile ‘crossover’ vehicle. With emissions of just 139g/km and fuel consumption of 49.6 mpg, the Qashqai will save you a fortune. Especially since the Grand Espace belts out 196g/km of CO2 and delivers a very poor 38.3 miles to gallon. The Qashqai might be a bit slower out of the starting blocks than the Grand Espace, but the smart money is with Nissan on this one.

8: SUVs

• Conventional choice: Land Rover Discovery4 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 – 171g/km compared to 244g/km.

9: Head turning thrills

• Conventional choice: Nissan 350Z GT Pack
• Green alternative: SEAT Leon Cupra 2.0 TSI

OK it might seem a little silly to compare the 370Z to the Leon, but it  has to be said that the 370z offers a lot in performance for less than £30,000. Our choice would have been to select something greener yet much more expensive as an alternative or encourage you to go for a cheaper thrill such as a hot hatch like the Leon at around £21,000. Not just cheaper, the Leon offers geniune pace while keeping the emissions down to 190g/km of CO2. Its 1984cc engine pushes it to 62 mph in just 6.4 seconds, not bad compared to the 370Z master which gets there in 5.3 seconds.

10: Style conscious

• Conventional choice: Fiat 500 1.4 Pop 
• Green alternative: Volvo C30 1.6 DRIVe S

Not just greener but much bigger too, the Volvo has the right combination of cool and green, with emissions of just 99g/km and 74.3 miles to the gallon. The tiny 500 just cannot compete, belting out 135g/km of CO2 despite being not much bigger than a shopping trolley. Speaking of shopping, the C30 will take you to the shops not just in style, but will give you ample room for all those new shoes, a girl has just gotta have.

 

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