Apr 18, 2008  |  By: JOE PHILLIPS  | COMMENTS     

Green is the new black.

Back in 1999, Honda introduced the Insight, an early hybrid with quirky, pod-like styling and a barebones interior.

Fast forward to 2008, where eco-couture is all the rage, and automakers are tripping over themselves to present hybrids and other green vehicles that are slick enough for car fans and environmentalists.

Greenest cars

Glam styling. Spiffy cabins. Loads of safety features. It’s all good with today’s green cars. Some — like the retro Mini Cooper Clubman — ride and handle like high-test tuners.

The top-rated Honda Civic GX runs on compressed natural gas, the cleanest fuel available. Alas, it’s sold only in certain states (as is Nissan’s Altima Hybrid).

But there are plenty of hybrids to go around, including — gasp — two large SUVs.

There’s also diesel, as Mercedes touts cleaner, quieter, smoother V6 engines that deliver V8 power with four-cylinder fuel savings.

Even traditional gas engines have improved, with many outshining their alternate-fuel competitors. Below is a partial list of the SUVs and luxury vehicles that are most environmentally friendly.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
$23,000
Mpg: 24 city/32 highway

Ford Focus
$15,000
Mpg: 24 city/35 highway

Honda Civic
$23,000
Mpg: 26 city/34 highway

Honda Civic GX
$25,000
Mpg: 24 city/36 highway


Honda Civic Hybrid
$16,000
Mpg: 40 city/45 highway


Honda Fit
$14,000
Mpg: 28 city/34 highway

MINI Cooper Clubman
$20,000
Mpg: 28 city/37 highway

Nissan Altima Hybrid
$26,000
Mpg: 35 city/33 highway


Saturn Aura Hybrid
$24,000
Mpg: 24 city/32 highway


smart fortwo
$12,000
Mpg: 33 city/41 highway


Toyota Camry Hybrid
$26,000
Mpg: 33 city/34 highway


Toyota Corolla
$16,000
Mpg: 28 city/37 highway


Toyota Prius
$22,000
Mpg: 48 city/45 highway

Toyota Yaris
$12,000
Mpg: 29 city/36 highway

Greenest SUVs/Crossovers

GM’s new full-sized Tahoe and Yukon hybrids get impressive (about 75 percent better) mileage over the gas-only models. But such 21- to 22-mpg stats are still low compared with 27- to 34-mpg crossover hybrids.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
$50,000
Mpg: 21 city/22 highway

Ford Escape Hybrid
$27,000
Mpg: 34 city/30 highway

GMC Yukon Hybrid
$50,000
Mpg: 21 city/22 highway

Mazda Tribute Hybrid
$26,000
Mpg: 34 city/30 highway


Mercury Mariner Hybrid
$28,000
Mpg: 34 city/30 highway


Saturn VUE Hybrid
$26,000
Mpg: 25 city/32 highway


Toyota Highlander Hybrid
$34,000
Mpg: 27 city/25 highway

Greenest luxury vehicles

Lexus has taken hits for high-end hybrids (up to— yikes! —$40,000 more than the regular models) that eke out limited gas savings. And diesels still get knocked in this country, even though Mercedes got rid of the knocks in its engines. Still, sales of most high-end green cars are smokin’.

Lexus GS 450h
$55,000
Mpg: 22 city/25 highway

Lexus LS 600h L
$104,000
Mpg: 20 city/22 highway

Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC
$53,000
Mpg: 23 city/32 highway

Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC
$54,000
Mpg: 21 city/28 highway


Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC
$45,000
Mpg: 21 city/28 highway


Mercedes-Benz R320 BlueTEC
$46,000
Mpg: 21 city/28 highway

Green driving tips

You don’t have to own a hybrid or other alternate-fueled vehicle to drive green. Here are 10 ways every driver can ...