GREENEST CAR MAKERS: Eco-rating the top 20 brands
Date:
16 May 2013
1. Toyota 82%
Furthest below EU emissions target
After being knocked off top spot in this survey last year, Toyota has regained the position of being rated BusinessCar's greenest brand. Excellent average emissions, being nearly 20% below its EU target emission and having an excellent variety of low-emission models thanks largely to the implementation of hybrid technology, all helped the Japanese firm back to the number one position. The nearest it gets to a weakness is the middling local air pollution score, while recent large strides in bringing new low-emission models won't be maintained to the same level over the next couple of years.
2. Volvo 80%
A few years back Volvo suffered in this sort of analysis, but the transformation into a leading low-emission brand is commendable. Impressive breadth of range below both 95g/km and 120g/km offers plenty of choice, while the firm also excels with air pollution. Its only major weakness is average emissions, which we'd expect to see fall rapidly again next year.
3. Peugeot 78%
The French brands have all performed well in this survey, but Peugeot takes national pride due to strong performances on average emissions. Only a low local air pollution score due to its diesel predominance and a low power-for-the-emissions score stopped Peugeot threatening to repeat its table-topping performance of last year.
4.= Renault 70%
Biggest CO2 drop in 2012
A big climber this year, thanks in part to the company's 2012 average fleet emissions reduction of 8.0% being the best of the UK's top 20 business car manufacturers, while the great range of models below 95g/km and the new Clio's excellent emissions figures both scored well. There's not so much in the pipeline to extend this by the looks of it though, while local air pollution and average CO2 for the horsepower also prevented Renault finishing higher still in the table.
4.= Volkswagen 70%
A good performance from VW, but it was the only brand bar Mini not to reduce average fleet emissions last year, while the current paucity of sub-95g/km alternatives, given the huge variety below 120g/km, didn't help VW's quest for a top-three spot.
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