Best Green Cars

Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid

2007-12-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

The Saturn VUE Green Line hybrid is a compact crossover SUV from General Motors’ Saturn marque and uses with the same mild hybrid BAS system with the 2.4 L Ecotec as first generation VUE. Software updates and optimizations to smooth the operation as well as improve fuel economy. Fuel economy under the new 2008 EPA standards is 25/32 mpg city/highway. A full hybrid model featuring GM’s Two-Mode system is to be introduced during 2008, most likely as a 2009 year model. After this system is introduced, GM will release a plug-in hybrid version of the vehicle in 2009. This will make it the first plug in hybrid with the system as original equipment

Lexus RX 400h Hybrid

2007-12-25T21:21:00.000-08:00

The Lexus RX 400h is a hybrid luxury crossover SUV assembled since 2005 for Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota Motor Corp. The RX 400h uses Lexus Hybrid Drive technology and the Lexus RX model design. An equivalent model is called the Toyota Harrier Hybrid in Japan. First introduced in January 2004 at the North American International Auto Show, the RX 400h became the world’s second mass-produced hybrid sport utility vehicle, after the Ford Escape Hybrid. The RX 400h was also the first luxury hybrid.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

2007-12-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

Initially, the Highlander/Kluger was a regular, non-hybrid SUV driven by an internal combustion engine, but later Toyota introduced a hybrid version, the Highlander Hybrid that utilizes the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology combined with the company’s 3MZ-FE 3.3 liter V6 engine. The Highlander Hybrid was unveiled at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, and was offered to the public in July 2005 as a 2006 model. The 2006 Highlander Hybrid is priced starting at US$33,030, or US$6,590 more than the price of a similarly-equipped non-hybrid Highlander. In Japan, the hybrid version was called the Kluger Hybrid.

Ford Escape Hybrid

2007-12-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

Like the Mercury Mariner, the Escape hybrid is a “full” hybrid electric system, meaning the system can switch automatically between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power, or a combination of electric battery and gasoline engine operating together. When braking or decelerating, the Escape’s hybrid system uses regenerative braking, where the electric drive motor becomes a generator, converting the vehicle’s momentum back to electricity for storage in the batteries. With 155 horsepower (116 kW), the Hybrid Escape has nearly the same acceleration performance as the conventional 200 hp (150 kW) V6 Escape

Toyota Prius Hybrid

2007-12-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

The Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, and was introduced worldwide in 2001. The Prius has also won several awards. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the 2008 Prius is the most fuel efficient car sold in the U.S., and, according to the UK Department for Transport, the Prius is tied with the diesel MINI Cooper D as the second least CO2-emitting vehicle behind the Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

2007-12-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is a hybrid version of the Camry sedan. The Toyota Camry Hybrid was introduced in May 2006 and has estimated U.S. sales of 60,000 per year, or 15 percent of total Camry sales. EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid are 40 MPG (City) and 38 MPG (Highway). EPA’s revised method of estimating fuel economy for 2008 and subsequent model years, which now considers the effects of air conditioning, rapid acceleration and cold temperatures, estimates 33 MPG (City) and 34 MPG (Highway).

Honda Civic Hybrid

2007-12-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a hybrid version of the Honda Civic sedan. For the 2003 model of the Civic, Honda added a continuously variable transmission and an Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system similar to that of the Insight, creating a fuel efficient hybrid sedan. It is an assist hybrid. Along with the conventional Civic, it received updated styling for 2004. It was redesigned in 2006 and based off the new Civic platform. The present model has EPA of 40 mpg (US) (5.9 L/100 km) in city and 45 mpg (US) (5.2 L/100 km) in highway. It has won Motor Trend 2006 Car of the Year award, along with the rest of the Civic range.