Hybrids aren't the only green autos you can buy today. There are plenty of choices that don't need gasoline, including cars that run on diesel (or biodiesel), ethanol blends (E85), natural gas and electricity. In the October issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, we decipher the options and break down the costs to help you find the best value.

Then, we singled out 14 eco-friendly cars and awarded each one a "green score" of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most environmentally friendly. TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SLIDE SHOW to see how they measure up.

Some of the featured vehicles are eligible for federal as well as state and local tax incentives. See Tax Breaks for Green Cars to learn more.

And if you're not convinced that the premium price for a green car is worth the cost, check out these seven regular-Joe gas engine cars that are actually more earth-friendly than some hybrids.

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