Save on fuel costs: Australia's top 10 'green' cars
As the price of fuel continues to edge upwards, our interest in ‘green’ cars is going right along with it.
Last year a survey conducted by the Australian Automobile Association, found that 79 per cent of Australian motorists are concerned about the effect cars are having on our environment.
We're also very concerned about the effects oil prices are having on our hip pocket. Luckily both concerns can be addressed by one vehicle.
Buying an eco-friendly car also means buying more fuel efficiency. And some makes and models do it a lot better than others.
All new vehicles sold in Australia with up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass are tested for fuel consumption and their level of CO2 emissions.
This information is displayed on fuel consumption labels fixed to the windows of all new vehicles. Being able to see this information at a glance can help car buyers make decisions based on fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse impact. When you're considering fuel efficiency, the lower the numbers, the better the vehicle.
Choosing a car that ranks high for fuel efficiency could save you thousands of dollars over the life of the vehicle.
To learn more about the best ‘green’ cars available in Australia, the Federal Government’s Green Vehicles Guide provides lists of the best cars across a number of classes.
We’ve included the top 10 performers in four classes – small cars, medium cars, large cars and off-road.
| Top Ten Small Cars |
| Vehicle |
Fuel consumption (L/100 km) |
Air pollution rating (10=best) |
Greenhouse rating (10=best) |
| Smart Forfour |
5.6 |
6.5 |
8 |
| Mitsubishi Colt |
5.6 |
6.5 |
8 |
| Fiat Punto |
5.7 |
8.5 |
8 |
| Mini Cooper |
5.8 |
6.5 |
8 |
| Peugeot GT 207cc |
5.9 |
8.5 |
8 |
| Citroen C3 |
6.2 |
8.5 |
7.5 |
| Citroen C2 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
7.5 |
| Mercedes Benz A150 |
6.7 |
8.5 |
7.5 |
| Mercedes Benz A200 |
7.4 |
8.5 |
7 |
| Holden Astra |
7.4 |
8.5 |
7 |
| Top Ten Medium Cars |
| Vehicle |
Fuel consumption (L/100 km) |
Air pollution rating (10=best) |
Greenhouse rating (10=best) |
| Toyota Prius |
4.4 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
| Citroen C4 D |
4.5 |
5 |
8.5 |
| Honda Civic Hybrid |
4.6 |
6.5 |
8.5 |
| Honda Civic |
6.9 |
8.5 |
7 |
| Toyota Corolla |
7.4 |
8.5 |
7 |
| Mercedes Benz B200 |
7.4 |
8.5 |
7 |
| Peugeot 307 |
7.4 |
6.5 |
7 |
| Dodge Calibre |
7.4 |
6.5 |
7 |
| Mercedes Benz CLK |
8.4 |
6.5 |
8.5 |
| Mercedes Benz C Class |
9.6 |
8.5 |
5.5 |
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