Three hybrids listed as Greenest Cars of 2006

Of the top 12 greenest cars of 2006, as listed by Washington-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, only three hybrids ma...

Of the top 12 greenest cars of 2006, as listed by Washington-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, only three hybrids made the cut. The Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Honda Civic hybrid.

Although both the honda insight and the honda civic gx (a limited natural-gas powered) tied with the highest (57) green score, the Honda Insight has a better mpg, giving it the top spot.

Toyota and Honda took all five top spots, while GM had three cars at 10, 11 and 12 with the Pontiac Vibe, Checy Cobalt, and the Saturn Ion.

The 'Meanest' vehicle was the DODGE RAM SRT10, with Dodge vehicles rounding out three of the worst five.

According to the FAQ at greener.com, the green score is calculated as follows:
We analyze automakers' test results for fuel economy and emissions as reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, along with other specifications reported by automakers. We estimate pollution from vehicle manufacturing, from the production and distribution of fuel and from vehicle tailpipes. We count air pollution, such as fine particles, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other pollutants according to the health problems caused by each pollutant. We then factor in greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) and combine the emissions estimates into a Green Score that runs on a scale from 0 to 100. The top vehicles this year score a 57, the average is 30 and the worst gas-guzzlers score around 12. Further information can be found on the GreenerCars.com Methodology page.


The Greenest Vehicles of 2006

Make and Model Specifications a Emission Standard b MPG: City MPG: Hwy Green Score
HONDA INSIGHT 1.0L 3, auto CVT Tier 2 bin 5 / SULEV II 57 56 57
HONDA CIVIC GX 1.7L 4, auto CVT [CNG] c Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV 30 34 57
TOYOTA PRIUS 1.5L 4, auto CVT Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV 60 51 55
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 1.3L 4, auto CVT Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV 49 51 53
TOYOTA COROLLA 1.8L 4, manual Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II 32 41 46
HYUNDAI ACCENT 1.6L 4, manual Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II 32 35 45
KIA RIO / RIO 5 1.6L 4, manual Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II 32 35 45
HONDA CIVIC 1.8L 4, auto Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II 30 40 44
MAZDA 3 2.0L 4, manual PZEV 28 35 44
PONTIAC VIBE /
TOYOTA MATRIX d
1.8L 4, manual Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II 30 36 44
CHEVROLET COBALT 2.2L 4, manual PZEV 25 34 43
SATURN ION 2.2L 4, manual PZEV 26 35 43

a Certain other configurations of these models (with different transmissions or meeting different emission standards) score nearly as well.
b A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 5 / SULEV II) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a Federal and California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications.
c Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fuel economy given in gasoline-equivalent miles per gallon.
d These vehicles are "twins" — the same base model carrying different names.



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