Green Cars For Tight Budgets

Today there is ample opportunity to drive fuel-efficient cars that don't cost a fortune. Fortunately for lazy environmentalists, the only correlation between a car's cost and its fuel efficiency is an inverse relationship, i.e., the more you pay for your car, the more you're likely to pay at the pump. Often it’s the most affordable cars that get the best fuel economy.

Consider the latest series of sub-$15,000 hatchbacks from Japan. The 2008 Nissan Versa (MPG: 26 city/31 highway), 2008 Honda Fit (MPG: 27 city/34 highway), and 2008 Toyota Yaris (MPG: 29 city/36 highway) deliver best-in-class gas mileage (MPG ratings based on new EPA testing measures implemented in 2008). They are also versatile, stylish, fun to drive, and capable of fitting a lot of companions who want to come along for the eco-friendly ride. It’s pretty easy to understand why they have such tremendous youth appeal. Not only can you plug-in your iPod and chill with your friends en route, but you get to do it while avoiding the gas pump and making low monthly lease or finance payments.

Top-flight fuel economy is largely achieved in two ways. First, these cars trade power for efficiency. They still get off the line pretty quickly (see review in Green Car Journal) but probably aren’t the best cars to use for robbing banks when needing to ditch the cops on long straightaways. Second, these cars are significantly lighter than many others on the road. They are still safe to drive but weigh about a ton less than beefier sedans and station wagons. Remember what it was like in grade school when the fat kid made you give him a piggyback ride? That’s how a car engine feels when it has to lurch forward under the weight of the typical luxury sedan or station wagon. It expends more energy, consumes more fuel, and releases more greenhouse gases than when tucked inside a nimble, lightweight, lower-priced vehicle.

Shifting the fuel-efficiency up a gear, consider a few of the more affordable hybrid car models – those that run on both gasoline- and electric-powered engines. To define affordable is to admittedly tread in murky waters. Yet, according to numbers released by research firm Comerica Incorporated the average U.S. consumer currently pays over $28,000 for a new car including financing. Cars that fall below the $28,000 threshold would therefore largely seem to be in reach of the average consumer and household. By this measure, that would include the 2008 Toyota Prius (MSRP: $21,100-$23,370, MPG: 48 city/45 highway), 2009 Camry Hybrid (MSRP: $25,350, MPG: 33 city/34 highway), 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid (MSRP: $22,600-$24,350, MPG: 40 city/45 highway), and 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid (MSRP: $25,170, MPG: 35 city/33 highway). These cars continue to improve and receive high marks for styling and driving experience. If you like your green really conspicuous then go with the Prius. Everyone on the road will recognize you as an enlightened hero of the planet. You'll be joining the ranks of 57% of Prius owners who purchase these cars for that very reason. If you prefer to blend, then opt for the Camry, Civic or Altima hybrids. No one will notice your laudable environmental efforts. They’ll just assume that you dig stylish, sensible cars.

Adding further credence to the notion that sub-$28,000 hybrids are within reach of the average Joe and Jane is a survey by Autobytel.com that appeared in the New York Times in the summer of 2007. It found that 35% of hybrid owners or serious buyers say their household income is under $40,000. Over half (52%) say their household income is below $60,000. To put this in context, the latest Census Bureau data for fiscal year 2008 indicates that average U.S. income for a household of four is $67,019. Hybrid cars are more accessible than one might think. Interestingly, the survey also found that hybrid drivers are slightly more likely to be Republican than Democrat, nearly half don't have a college degree, and only 16% live on the West Coast. The rest are spread out relatively evenly across the U.S., attesting to the broad, universal appeal of cars that are substantively better for the planet than the conventional choices.

For Additional Fuel and Budget Friendly Car Options See FuelEconomy.gov.

-- Josh