From Guest Blogger Christopher Austin: The Greenest Cars for 2017
With emission regulations in the automotive industry getting tighter by the moment, numerous emission-related scandals (remember Dieselgate?) and imminent global warming, the green factor is starting to become an important aspect to consider when buying a new car. Luckily, the big car manufacturers seem to finally have understood that the public does care about the environment, not only about getting from point A to point B, so the offer of green cars is expanding by the day. Nearly all manufacturers nowadays have green cars in their lineups, whether we’re talking about full-electric cars, hybrids or only more economical engines. Let’s have a look at some of the greenest cars for 2017.
- Chevrolet Bolt EV
The Chevrolet Bolt EV seems to have it figured out very good, combining a spacious interior with an attractive exterior, a decent engine (200 horsepower, to be precise) and a decent range of roughly 200 miles. Throw into a mix a good dose on in-car technology such as a 10-inch touchscreen display with an additional 8-inch gauge display, Apple Car-Play and Android Auto compatibility , 4G LTE and Wi-Fi, and you will understand why the Chevrolet Bolt EV is a solid option to consider for your next car.
- Volkswagen e-Golf
Just because Volkswagen made some uninspired choices in its pursuit of going green, which eventually blew up in its face in the form of the hugely-debated dieselgate scandal, does not mean its cars are no good. After all, it’s its diesel cars that had the issues, and those are not the highlight of the green cars segment – its electric ones are. The electric version of the widely popular Volkswagen Golf is one of the best options of green car you can buy at this moment, combining the renowned reliability of the Golf model with an all-electric motor – the perfect mix for a city car, but not exactly the best for a road-trip type of car, given its range of only 130 miles per charge.
- BMW i3
BMW wowed the world with its futuristic i8 electric sports car, but unfortunately its price tag was a drawback for the vast majority. Luckily, BMW thought about the masses as well, so the i3 was born. Incorporating BMW’s knowledge in the auto field into a futuristic design, the i3 is a great pick if you’re looking for a car to cruise through the city and run errands. It is small, handles exceptionally well and it is a pure pleasure to drive. Its range of less than 100 miles is not exactly brag-worthy, but the 2017 model is expected to have a significant increase in that department, so you might want to keep an eye out for it.
- Toyota Prius
You can’t talk about green cars and not mention the Toyota Prius – the car that essentially made green cars cool to begin with. While the early models of Prius were more about the inside tech and being green, and not so much about being eye-candy, 2017 brings a massive change in the form of the refreshed lineup. Whether you opt for the classic Prius, the wagon version that is Prius V or the high-end version known as Prius Prime, you will not be disappointed, as the all models have a futuristic look that puts them on par with the competition, and the already-proven reliability and efficiency that made the Prius famous in the first place.
- Tesla
Last but not least, there’s Tesla, the undisputable leader when it comes to electric cars. Tesla cars became known for their impressive performance and cutting-edge technology they incorporate, but sadly also due to their high price. Luckily, there are some good news in regards to the price aspect – not only will the Tesla Model 3, the affordable all-electric vehicle that’s rumored to be priced around the $35,000 figure, be available soon, but fans of the Model S can now buy the entry-level variant (which is now the S 75, replacing the older S 60) with a discount of roughly $7,500. The price of the S 75 if stills a hefty $70,000, but if you do opt for it, you can be sure you’re getting every cent of your money’s worth, and more.
