For the fifth year in a row Toyota’s Prius is ranked number 1 in the green car category. The Prius is a gas / electric hybrid that gets 44 miles per gallon. It is affordable priced around $24,000 and can hold a family with a five-passenger capacity. The capacity alone is probably the biggest contributor to its number one showing on the list. As more cross-over hybrids appear on the scene it might make it harder for the Prius to hold its ground unless cost is more of a criterion for the purchaser.
There is talk of Toyota adding plug-in hybrids to its line-up especially in response to community requests. San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom wants leaders in the Bay Area to request plug-in hybrid cars as they are lower-emission vehicles and get more miles to the gallon. Perhaps the ten year old favorite is up for a face lift in the near future.
In the meantime, green car enthusiasts have spoken and the gas / electric hybrid is their top choice regardless of whether or not it gets 44 miles per gallon or 150 miles per gallon; although they probably would be happier with the plug-in option.
Over a million reader surveys help Consumer Reports to rank cars in their ten categories. Consumer Reports also goes the extra mile and this year tested 80 vehicles. They saw more than Toyota’s Prius; both the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota Sienna ranked number one in each of their categories, the Small SUV and the Minivan respectively.
Toyota is expected to be the leading car manufacturer this year ousting General Motors. Hybrids may play a big part in them taking on that role; even though they avoid the use of what they consider controversial biofuels due to the number of people starving in the world. They truly sound like world leaders in taking that stand.
