Toyota Prius: Leading Green Vehicle Guide's Top 50
Reduced emissions and lower fuel consumption are the 'performance' benchmarks of the 21st Century -- and the new Prius has the numbersHigher fuel prices and greater concern for the environment have raised public awareness of the Green Vehicle Guide in recent times. Coordinated and promoted by the federal government, the 'GVG' provides a ready reckoner for new-car buyers to determine which vehicle offers the optimum fuel efficiency.
Just a matter of weeks following the launch of the MINI Cooper D, Toyota has launched its new Prius. It's a sign of how important fuel efficiency is, as a marketing tool, that information on both these vehicles has already been assimilated in the GVG data.
If not for the arrival of the Prius, the diesel MINI would have topped the Green Vehicle Guide's 50 best vehicles, sorted according to Greenhouse rating. The Prius has pipped the MINI at the post, through its lower CO2 emissions (89g/km versus 104g/km) and different results in the three fuel consumption standards.
Where the MINI is marginally more fuel efficient on the open road (extra-urban cycle: 3.5L/100km for the MINI, 3.7L/100km for the Prius), the Toyota enjoys a substantial advantage over the MINI in city-cycle running: 3.9L/100km for the Prius, 4.7L/100km for the MINI.
Since both cars score the same figure of 3.9L/100km in combined-cycle testing, the end result is the Prius rates nine out of 10 for Greenhouse assessment and the MINI is narrowly beaten with a score of 8.5 on the same scale. The Toyota's score in air pollution (8.5 out of 10) is also considerably better than the MINI's score of just five.
The MINI is much more fuel efficient and slightly cleaner in emissions, according to the GVG's combined-cycle testing than the superseded (second-generation) Prius, which was good for 4.4L/100km and 106g/km. Even though the earlier generation of Prius scored 8.5 on the air pollution scale, its 'greenworthiness' placed it behind the MINI, but the new Prius has gazumped the sporty diesel just weeks after its elevation to the position of greenest car in Australia.
One point to note about the new Prius is that Toyota recommends 95 RON ULP, whereas standard-grade 91 RON ULP was acceptable in the earlier model.
You can see the list of the top 50 vehicles in the GVG here, but for those who can't be bothered, the top 10 vehicles are:
Toyota Prius (2009),
MINI Cooper D,
Toyota Prius (2003),
Honda Civic Hybrid,
MINI Cooper D Clubman,
Fiat 500 1.3 (JTD),
Fiat Punto 1.3,
Fiat 500 1.2 (petrol DuaLogic),
Citroen C3 1.6 (diesel),
Fiat 500 1.2 (petrol manual)
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