Greener than a hybrid

The very idea of a green car has become synonymous with hybrid engines, due to the runaway sales success of the Toyota Prius. But in reality, a wider choice of automobiles is available to eco-conscious motorists. No automaker can claim to be fully green, however—even experimental zero-emissions cars promote sprawl and pollute with particulate matter from tires and brake linings.

Volkswagen’s new Polo BlueMotion—a low-weight vehicle with a three-cylinder diesel engine—emits less carbon than the Prius and gets slightly better gas mileage. It produces 99 to 104 grams of CO2 per kilometre travelled, compared to 106 for the Prius. The Peugeot 107, Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo also come close with 109 grams per kilometre. The Mazda 2 hatchback, soon to go on sale, also emits 109.

This marks something of a comeback for the long-reviled internal-combustion engine. An additional boost comes from some environmentalists who question the added carbon emissions produced in manufacturing hybrid engines, which require two separate propulsion systems.