This year marks the eighth in a row that a Honda vehicle has taken top honors for green vehicles, and the seventh straight year the company has populated at least 1/3 of the top 12 spots. The ACEEE uses an indexed score that combines fuel economy with emissions to arrive at a ‘green score’. Toyota’s Prius, for example, scores 53 points on this index with 48/45mpg city/highway and Tier 2, Bin 3/PZEV ratings.
The Civic GX scores 57 with 24/36mpg city/highway and Tier 2, Bin 2/PZEV ratings. Although the Civic GX appears to have lower fuel efficiency (remember, it’s burning natural gas) it emits fewer pollutants per mile, and therefore gets a higher score. Honda’s Civic Hybrid trailed the Prius closely with a score of 51.
Interestingly, no diesels made the list at all, despite their generally excellent fuel economy. Particulate pollution and NOx emissions take them out of the running. A trend to follow will be to see how diesels fare in the coming years as more and more models are introduced to the American market and urea-treatment technologies and other emissions reduction methods are employed.
For more information on the testing, the results, and to see the “Meanest Vehicles of 2008” – the greenest vehicles’ antipodean equivalents – head on over to the ACEEE site and read up. While you're there you can also search the top 12 vehicles in a range of classes including two-seaters, SUVs and large cars.
Reader Comments
Wed Feb 20 2008 6:27 PM
Lucifer says
I bet this gets Toyota's panties in a bunch.
Wed Feb 20 2008 10:12 PM
SuperSkyline89 says
Probably not, they're still conning people into buying a Prius.
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