The age of the green car is well and truly dawning on us. We’re seeing more of them on the streets these days. More charging stations are getting installed. The technology is getting better and more companies are offering hybrid or fully electric lines or equivalents. The pressure for us to take more care with our fuel consumption is louder and more justified than ever. But the switch to a greener car takes a certain amount of consideration. What do you use the car for? What do you need it to do? Almost as importantly, what do you want it to do? We take a look at nine of the rising green car stars and what they can offer you.
Volkswagen e-Golf
The e-Golf is one of the many cars that has been adapted from an already successful car. In this case, cars that were already great for fuel efficiency. The e-Golf goes on the other side of the adaptation. It’s obviously better at fuel efficiency, but it might also be one of the best eco cars when it comes to the driving experience. For that reason, it’s been shortlisted its fair share of green car awards.
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet got off the mark quick with the Volt, establishing it as one of the most quickly adopted kinds of plug-in hybrids. The Volt has a long, storied development. What was first known as an experimental bet to keep New GM in the green in 2011. But since then it’s developed into something of a power house. This is thanks to the direct injection engines adding more kick in a genre of cars with a reputation for lacking it. The car’s lighter, a lot of that being down to the fact that the battery has shrunk despite holding more power. Just an example of the science for these cars already improving exponentially.
Honda Accord Hybrid
When it comes to a family car, you can rarely go wrong with a Honda. The Honda Accord was even named one of the best family cars of 2016. With plenty of room and an easy, stable drive, it’s not hard to see why. The Accord Hybrid hasn’t lost any of that, either. It even has the best mile per gallon out of all the midsize sedan hybrids. The Accord has disappeared from Honda’s lineup this year, but it’s coming back. We expect to see it in fantastic form when it does.
Ford Fusion Hybrid
The Ford Fusion Hybrid retains a lot of the great parts of its non-hybrid cousins. It lacks a degree of the power that was already not all that considerable. But you still get an agile little car that manages fuel-to-electric shifts smoother than most. It comes with a good deal of easy technology that responds slow at times but offers a lot of functionality to make it a great car for casual driving. Next year’s Fusion Hybrid is set to get another update with drivability in mind but we hope they make the dash tech more responsive, too.
BMW 330e Hybrid
We’ve all heard the tired stories about hybrids being boring and utterly without excitement. It’s somewhat true, but not when it comes to the BMW 330e hybrid. How many other hybrids offer nought to sixty in six seconds? That’s the same as a GTi. Add to that a 25-mile range on its electric battery and you’ve got a car that can punch long and hard. Don’t believe us? Try one out by test driving an Eastern Western new BMW and find out for yourself. This car definitely put to bed a lot of doubts about just what a hybrid can do.
Lexus CT
While not quite as zippy as the 330e Hybrid, Lexus always has a very respectable foot in the market of entry level luxury with some kick. Compared to the RX, the CT obviously lacks some of the power and immediate speed. But with fantastic highway efficiency and a focus on smooth transmission, it’s easily one of the better rides for a good, long drive. Add to that all the safety features that Lexus has perfected over the years and you have a strong, reliable car. Cheaper than most of the company’s other lines, too.
The e-Golf is one of the many cars that has been adapted from an already successful car. In this case, cars that were already great for fuel efficiency. The e-Golf goes on the other side of the adaptation. It’s obviously better at fuel efficiency, but it might also be one of the best eco cars when it comes to the driving experience. For that reason, it’s been shortlisted its fair share of green car awards.
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet got off the mark quick with the Volt, establishing it as one of the most quickly adopted kinds of plug-in hybrids. The Volt has a long, storied development. What was first known as an experimental bet to keep New GM in the green in 2011. But since then it’s developed into something of a power house. This is thanks to the direct injection engines adding more kick in a genre of cars with a reputation for lacking it. The car’s lighter, a lot of that being down to the fact that the battery has shrunk despite holding more power. Just an example of the science for these cars already improving exponentially.
Honda Accord Hybrid
When it comes to a family car, you can rarely go wrong with a Honda. The Honda Accord was even named one of the best family cars of 2016. With plenty of room and an easy, stable drive, it’s not hard to see why. The Accord Hybrid hasn’t lost any of that, either. It even has the best mile per gallon out of all the midsize sedan hybrids. The Accord has disappeared from Honda’s lineup this year, but it’s coming back. We expect to see it in fantastic form when it does.
Ford Fusion Hybrid
The Ford Fusion Hybrid retains a lot of the great parts of its non-hybrid cousins. It lacks a degree of the power that was already not all that considerable. But you still get an agile little car that manages fuel-to-electric shifts smoother than most. It comes with a good deal of easy technology that responds slow at times but offers a lot of functionality to make it a great car for casual driving. Next year’s Fusion Hybrid is set to get another update with drivability in mind but we hope they make the dash tech more responsive, too.
BMW 330e Hybrid
We’ve all heard the tired stories about hybrids being boring and utterly without excitement. It’s somewhat true, but not when it comes to the BMW 330e hybrid. How many other hybrids offer nought to sixty in six seconds? That’s the same as a GTi. Add to that a 25-mile range on its electric battery and you’ve got a car that can punch long and hard. Don’t believe us? Try one out by test driving an Eastern Western new BMW and find out for yourself. This car definitely put to bed a lot of doubts about just what a hybrid can do.
Lexus CT
While not quite as zippy as the 330e Hybrid, Lexus always has a very respectable foot in the market of entry level luxury with some kick. Compared to the RX, the CT obviously lacks some of the power and immediate speed. But with fantastic highway efficiency and a focus on smooth transmission, it’s easily one of the better rides for a good, long drive. Add to that all the safety features that Lexus has perfected over the years and you have a strong, reliable car. Cheaper than most of the company’s other lines, too.
Toyota Prius V
When you’re talking about electric cars, you have to talk about the Prius. It might have not been the first on the scene, but it’s definitely the most famous. Toyota have used the success of the Prius to expand a rather versatile lineup. The one we have to include on this list is the Prius V. You get the fuel economy the line is famous for with some rather remarkable technological add-ons. Buttons operate everything as smoothly as silk. An accessible instrument panel keeps everything right at your fingertips and in your eyeline. Definitely what a lot of future cars are going to look like.
Chevrolet Spark EV
In terms of a car that’s accessible, relatively affordable and with torque, you can always look at Chevrolet. Their main line of full electric cars is no different in that respect. It takes a long time to recharge, even compared to its peers. However, we think it’s worth it for its easy acceleration and deft handling. A great car for zipping about a city. With all the features that come as standard or at little price, it’s definitely one of the more competitive members of this list.
Tesla Model S
You can’t really talk about electric cars without talking about Tesla. The Model S is undoubtedly the best electric car and fantastic in just about category. With accommodating levels of electric steering and some serious power, it competes with the best of the supercars. All the while letting you glide along the road silent as you like. The Prius V may have the future of interior design when it comes to panels, but the Model S is what the future of cars really looks like. Of course, it’s more expensive that everything on the list, but you can’t not include it on the list, can you?
When you’re talking about electric cars, you have to talk about the Prius. It might have not been the first on the scene, but it’s definitely the most famous. Toyota have used the success of the Prius to expand a rather versatile lineup. The one we have to include on this list is the Prius V. You get the fuel economy the line is famous for with some rather remarkable technological add-ons. Buttons operate everything as smoothly as silk. An accessible instrument panel keeps everything right at your fingertips and in your eyeline. Definitely what a lot of future cars are going to look like.
Chevrolet Spark EV
In terms of a car that’s accessible, relatively affordable and with torque, you can always look at Chevrolet. Their main line of full electric cars is no different in that respect. It takes a long time to recharge, even compared to its peers. However, we think it’s worth it for its easy acceleration and deft handling. A great car for zipping about a city. With all the features that come as standard or at little price, it’s definitely one of the more competitive members of this list.
Tesla Model S
You can’t really talk about electric cars without talking about Tesla. The Model S is undoubtedly the best electric car and fantastic in just about category. With accommodating levels of electric steering and some serious power, it competes with the best of the supercars. All the while letting you glide along the road silent as you like. The Prius V may have the future of interior design when it comes to panels, but the Model S is what the future of cars really looks like. Of course, it’s more expensive that everything on the list, but you can’t not include it on the list, can you?
