Green cars save the wallet

Greener cars aren't just better for the environment, they can also save you money, says the Which? Complete Guide to Greener Driving, available on the high street today.

The consumer organisation's tests, more stringent than EU official inspections, reveal the ten best cars for fuel economy. Fiat, Toyota and VW have produced models that break the 60 miles per gallon (mpg) barrier.

=1 Fiat Panda 1.3 Multijet, Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D, VW Polo BlueMotion 1: 60.1 mpg

4 Mini Clubman 1.6D Cooper: 58.8mpg

=5 Audi A3 1.9 TDIe, Mazda2 1.4D, VW Golf BlueMotion: 57.7mpg

8 Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi 90: 57.6mpg

9 Fiat 500 1.3 Multijet: 56.5mpg

10 Renault Modus 1.5 dci 86: 55.3mpg

The top ten are all diesel cars - the easiest way to go green and cut down on bills is to switch fuels from petrol to diesel. Although diesel cars cost more than petrol cars, they will save drivers a packet if they cover lots of miles. A Peugeot 207 driver, for example, could save £247 on fuel over 10,000 miles by switching from a petrol engine to the HDi diesel alternative.

Green car drivers will also save money on tax as the government overhauls road tax in 2009 to encourage motorists to drive cars with lower carbon emissions. A car which emits less than 100g/km - such as the VW Polo BlueMotion 1 - will not be liable for road tax.

Richard Headland, editor, Which? Complete Guide to Greener Driving, says: "It's a win-win situation. Choosing a greener car will reduce your carbon tyreprint, cost less in road tax and you'll save money every time you fill up your car."