Many of us depend on the personal auto on a daily basis in order to get from one place to another. The personal auto plays a major role in our daily lives but the fact of the matter is that their emissions have a detrimental effect on our ecosystem, planet and health. Let’s take a look at the most efficient cars available on the market.
Nissan Leaf – First we have the Leaf from Nissan, a pure electric vehicle. Environmentally speaking, the Leaf is as good as it gets since it has no tailpipe and produces zero emissions. Mileage range for the Leaf stands at 73 miles; this means that the Leaf will need to be recharged rather frequently. Due to the limited mileage, the Leaf is most suitable to those with shorter commutes in urbanized areas. Reviewers have noted that the Leaf has an ample amount of power and speedy acceleration that is comparable to that of traditional autos. Standard features include USB compatibility, a GPS system and push-button start. The base model is priced at around $36,000.
Chevy Volt – The Volt is a vehicle that is a hybrid; it’s powered by a traditional engine and a battery. Mileage stands at around 95 miles per gallon if only electric power is used. The Volt’s traditional engine achieves around 35 mpg. The Volt comes with some pretty posh standard features including a hard drive for music storage, a navigation system and Bluetooth compatibility. Pricing starts in the $39,000 range which makes the Volt the most expensive choice when compare with the Leaf and Prius C.
Toyota Prius C – The new 2012 Prius C is deemed the most efficient Prius so far. Efficiency stands at 54 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the freeway. The C model is a lot more compact than the traditional Prius model and it’s a hatchback which gives it a quirky and playful appearance. The letter “C” actually stands for city; Toyota is hoping to capture a younger and more urban demographic with the C Prius. The lower price point should be particularly appealing to younger families. The base model is priced at $18,950 which makes it the most affordable Prius ever assembled. Standard features include an adjustable steering wheel, a comprehensive air bag system and Bluetooth compatibility. Can’t afford a brand new Prius? You can generally find a pre-owned one at a used car dealer at a significant discount.
Technology has improved significantly in the last few years when it comes to green cars. It will be exciting to see what the auto manufacturers will come up with next.
