crazy about automobiles

“Green” is the new big thing in the auto industry, and Nissan's introduction later this year of the first mass-produced, highway-capable electric car sets the stage for more zero-tailpipe-emissions vehicles.
We're going to be seeing more of those, too, as we get closer to the 2016 deadline the Obama administration has set for the automakers to achieve CAFÉ (corporate average fuel economy) ratings of 34.1 mpg.
But the whole green concept includes more than just the pure electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf; it also encompasses products with great fuel economy such as gasoline-electric hybrids, the coming plug-in hybrids such as the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and even “clean” diesels such as those being sold by Germany's Volkswagen in the U.S. market.



It's too early to include the Leaf or the Volt on a list of green cars for 2010 since they're not available yet, but the consumer website kbb.com (part of the Kelley Blue Book) recently named its Top 10 Green Cars for 2010 — ones that are on the market now.
There's no surprise that the groundbreaking Toyota Prius is at the top of Kelley's list, even with all of the publicity over the runaway Prius incident in the San Diego, Calif., area (which many people in the auto industry believe was just a hoax).
Toyota introduced the first generation of the Prius in the United States in mid-2000, the second generation for model year 2004, and the newest model, the third generation, last year as a 2010 model. Prices begin at $22,800 (plus $750 freight).
This one, as expected, is the best one yet. It has EPA ratings of 51 mpg city/48 highway versus 48 city/45 highway for the previous generation. My first-generation Prius, which I owned until about six months ago, usually averaged about 42 mpg in everyday use, which was a mixture of city and highway driving.
The Prius continues to feature a full-hybrid system, which allows the car to run on either the electric motor or the gasoline engine, or a combination of the two. The nickel-metal-hydride battery pack, under the rear seat, recharges while the gasoline engine is running or the car is decelerating.
No. 2 on the Kelley list is the second generation of the Honda Insight hybrid, which also arrived last year as a 2010 model.
The new Insight hatchback has a base price of $19,800 (plus $710 freight), making it the lowest-priced hybrid in the U.S. market. That price is for the entry-level LX model.
The uplevel EX model lists for $21,300, and the EX with a satellite navigation system will sell for $23,100.
Unlike the original two-seat Insight introduced in 2000, this new one has a back seat and is roomy enough for five people.
Official EPA ratings are 40 city/43 highway, achieved using a combination of a four-cylinder gasoline engine with intelligent variable valve timing and an electric motor.
This is Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, which is not a full hybrid such as that of the Prius.
No. 3 on the kbb.com list is the Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan, also new for 2010. It has a clone in the Mercury brand, known as the Milan. EPA ratings are 41 city/36 highway for both.
A Lincoln version is on the way for model year 2011, using the same technology and getting the same fuel economy. It's the MKZ Hybrid, and it will have more standard amenities than the Ford and Mercury versions.
The Fusion Hybrid begins at $27,950 (plus $725 freight), while the Milan Hybrid lists for $28,180 (plus $725 freight). No prices have been announced yet for the 2011 Lincoln MKZ.
No. 4 is the Volkswagen Golf TDI (which stands for “turbo-diesel injection). Also new for 2010, this three- or five-door hatchback has no electric motor, just a very-efficient four-cylinder clean diesel that achieves EPA ratings of 30 city/42 highway.
I tested this one recently, with the standard six-speed manual gearbox; and after a week's worth of fun driving, I still had fuel in the tank.
Prices begin at $22,155 (plus $750 freight) for the three-door version and $22,760 for the five-door model.
No. 5 is the Mini Cooper from England, which has neither an electric motor nor a diesel engine — just a gasoline engine that gives us 28 mpg city/37 highway.
Besides the great fuel economy, this is a cute and fun little car with a surprising amount of space for the front-seat occupants. Even tall people fit easily into this car, which begins at $18,800 (plus $700 freight).
No. 6 on the list: the Ford Escape Hybrid, with a drive system quite similar to the one in the Fusion Hybrid. In this instance, though, the vehicle is a compact crossover, rather than a sedan.
There is a Mercury version of this as well — the Mariner Hybrid. EPA fuel economy for both is 34 city/31 highway.
Prices for the Escape Hybrid begin at $29,860 and for the Mariner Hybrid at $30,105. Freight for both is $725.
No. 7 is the subcompact Honda Fit, yet another on the list that is neither a hybrid nor a diesel. It has a small gasoline engine that gives it EPA ratings of 28 city/35 highway with the five-speed automatic transmission or 27/33 with the five-speed manual.
It's actually a fun little car to drive and has a starting price of $14,900 for the manual model and $15,700 for the automatic. Freight is $710 for either one.
At No. 8 is the BMW 335d sedan, which comes with a six-cylinder diesel engine and EPA ratings of 23 city/36 highway.
It's not cheap, though. As a BMW luxury car, it carries a base price of $43,950 (plus $875 freight). But it's a BMW, after all, so it will be loads of fun to drive. And that highway fuel economy is a real plus.
No. 9 is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, a midsize crossover utility vehicle with seating for up to seven people and fuel economy ratings of 27 city/25 highway.
It also has standard all-wheel drive, great for snow, ice, rain or loose gravel driving.
Prices begin at $34,900 (plus $800 freight), and the fancier Limited model is $41,220.
At the No. 10 spot, there is a surprise: a full-size American sport utility vehicle. It's the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which offers seating for up to eight people, great trailer-towing capacity and EPA ratings of 21 city/22 highway.
That city rating is the same as for the four-cylinder versions of such popular midsize family cars as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Think about it: You can drive the family around town in style and comfort (lots of comfort) using the same amount of gasoline as you would if you stuffed them all in a Camry or Accord. Wow!
And this vehicle is a Texas product, too. It's assembled at the General Motors plant in Arlington.
It's not cheap, though. Prices begin at $50,720 (plus $950 freight) for the two-wheel-drive version and $53,525 for the four-wheel-drive model.
Kelley has this to say about these 10 fuel-sipping models:
“Buying a green, environmentally friendly vehicle is one way for car shoppers to deal with the ever-rising costs of fuel in the midst of a slowly recovering economy. Saving gasoline doesn't just save the planet; it also saves money.”