Posted by Nikoletta Ventseslavova

By Joe Petchonka

Going ‘green’ is a popular word these days. But what exactly does it mean? How can you make sure you’re helping the environment and not hurting it? People are doing their best to make sure the environment is preserved by trying to make their daily activities and habits are as clean and efficient as possible, but that also means changing their lifestyles as well. And what’s at the forefront of the “war” on going green which also happens to showcase your lifestyle at the same time? Yup, cars.

Over the last 10 years, automakers have been moving away from gas-sucking behemoths and focusing their efforts on smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles. Has their hard work paid off? Check out the 5 vehicles that are, by definition, the “greenest” vehicles on the market currently, but they have also been listed in order based on overall quality, cost and functionality as well. Let’s take a look at the top 5 “green” models:

Number 5: 2012 Chevrolet Volt I’ll be the first one to tell you that the Chevrolet Volt is a wonderful car. Not only that, it’s a technological and engineering marvel to boot. It has a range of 35 miles using electricity only, and then switches over to its 1.4L I4 gasoline engine that achieves 40 mpg highway if the driver happens to stray too far from an electrical source. It costs roughly $1.50 to recharge, has all the modern features you’d expect from a new car and performs reasonably well on the highway. Why on earth is it #5, then? It seems like the perfect “green” car! Well, cost and timing, really. The bare bones version starts at a whopping $31,645 and can easily climb to $40,000 or more with options tacked on, making it unrealistically expensive to the average consumer. But what hurts it the most is also the timing. While electric vehicles have been making a push lately, they’re still not at the right price where it makes financial sense to buy one. That said, if the Volt was about 10 grand less, it would be stacked at the top of this contest

Numer 4: 2012 Nissan Leaf Also the victim of “too-soon-itus,” the Leaf falls into the #4 spot on the list. Again, quality vehicle with much to offer, just a tad too expensive and wrong timing. But it also suffers from lack of charging infrastructure available to the public. Unlike the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf is 100 percent electric. While the Leaf has a 100 mile range on a bad day, the lack of anywhere to charge the thing really turns people away from it. And coupled with a starting price of $27,700, consumers are just not interested at this point in time. Once electric cars get more range and decrease in price, consumers might hop on board and start buying these things in full swing. But until then, the Leaf sits at the back of the pack due to price and lack of a reliable fuel source.

Number 3: 2012 Smart Car This little toy car made a splash in the US market a few years ago, and you can still hear people giggle when one drives by. It’s not the most attractive car of the bunch, but it also boasts the honor of being one of the cleanest when it comes to emissions and also one of the best when it comes to fuel mileage. The Smart Car sports a miniscule 1L three-cylinder engine that puts out 70 hp while achieving 41 mpg highway. This thing is also pretty darn safe on the road and even earned top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Even the price is phenomenal, coming in at $12,490 for the base coupe.

While the positives are really positive, the faults are glaringly apparent. First off, the acceleration is sluggish at best, and the shifting is just as poor. Second, the only type of gasoline that it likes is premium. Lastly, it’s labeled as a two-seater, but you’d be ecstatic to even get one person in there comfortably. Also, the cargo space is nothing to applaud at either.Again, this is a perfectly capable car that is as green as it gets with a price just as good, but it just doesn’t work as a car that you plan on using on more occasions than driving down the street to pick up some milk.

Number 2: 2012 Honda Civic I wish there was room for two cars in the #1 spot, I really do. The Honda Civic has been a staple in the realms of looks, efficiency, quality and reliability for quite some time and really has only been bested by one other car in this comparison. Featuring a 1.8L I4 with an output of 140 hp and its patented I-VTEC system, the Honda Civic has a smooth and efficient power delivery. The Civic also gets a very solid 39 mpg highway, giving it a considerable bump above most of the others here. But the best thing about the NY Honda Civic is its price. With a starting price of only $15,805, it’s incredibly affordable, and you get a clean, fuel-efficient vehicle that has won numerous awards for quality and is also one of the safest vehicles on the road today.

The only problem with it? Well, there are no problems with it. None at all. It functions brilliantly and gets amazing gas mileage. You really can’t go wrong. What’s better than the Civic for people looking for green vehicles, then?

And the winner is: 2012 Toyota Prius It all comes down to the Toyota Prius, taking home first prize for best vehicle to own when looking for a green vehicle. Not only does the Prius look great and start at only $23,520, it achieves 51 mpg highway with its smooth and surprisingly adequate 1.8L I4 engine. It also burns fuel at one of the cleanest rates I’ve ever seen, making it a true innovation. What gave it the nod over the Civic was the price-to-gas mileage ratio here. While it does cost a bit more than the Civic, 12 mpg more really adds up in terms of savings. And in addition to better gas mileage, it also offers better emissions than the Civic.

People might be scared to own a Toyota after all the problems they’ve heard over the past few years, but this is a car that has always been at the front of the line when it comes to overall quality, cost and fuel efficiency. If you must own a gas-sipper, this is the one you should get.

I said earlier that making the switch to a green vehicle is a lifestyle change, and it is. But that change doesn’t need to be a difficult one at all. In fact, with so many vehicles to choose from, you’re bound to find one that suits you well. In the end, all the cars on this list are truly remarkable and absolutely deserve praise.

But there can only be one winner in a comparison such as this, and that honor belongs to the Toyota Prius.

About the author: Joe Petchonka has been a writer for over five years, and has written for newspapers, websites and automotive dealerships. In addition to having an extensive writing background and bachelor’s degree in English, he has helped companies develop professional material to help them achieve their goals. He currently writes for Nexteppe, a company helping dealerships sell vehicles and more through the use of social media and web design.

Read also: The Electric car – Environmental Trojan Horse