The Pros and Cons of 5 Types of Green Cars

published 27 January 2012

If fuel economy is high on your list of specs for your new car, a number of technologies can satisfy that need. Which is best for you depends on your other goals. For example, do you want to be as green as possible? An electric vehicle (EV) is the answer. Want superb fuel economy without worrying about plugging in? A hybrid is a good choice. Do you crave power and the feel of gears shifting as you accelerate? If so, hybrids and EVs are likely out of contention, but diesels and turbocharged gas engines are good candidates.

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Features Buying & Leasing A Car

Anderson has been with Kiplinger since January 2004, when she joined the staff as a reporter. Since then, she's covered the gamut of personal finance issues—from mortgages and credit to spending wisely—and she heads up Kiplinger's annual automotive rankings. She holds a BA in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was the 2012 president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and serves on its board of directors. In 2014, she was selected for the North American Car and Truck Of the Year jury. The awards, presented at the Detroit Auto Show, have come to be regarded as the most prestigious of their kind in the U.S. because they involve no commercial tie-ins. The jury is composed of nationally recognized journalists from across the U.S. and Canada, who are selected on the basis of audience reach, experience, expertise, product knowledge, and reputation in the automotive community.