3 of the Greenest Cars Just in Time for Earth Day
It’s Earth Day, so it’s time to celebrate this giant space rock we call home. Driving has a large impact on the environment, so what are the greenest cars available? Does a Toyota, Tesla, or Ford vehicle have the most impact on your carbon footprint?
The top three greenest cars
According to GreenerCars, the most fuel-efficient and cleanest vehicles are made up of hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs. A hybrid vehicle uses a blend of gas and electricity from a battery. It rarely drives on electricity alone and doesn’t lug in to charge.
A PHEV or plug-in hybrid vehicle can be plugged in to generate an all-electric range, but it also uses gas.
Electric vehicles use electricity as their only source of power and require being plugged in to charge.
1. 2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE
First up on the list of the greenest cars is the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE. It uses a PHEV powertrain that consists of a 2.0-liter engine and two electric motors to generate 220 hp.
The Prius Prime has an EPA-estimated electric range of 44 miles on a single charge. When the electricity runs out, it gets about 53 mpg in the city and up to 51 mpg on the highway.
It has a green score of 71 and an estimated annual fuel cost of $529. Also, it has a starting MSRP of $32,975.
2. 2024 Lexus RZ 330e
The 2024 Lexus RZ 330e is another green choice to consider. It’ ‘s a luxury SUV with a 72.8-kWh lithium-ion battery and a singer motor that produces 308 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque.
It has an EPA-estimated electric range of up to 266 miles on a single charge. It’s rated at roughly 137 MPG3 in the city and up to 112 MPGe on the highway.
It has a green score of 67 and an annual estimated fuel cost of $651. But it’s a luxury option, so it has a higher MSRP of $55,150.
3. 2024 Mini Cooper SE
The 2024 Mini Cooper SE completes this list of the cleanest cars. It’s also an EV. It pairs a 54.2kWh battery pack with a single electric motor to churn out 181 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque.
It has an EPA-estimated range of 114 miles on a single charge. It gets about 119 MPGe in the city and up to 100 MPGe on the highway.
The Cooper SE has a green core of 67 and an annual estimated fuel cost of $747. Plus, it has a low MSRP of only $30,900.
