Kelley Blue Book Picks Top ‘Green’ Cars for 2011

Kelley Blue Book has released its annual Top 10 Green Cars list, which looks to balance “safety, creature comforts and driving enjoyment” with fuel efficiency derived from modern EV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies, as well as overachieving gasoline and diesel powertrains. In other words, KBB is ranking the best cars that are also ultra-fuel-efficient?, rather than resorting to straight fuel-economy number-crunching.

And the winners are:

1. Nissan Leaf: KBB calls this “the first all-electric car for the masses,” and notes that not only is its reported fuel-efficiency equivalent of 99 mpg incredibly environmentally friendly, but that “recycled materials made from home appliances, old car parts and plastic bottles are used extensively throughout the vehicle.”
2. Chevy Volt: If the Leaf was first, the Volt must have been second; KBB notes that each green vehicle serves a different set of driver needs and that the Volt “looks like a tasteful vision of the future — inside and out — and is one of the most fun to drive EVs we’ve driven so far” while delivering a fuel-efficiency equivalent of 93 mpg.
3. Toyota Prius: The longstanding green car of record. KBB appreciates that achieving excellent fuel efficiency in the Prius does not require an overhaul of driving habits, as with some other vehicles.
4. Lexus CT 200h: A sporty-looking premium hatchback, delivering both Lexus’ standard for quality and luxury and a 42 mpg combined fuel-efficiency rating.
5. Honda Insight: The Insight dropped $1,000 from the sticker price of last year’s model, making it, at $18,950, the most affordable hybrid on the market.
6. Ford Fusion Hybrid: Take the already-popular Fusion sedan, then add a hybrid powertrain that increases the combined fuel economy to an impressive 39 mpg, and KBB calls the Fusion Hybrid a success.
7. Volkswagen Golf TDI: The 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine doesn’t just deliver an impressive 42 mpg highway, it does so with the grunt, pep and pickup that many drivers relish.
8. Hyundai Elantra: “In addition to the impressive efficiency, we’re fans of the all-new Elantra’s bold sheet metal, stylish interior and attractive list of standard and optional features,” KBB says.
9. Fiat 500: The 500 marks Fiat’s return to the U.S. after 27 years, and while the tiny 101-horsepower engine should deliver a bit better than 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway, the 500 packs a lot of charm into its subcompact frame.
10. Ford Focus: Euro styling, impressive handling and Ford’s commitment to high tech at all price points make this a great small car for everyone, KBB says, but for the green-minded, the SFE package will increase the highway fuel efficiency to a solid 40 mpg.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book.]

Kelley Blue Book News

July 1, 2009

Kbb.com names most-researched new-vehicles in first-half ’09

Redesigned Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Jetta, Lexus RX350 in Top 20

Kelley Blue Book said the Honda Accord was the most-researched new-vehicles for the first half of 2009. kbb.com is one of the most trafficked automotive research sites with more than 12 million visits per month, so which specific vehicles consumers are checking out on the site has become a leading indicator of sales patterns for manufacturers, Kelley says. Kbb.com’s top 20 Most-Researched New Vehicles for First-Half of 2009 had Japanese models taking the first nine spots followed by Ford Mustang and No. 10.1. Honda Accord

2. Honda Civic

3. Toyota Camry

4. Honda CR-V

5. Toyota Corolla

6. Toyota Highlander

7. Nissan Altima

8. Toyota RAV4

9. Toyota Prius

10. Ford Mustang

11. Honda Pilot

12. MAZDA3

13. Honda Odyssey

14. Ford Fusion

15. Ford Escape

16. Chevrolet Camaro

17. Volkswagen Jetta

18. Toyota Sienna

19. Chevrolet Malibu

20. Lexus RX350

Import manufacturers Honda and Toyota frequently dominate the kbb.com most-researched lists, and while they still have a major turnout for the first-half of 2009 (securing 11 of the top 20 spots), this list demonstrates that a few newly redesigned models have captured the attention of consumers.

When compared year-over-year to the most-researched new-vehicles for the first half of 2008, four models are all-new to this year’s top 20 list: Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Jetta and Lexus RX350.

Chevrolet’s buzzworthy Camaro made the most impressive jump onto this year’s list, from number 427 in June 2008 to number 16 in June 2009. Primary drivers of increased Camaro research include hefty movie promotions with the “Transformers” films and significant advertising executed in the past year.

The Ford Fusion jumped 43 positions from number 57 in June 2008 to number 14 in June 2009 due to the introduction and heavy promotion of Ford’s 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid models.

Volkswagen’s Jetta climbed from number 32 in June 2008 to number 17 in June 2009; increased interest arose from the introduction of the Jetta’s TDI diesel variation.

The Lexus RX350 jumped from number 29 in June 2008 to number 20 in June 2009, as Lexus introduced and promoted its redesigned 2010 model heavily in recent months.

The MINI Cooper saw the largest decline in new-vehicle research in the past year, falling 18 positions from number 19 in June 2008 to number 37 in June 2009. Interest in the MINI was uncommonly high in June 2008 due to extremely elevated gas prices at the time; now that fuel prices have returned to more ‘normal’ levels in June 2009, new-car shoppers are not researching compact and sub-compact models like the Cooper nearly as often.

“While mainstays Toyota and Honda continue to take the majority of the most-researched spots, the interesting newcomers to this year’s list demonstrate the vast power of marketing, advertising and product placement in generating interest among in-market new-car shoppers,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “Increased interest in sexy new vehicles like the Camaro, new fuel-efficient variations such as the Fusion Hybrid and Jetta TDI, and redesigned popular models like the RX350, indicates that consumers are paying attention to what’s new in the automotive marketplace and expanding their options as they research their next new car.”