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the year's market trends

2012 Market Trends

The auto industry maintained its momentum in 2011, with vehicles sales reaching approximately 13 million units during the year. While nowhere near the record high of 16 million registered in 2007, sales have been steadily increasing since 2009. Nevertheless, as oil prices continue to fluctuate, fuel economy standards climb upwards, and consumers’ interest in fuel efficiency shows some staying power, automakers are scrambling to provide more efficient options.

This year’s list of “Greenest” vehicles saw a shakeup. For the first time in many years, the top spot was occupied by a vehicle other than the Honda Civic GX. This year, the Mitsubishi i-MIEV, a battery-operated electric car claimed first place, followed closely by the Honda Civic Natural Gas Vehicle and the Nissan Leaf tied in second. The “Greenest” list is comprised of natural gas, hybrid, battery-electric vehicles, and small, conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Green Scores of the Greenest were higher this year than they have ever been – scores ranged from 50 to 58, compared to a range of 48 to 54 last year.

A Market for High Efficiency Vehicles

2012 marks the first year that more stringent fuel economy regulations adopted in 2010 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) come into play. The two agencies are also in the process of formulating a regulation that is expected to yield a 49.6 mpg fleet-wide average in 2025. In light of these major increases in standards, automakers are churning out a variety of highly efficient conventional, hybrid, and electric vehicles.

Hybrids from Hyundai, Kia, and Infiniti made their debut in American market this year. The Sonata Hybrid and Kia Hybrid were joined by the Camry Hybrid LE, a new offering from Toyota, and the Infiniti M35H. Also new this year was the Mitsubishi i-MIEV, which handily topped the list of “Greenest” vehicles with its Green Score of 58. Another vehicle of note is the upcoming Toyota Prius plug-in, which will be released mid-2012. Based on preliminary fuel economy numbers, the Prius Plug-in would have landed squarely in the top third of the “Greenest,” adding plug-in hybrid technology to the 2012 list.

Hybrid All-Stars

In past years, the Greenest list has been comprised of a mix of conventional, hybrid, and advanced tech vehicles. In 2012, a range of new and existing hybrid vehicles dominated the rankings. While usual suspects like the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda CR-Z continue to maintain a presence on the list, the Lexus CT 200H makes its debut this year and the Toyota Camry Hybrid LE makes an appearance on the list once again after a brief absence. In total, 6 out of top 12 spots belonged to hybrid-electric vehicles.

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid uses Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, combining a small powerful engine, with nickel metal hydride batteries and a 4-cylinder engine to generate power and improve fuel economy. Toyota also trimmed the weight of the battery pack for further fuel economy gains, which results in a 12mpg increase in city mileage and an 8 mpg increase in highway mileage from the last iteration of the vehicle. All in all, the significant change to fuel economy and a reduction in battery weight were enough to earn the vehicle a spot on the 2012 Greenest List.

Progress made amongst hybrid vehicles meant that a number of high-performing conventional mainstays were pushed off the list in 2012. This year, only three of the top 12 vehicles on the Greenest list are conventional gasoline-powered cars, whereas 2011 saw 6 of the top spots going to these vehicles. In any case, the variety of vehicles that score well in the Green Book ratings is unprecedented. Manufacturers are dedicated to providing educated consumers with efficient options for the road.

Greener Choices for Everyone

When it comes to buying a new vehicle, the most environment-friendly step you can take is simple: first evaluate your needs and your budget, then look for the models with the greenest scores among the cars and trucks that meet your needs and fit your budget. Even though some of our top ratings go to natural gas-powered or electric vehicles, every class has nationally available gasoline vehicles that score significantly better than average.

Our Greener Choices table highlights top-scoring vehicles available to everyone in almost all major market segments. The list includes only automatics, although many manual transmission versions have higher fuel economy. The excluded models that score even better might be good choices for some buyers. The point of the Greener Choices table is to show that there are ways to buy a cleaner and more efficient vehicle throughout the market.

It is also useful to look not only at the models in this table, but at competing models as well, since within a given size class, the better vehicles often score similarly. Thus, the Greener Choices table can get you focused on the set of models that will be among the best in their class in terms of environmental friendliness.

Buying green does more than fulfill your own personal commitment to protect the environment. Each greener choice by an individual consumer, of course, reduces pollution directly. But the market is also a give-and-take between consumers and manufacturers. As more and more consumers adopt the notion of buying green, automakers will increasingly look at environmentally friendly design as an opportunity, not just an obligation. Such feedback will motivate car companies to make further investments in improved technology, so that an expanded number of green cars and trucks will be available in the years ahead. Finally, bear in mind that the average car or light truck is likely to be operational for a dozen or more years. Even if you don't keep your new vehicle for more than a few years, your choice affects the options available for used car buyers. So instead of having yet another gas-guzzler cruising the streets, the greener choice you make today can help cut pollution for years to come.

Introduction

Best Vehicles by Class

Greenest Vehicles of 2012

Meanest Vehicles for the Environment in 2012

The Year's Market Trends