Top 10 green cars to beat the credit crunch

With credit well and truly 'crunched', and a repeat of this summer's soaring fuel prices highly likely, there cannot be a better time to buy a low-cost, fuel-efficient car. As switching to a car with high fuel economy also reduces emissions, fuel-efficient cars are therefore, by definition, ‘green cars’ – which is why they also benefit from road tax, company car tax and London Congestion Charge incentives.

Fortunately, the last few years has seen a significant increase in the availability of quality fuel-efficient models in the UK. To illustrate the range of what's on offer, WhatGreenCar.com has compiled a list of Top 10 Credit Crunch Cars, all with superb fuel economy, low emissions, low tax and all but one under £10,000. As the list shows, annual fuel cost and road tax savings of at least £340 are easily achievable.

According to Dr Ben Lane, Director of WhatGreenCar.com: "As fuel prices soared earlier this year, many motorists were pushed over a fuel cost threshold. For the first time in decades, motorists have been forced to rethink the type of car they own. The only winners have been the manufacturers of fuel-efficient cars in the mini and super-mini segments, the sales of which broke all records. Although fuel prices now have fallen back to 2007 levels (for the time being), the ‘credit crunch’ will continue to focus drivers’ minds on the costs of car ownership. Low-cost, low-emission, ‘green cars’ are, therefore, going to be in increasing demand for some time to come.”

For all models listed, the following data is provided: WhatGreenCar Environmental rating, CO2 emissions, indicative purchase price, annual fuel cost saving as compared to an average UK diesel car (assumed mileage 10,000 miles), and 12-months road tax. All cars listed are as new and as supplied by manufacturer - fuel conversion options such as LPG are not shown, but are available for many of the petrol models listed.

Top 10 Credit Crunch Cars

NICE MyCar (electric) – WGC rating: 6 (est), CO2: 0 g/km
From £8,995, Annual fuel cost saving £870, Road tax £0
Like the G-Wiz, the Italian-designed two-seater MyCar gets you noticed. With a top speed of 40 mph and range of up to 60 miles, the MyCar may not give you conventional performance, but as one of the greenest 4-wheelers in the UK its green credentials are unbeatable. Its 4kW (5.4 hp) motor is powered by deep cycle lead gel batteries; although a full recharge takes eight hours, the batteries respond well to frequent top-up recharging. As with many electric vehicles MyCar offers very low motoring costs (around 2p/mile), no road tax, no Congestion Charge in London, and, of course, zero tailpipe emissions. The MyCar won the GreenFleet Electric Vehicle of the Year Award 2008.

Smart fortwo mhd – WGC rating 28 (est), CO2: 103 g/km
From £6,970, Annual fuel cost saving £407, Road tax £35
Launched in October this year, the fortwo mhd (mild hybrid drive) uses the new 999cc, three cylinder petrol engine providing 71bhp (max speed 91mph, 0-62mph in 13.3s). The 'mild hybrid' drive refers to the use of a belt driven generator that supplies the car's electrical system and doubles up as a starter motor. Though not a hybrid in the true sense, the engine features a stop-start function which cuts out the engine when the vehicle's speeds is below 5mph and the brake pedal is operated - the engine automatically re-starts once the brake pedal is released. The impact of this relatively simple technology is to reduce CO2 emissions by 8% as compared to its non-mhd petrol equivalent (from 112g/km to 103g/km). This equates to a test fuel economy of around 65.1 mpg (combined).

VW Polo 1.4 BlueMotion 1 – WGC rating: 29, CO2: 99 g/km
From £10,934 (discount), Annual fuel cost saving £403, Road tax £0
The Polo BlueMotion 1 is in essence a stripped-down version of the standard diesel model (no air conditioning or central locking etc) and is fitted with a 1.4-litre three-cylinder turbo diesel engine. To reduce environmental impact, a particulate filter and improved oxidation catalytic converter have been fitted. The gearbox has also been given longer ratios to maximise fuel consumption remains even at motorway speeds. The aerodynamics have also been improved through the use of a new smooth grille and revised front spoiler, smaller door mirrors, subtle side skirts and a rear boot spoiler to reduce drag. The model is also fitted with lower rolling resistance tyres mounted on specially designed alloy wheels. The result is very impressive combined test fuel economy (74.3 mpg) and carbon emissions of only 99g/km, which makes the Polo BlueMotion 1 road tax free. However, the 78bhp unit will still give 110mph and a 0-62mph time of 12.8 seconds.

Toyota Aygo (Peugeot 107/Citroen C1) – WGC rating: 32, CO2: 108g/km
From £6,719 (discount) Annual fuel cost saving £367, Road tax £35
Toyota's Aygo is the result pf a joint venture with Citroen and Peugeot, who have virtually identical models: the C1 and the 107. The Aygo is available in 3- and 5-door versions, all of which are powered by a 1 litre petrol engine. As well as being cheap to buy, the Aygo is cheap to run – it sits in the lowest insurance groups and will offer a combined mpg of 61.4. With CO2 emissions of only 108 g/km (VED band B) the Aygo is also cheap to tax. However, Toyota have not compromised their reputation for reliability; they claim that the Aygo has a cumulative scheduled maintenance time to 60,000 miles of just 4.2 hours, meaning maintenance costs should be extremely low. The Aygo scores an excellent four out of five in the NCAP crash tests and comes with 60,000 mile/three year warranty.

Fiat 500 – WGC rating 32, CO2: 110 g/km
From £9,535, Annual fuel cost saving £334, Road tax £35
Crowned 2008 Car of the Year, the 500 is only the second A-Segment car to have ever won the award (the first was the Fiat Panda in 2004) and is a signal that small cars and their environmental credentials are in the ascendancy. The most fuel-efficient model in the 500 range has a fuel economy of 67.3 mpg with CO2 emissions of only 111 g/km (VED band B). The Fiat 500 also sets new standards for city-cars – this is the first time that a car barely 3.55 metres long has been awarded a 5-star crash safety rating by Euro NCAP. Its regulated emissions also comply with Euro 5 standards, not due to be enforced until 2009. The Fiat 500 is available in three engine sizes: 69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100 bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 75 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet Turbodiesel (lowest CO2); and in three different trim levels – Pop, Sport and Lounge.

Skoda Fabia – WGC rating: 32, CO2: 109g/km
From £9,716 (discount) Annual fuel cost saving £351, Road tax £35
The Fabia is designed to be ultra-cheap to run. The 1.4 litre three-cylinder turbodiesel version is the most fuel-efficient of all the engine options, providing a combined mpg rating of 61.4 (70.6 mpg on the open road). This version is also the least environmentally damaging; official figures indicate CO2 emissions of 120g/km. In addition, the Fabia comes with the option of a 1.2, 1.4 or 1.6 litre petrol engine, with a 1.9 litre diesel also available. The Fabia provides Volkswagen quality at a lower price, and most of the mechanical and electrical parts are used in other VW Group products, meaning that once past their warranty relatively cheap servicing will be found at one of the many non-franchised VW specialists. Insurance is also cheap and thanks to the Fabia's quality reputation, depreciation is low (value of 47% after three years of ownership or 60,000 miles).

Fiat Panda – WGC rating: 32, CO2: 120g/km
From £7,015, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35
The Fiat Panda 1.1 Active ECO is both the most environmentally friendly and the most fuel-efficient version in the Panda range. It emits just 119 g/km of CO2 and returns 56.5 mpg. Both the Active ECO and the Dynamic ECO (which includes remote central locking, colour coded bumpers and a CD/MP3 player for an additional £600) cost £100 more than their equivalent non-ECO versions, but reduced CO2 emissions provide an annual road-tax saving of £85 per year, making the ECOs the more cost effective option in the long-term.

Hyundai i10 – WGC rating: 32, CO2: 119g/km
From £7,545, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35
Following the successful i30 hatchback comes the five-seater, five-door i10 city-car. All i10 models are powered by a 67PS, 1.1-litre petrol engine with either a manual or an automatic gearbox. Manual versions have a fuel economy of over 56.5mpg and produce just 119g/km of CO2, so qualifying the car for VED band B road tax of only £35 a year. Design innovations include a gearshift lever that is mounted on the centre console to improve ergonomics and free up the space between the driver and the passenger seat. The i10 has been one of the big successes of the year – as fuel prices rose dramatically in the Spring of 2008, the mini-sector saw a growth of 120% in May, and the newly launched i10 was the best seller in the segment.

Daihatsu Sirion 1.0 – WGC rating: 32, CO2: 118g/km.
From £7,995, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35
Although not perhaps as well built as some of the more popular brands, it is worth noting that the Daihatsu model is built in Japan (considered a good thing by car connoisseurs), the company being part owned by Toyota. Indeed, the Sirion shares some of its platform with the Yaris, which also features Daihatsu's 1.3-litre petrol engine. The main reason you’d buy a Sirion, however, is its high fuel economy (56.5 mpg) and low CO2 emissions (118 g/km), giving low fuel and road tax costs (VED band B). The car’s size and simplicity mean that servicing and insurance are also low.

Vauxhall Agila – WGC rating: 32, CO2: 120g/km
From £7,705, Annual fuel cost saving £306, Road tax £35
The Agila offers three new engines (and trim levels) with manual and automatic gearbox options. Petrol units include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit developing 65PS and an 85PS 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, the latter of which is also available with automatic transmission. Vauxhall's award-winning 1.3CDTi diesel is also on offer, delivering 75PS with a fuel economy of around 62mpg (120g/km). In light of the growing need for environmental compatibility, emissions of all three engines with 5-speed manual gearbox are between only 120g/km and 140g/km.