We list all the green information, features and car types you’ll need to know in this essential guide.

Compact | Hatchback | Sport | MPV | Estate

Going green

There are a number of different green vehicle types, all with individual emission levels and lifestyle implications. We explain the high and low points of each type.

We list some of the best green cars available for each class, with their CO2 emissions, miles per gallon, fuel type, cost and tax band. For details on all the tax band prices and law implications, read our comprehensive guide to car tax.

It’s essential to note the common misconception – “cars have to run on alternate fuel types to be green,” isn’t true.

There are many environmentally-friendly vehicles readily available from UK dealers which run on petrol or diesel, but still have low CO2 emissions.

Compact

Smaller vehicles and super minis make ideal green motors, since they’re cheaper, lighter and use up less fuel than other car types to make them move.

Their small engine sizes and compact shape make them perfect for inner city driving.

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion 2
Fuel type: Diesel
MPG: 70.6
CO2 emissions: 104g/km
Tax band: B
Cost: £7,612 - £15,622
The second BlueMotion isn’t quite as eco-friendly as its former version, but its design, miles per gallon ratio and CO2 levels make it one of the greenest diesels available.

Mitsubishi i
Fuel type: Petrol
MPG: 54.6
CO2 emissions: 114g/km
Tax band: B
Cost: £8,999
The curves and smooth feel of the Mitsubishi i make it a great inner city car, with practical fuel and tax prices, even if it is a little oddly shaped.

Goingreen G-Wiz
Fuel type: Electric
MPG: n/a
CO2 emissions: n/a
Tax band: A
Cost: £7,000 - £9,000
Small, slim and light, the G-Wiz isn’t the safest car on the road, but it makes up for this with its electric motor, avoiding tax and the London congestion charge.

Smart Fortwo
Fuel type: Petrol
MPG: 60.1
CO2 emissions: 113g/km
Tax band: B
Cost: £6,775 - £14,615
Similar to the G-Wiz but with a petrol engine, the older Smart car is still highly practical in the city and cheap to run, but suffers from low performance.

Hatchback

Reliable, all-around hatchback vehicles tend to make good family cars – even more so with greener engines. Sizes vary, but performance is usually to a high standard.

Their back seats can normally fold down to provide more luggage space too.

Toyota Prius
Fuel type: Petrol-electric hybrid
MPG: 65.7
CO2 emissions: 104g/km
Tax band: B
Cost: £17,780 - £20,280
One of the most popular hybrid cars produced, the Prius is the UK’s second low-CO2 emission vehicle, after the original Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion.

Volkswagen Golf GT
Fuel type: Petrol
MPG: 39.2
CO2 emissions: 172g/km
Tax band: E
Cost: £18,095
For a sportier version of the Golf, the 1.4-litre engine packs more of a punch than you might think, and the low fuel consumption rate makes it environmentally friendly too.

Sport

It may not be what first springs to mind when thinking green, but more and more green sports cars are being designed for the future – combining cleanliness with speed and style.

Tesla Roadster
Fuel type: Electric
MPG: n/a
CO2 emissions: n/a
Tax band: A
Cost: £50,000 (not available in the UK)
The Tesla Roadster has improved electric motors’ driving distance to 250metres per single charge, and as a sports car, it proves electric cars aren’t all substance over style.

Venturi Fetish
Fuel type: Electric
MPG: n/a
CO2 emissions: n/a
Tax band: A
Cost: Approximately £320,000
With a look which almost resembles the Bugatti Veyron, the Fetish promises to give green cars a visual edge. Only 25 will be produced worldwide though.

MPV

The green giant Multi Purpose Vehicles shatter stereotypes by blending space, comfort and performance with environmentally-friendly fuel emissions.

The only thing is there’s not many of them available in the UK at the moment.

Lexus RX 400h
Fuel type: Petrol-electric hybrid
MPG: 34.9
CO2 emissions: 192g/km
Tax band: F
Cost: £36,403 - £45,268
A luxury SUV with green features, this doesn’t offer very low emissions or tax band, but for such a large, safe vehicle it’s impressive. The 450h is also available now.

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
Fuel type: Petrol
MPG: 49.6
CO2 emissions: 150g/km
Tax band: C
Cost: £21,696
Although it isn’t available in a flexi-fuel or hybrid engine, the Picasso is still an economical choice for an MPV, with a low tax band and steady miles per gallon.

Estate

Due to the size of these types of vehicles, most green estates tend to be hybrid or flexi-fuel, which is a combination of biofuel and petrol or diesel, or hybrid.

They tend to be priced higher than green hatchbacks and super minis, but offer greater space and performance too.

Ford Focus 1.8-litre flexi fuel vehicle (FFV)
Fuel type: Flexi-fuel E85 bioethanol
MPG: 40.4
CO2 emissions: 167g/km
Tax band: E
Cost: £13,145 - £18,990
This car features all the high points of the Ford’s popular Focus model, with the advantages of a clean, eco-friendly flexi-fuel engine.

Saab 9-5 Biopower
Fuel type: Flexi-fuel E85 bioethanol
MPG: 36.7
CO2 emissions: 183g/km
Tax band: E
Cost: £30,312
Offering a roomy interior with an engine which can run on bioethanol, petrol or both, Saab’s 9-5 Biopower is a reliable if expensive green saloon car to drive.

Lexus GS 450h
Fuel type: Petrol-electric hybrid
MPG: 35.8
CO2 emissions: 186g/km
Tax band: F
Cost: £31,650 - £46,818
This elegant estate successfully mixes hybrid with performance. It doesn’t come cheap, but for luxurious green motoring which is safe and stylish, the GS 450h has got it.