From Guest Blogger Anica Oaks: Conscious Transportation–Four Green Cars with Great Fuel Economy
If you want to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle should be a top priority. Fortunately, today’s car market has some exciting models to choose from. Here are four green cars that deserve some serious consideration.
2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
With a combined fuel economy rating of nearly 40 mpg, the 2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is clearly among the most efficient full-size sedans on the scene. Not only does the Avalon Hybrid reward you with fuel savings, but it is also a pleasure to drive. It is certainly quick enough to keep most drivers happy.
However, the sedan’s best quality is its luxurious cabin. You will be surrounded by a number of premium features, including ventilated seats and a high-powered JBL audio system. A five-star safety rating makes the Avalon Hybrid perfect for a family of five.
2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a testament to the automotive industry’s focus on developing green vehicles. Toyota’s new crossover promises to return an incredible 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the open road. For good reason, the RAV4 Hybrid was chosen as the 2017 Best Hybrid SUV for the Money by U.S. News & World Report.
Automotive journalists give the hybrid crossover high marks for its smooth performance and family-friendly interior. Safety technologies, such blind-spot monitoring and lane departure alert, give drivers yet another reason to choose the RAV4 Hybrid.
2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid
You can expect the 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid from places like Young Automotive Group to be mentioned among today’s top green cars. Its sleek styling and nimble handling will appeal to a lot of drivers. Most importantly, the midsize sedan can easily return more than 40 mpg.
Ford’s impressive Sync 3 infotainment system quickly connects to your smartphone. You will also like the Fusion Hybrid’s nifty SmartGauge, which actually coaches you how to drive more efficiently.
2017 Toyota 86
Even without a hybrid engine, the 2017 Toyota 86 still manages to deliver up to 32 mpg. This is outstanding fuel economy for a pure sports car. Drivers rave about the Toyota 86’s track-worthy handling. Flaunting a stylish rear spoiler and a set of 17-inch sport wheels, the Toyota 86 definitely demands a great deal of attention on the road. Some of the standard goodies include an eight-speaker sound system, a backup camera, and smartphone integration.
No longer are drivers forced to spend a ton of money at the fuel pump. These four vehicles prove that you can have a fun driving experience without compromising the environment.
I think that it is environmentally responsible for me to keep my 2004 Mazda 3 with only 23,000 miles on it. That means that I drive it less than 2,000 miles per year so the fact that I average only 25 mpg (mostly city driving) isn’t important. Considering how little it is driven, it may even be the last car I own.
Driving as little as possible is just as environmentally responsible as owning a super high mileage car. Of course the two are not mutually exclusive.
California Air Resources Board killed my Prius. They did not intentionally kill it, but that is what they did. It only had 199,000 miles and a Prius will very often go over 400,000 miles for cab companies. What killed it is the fact that it needed a catalytic converter to pass California Smog. Usually a cat. costs 300-400 hundred to replace, fair enough for clean air. But CARB will not allow a used cat. in California. They also won’t allow a common replacement cat., only Authorized by CARB, which don’t exist because of the cost of development. It does matter to CARB how much pollution is put in the air, only that it meets standards established by CARB. I sold the Prius for parts, its a shame since it would have lasted another 200,000 miles of relatively clean operation compared to so many other vehicles. If only I had bought a clean VW diesel, bad joke.
Hi Frank,
What you say makes perfect sense.
However, not everyone buys a car based on logic ! I just took delivery of my new BMW i8.
Now, I’m the first to admit I don’t need a new car, but I’m excited by the sheer joy of driving such an advanced example of automotive technology.
In my youth, car ownership was essential to an active social life. It represented freedom and a rite of passage. (I would erect a statue to the inventor of lay back seats :).
Of course you are quite right, if you have little interest in automobiles, and only drive a limited amount, expenditure on a new car on environmental grounds makes no sense.